MaterialsCalc

Paint Calculator

Enter your room dimensions and number of coats, and this paint calculator estimates the wall area and how many gallons to buy.

One gallon covers about 350 square feet per coat; most walls need two coats.

Enter your measurements

Room length (ft)
Room width (ft)
Wall height (ft)
Coats
How many rooms?
Coverage per gallon (ft²)
Extra for waste / cuts (%)

Paint you need

3gallons

covers 384 ft² × 2 coats

💡 About 3 gallons. Buy in gallons over quarts, it's cheaper per square foot and gives you touch-up paint.

🛒 Buy 3 gallons of paintHome Depot · buy one extra for repairs

3

gallons to buy

incl. waste

$105

Est. cost

@ ~$35/gallon

384 ft²

Area

wall

Wall area
384 ft²
Area × 2 coats
768 ft²
Coverage per gallon
350 ft²
gallons to buy (incl. waste)
3

The 2-minute guide

Two coats is normal

A single coat almost never covers evenly, especially over a color change or fresh drywall. Plan for two coats, this calculator defaults to it.

Doesn't subtract doors and windows

For simplicity this estimates full wall area. Big windows or doors mean you'll use a little less, so round down if a room is mostly glass.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a gallon of paint cover?

About 350 square feet per coat for most interior wall paint. Rough or porous surfaces cover less.

How many gallons of paint for a 12x12 room?

A 12×12 room with 8 ft walls is about 384 ft² of wall. Two coats is ~768 ft², which is a little over 2 gallons, so buy 3 gallons (or 2 gallons plus a quart) to avoid running short.

Related calculators