๐ŸŽจ Paint Calculator

Figure out exactly how many gallons you need โ€” accounts for doors, windows, coats, and surface type.

Room Dimensions

Your Estimate
Gallons Needed
โ€”
gallons total
Quarts
โ€”
if buying quarts
Paintable Area
โ€”
sq ft
5-Gal Buckets
โ€”
if buying in bulk

* Coverage rates vary by paint brand and quality. Check your specific paint can for its sq ft/gallon rating. Always buy 10% extra.

How to Use This Calculator

Enter your room's length, width, and ceiling height. Select how many coats you'll apply and choose your surface type (textured surfaces absorb more paint). The calculator subtracts standard door and window areas automatically and tells you exactly how many gallons to buy.

How Paint Coverage Works

Most interior paints cover 350โ€“400 square feet per gallon on smooth surfaces. Textured walls, porous surfaces, and dark base coats all reduce coverage. The number of coats multiplies your total area requirement.

Wall Area = 2 ร— (Length + Width) ร— Height
Subtract: (Doors ร— 20 sq ft) + (Windows ร— 15 sq ft)
Gallons = (Net Area ร— Coats) รท Coverage Rate

How Many Gallons for Common Rooms?

A standard 12ร—12 ft bedroom with 9 ft ceilings, 2 coats, 1 door, and 2 windows needs about 2.0 gallons for walls only, or 2.5 gallons including the ceiling. A large open-plan living area (20ร—16 ft) typically needs 3.5โ€“4.5 gallons for walls plus ceiling.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many gallons of paint do I need for a 12ร—12 room?
For a 12ร—12 ft room with 9 ft ceilings, 1 door, and 2 windows: wall area is approximately 252 sq ft. With 2 coats and standard coverage (350 sq ft/gal), you need about 1.5 gallons for walls. Add ~0.5 gallons for the ceiling. Buy 2 gallons total.
Should I buy one gallon or a 5-gallon bucket?
5-gallon buckets are more economical per gallon (usually 20โ€“30% cheaper) and better for large projects or when you need color consistency across rooms. For small projects under 2 gallons, individual gallons are more practical to avoid waste.
How much does it cost to paint a room in 2026?
Paint costs $25โ€“$70 per gallon for quality interior paint. A typical bedroom needs 2 gallons ($50โ€“$140 in paint). Professional painting labor adds $200โ€“$600 for a standard bedroom. DIY saves the labor cost entirely.

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