How Much Paint Per Room: Quick Reference
Assumes 8-foot ceilings, two coats, 350 sq ft per gallon, and one door + two windows subtracted. Rounded up. For exact numbers, use the paint calculator.
| Room | Wall area (net) | Two coats | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small bedroom 10×10 | ~269 sq ft | 1.7 gal | 2 gallons |
| Bedroom 12×12 | ~333 sq ft | 2.1 gal | 2 gallons + 1 quart |
| Master bedroom 14×16 | ~429 sq ft | 2.7 gal | 3 gallons |
| Living room 16×20 | ~525 sq ft | 3.3 gal | 3½ gallons |
| Bathroom 8×10 | ~237 sq ft | 1.5 gal | 2 gallons |
| Kitchen 12×14 | ~365 sq ft | 2.3 gal | 2½ gallons |
| Hallway 4×20 | ~333 sq ft | 2.1 gal | 2 gallons + 1 quart |
| Accent wall 12 ft wide | ~96 sq ft | 0.6 gal | 1 gallon |
Ceilings change everything. 9-foot ceilings add ~12% more wall area; 10-foot ceilings add ~25%. Vaulted ceilings — just use the calculator.
The 30-second method
For any rectangular room: add up the wall perimeter, multiply by ceiling height, subtract ~50 sq ft for doors and windows, divide by 350, multiply by coats. Round up. That's the whole calculator in one sentence.
Common mistakes
- Buying exactly the computed amount. Add 10% — touch-ups from the same batch beat a store remix.
- One coat optimism. Dark-to-light color changes almost always need two coats plus primer.
- Forgetting the ceiling. Ceilings take roughly as much paint as one large wall; budget it separately.
Frequently asked questions
How many gallons of paint for a bedroom?
A 12×12 bedroom needs about 2 gallons for two coats. Larger master bedrooms need about 3.
How many gallons to paint a whole house interior?
A 2,000 sq ft house typically needs 10–15 gallons for walls (two coats), depending on layout and ceiling height.