How much paint do I need?
Add your rooms (or your house) and see how many gallons you need for walls, ceilings and trim, and whether to prime.
Coats
Surface
New color vs old
Your project
- Walls
- 2 gallons + 1 quart
~366 sq ft - Ceilings
- 1 gallon
~168 sq ft - Trim and doors
- 2 quarts
- Primer
- Usually not needed
Based on about 350 sq ft per gallon. Textured walls, deep colors and spraying use more. Check the coverage on your can.
Rather have a pro do it?
Send this to Northern New York painters and get up to five bids. Free, and nobody gets your number until you say so.
Common questions
How much paint do I need for a 12 by 12 room?
A 12 by 12 foot room with 8 foot ceilings, one door and one window has about 350 square feet of wall. Two coats need about 2 gallons for the walls, plus about 1 gallon for two coats on the ceiling.
How many square feet does a gallon of paint cover?
Most interior paints cover about 350 to 400 square feet per gallon per coat on smooth, primed walls. Rough, textured, unpainted or porous surfaces can drop that to 250 to 300.
Should I buy a 5 gallon bucket?
If you need 4 or more gallons of one color, a 5 gallon bucket is usually cheaper per gallon and keeps the color consistent across the job.