How much paint do I need for a room?
A typical 12 x 12 ft bedroom with 8 ft walls, one door and two windows needs about 2 gallons of paint for two coats on the walls.
The table assumes 8 ft walls, one door, two windows, two coats and 350 sq ft of coverage per gallon, which is typical for interior paint.
| Room | Wall area | Walls, 2 coats | Walls and ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 x 10 ft | 270 sq ft | 1 gallon + 3 quarts | 2 gallons + 1 quart |
| 10 x 12 ft | 302 sq ft | 1 gallon + 3 quarts | 2 gallons + 2 quarts |
| 12 x 12 ft | 334 sq ft | 2 gallons | 2 gallons + 3 quarts |
| 12 x 14 ft | 366 sq ft | 2 gallons + 1 quart | 3 gallons + 1 quart |
| 14 x 16 ft | 430 sq ft | 2 gallons + 2 quarts | 3 gallons + 3 quarts |
| 16 x 20 ft | 526 sq ft | 3 gallons + 1 quart | 5 gallons |
What changes the amount
- Color change: going from dark to light, or painting fresh drywall, often needs a coat of primer first.
- Texture: rough or porous walls soak up more. Use 300 sq ft per gallon for those.
- Taller ceilings: 9 ft walls add about 12% more area than 8 ft.