---
title: "How Much Paint Do I Need?"
description: "With some planning, accurate measurements, and careful calculations, you won't buy too little—or too much—paint for your next DIY project."
date: "2015-01-08"
modified: "2022-08-16"
authors:
  - name: "Margaret Foley"
    job_title: "Contributing Writer & Editor"
    link: "https://www.bobvila.com/authors/margaret-foley/"
  - name: "Bob Vila"
    job_title: "Founder"
    link: "https://www.bobvila.com/authors/bob-vila/"
url: "https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-much-paint-do-i-need/"
categories:
  - "DIY"
  - "Painting & Finishing"
---

# How Much Paint Do I Need?

![How Much Paint Do I Need](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/iStock-1174420166.jpg>)
*Photo: istockphoto.com*

Once you’ve conquered the somewhat Herculean challenge of [choosing a paint color](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-interior-paint/>), the next order of business is to figure out how much paint to buy. It’s a tricky calculation, one that can be complicated by variables like your [painting technique](<https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/13-top-tips-to-make-any-paint-job-go-faster-48365/>) and the composition and condition of your walls. Doing the math, though, is the most accurate way to determine [how much the project will cost](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/cost-to-paint-a-room/>) and how much paint you’ll need.

As handy as they are, online paint calculators sacrifice precision for convenience. Doing your own math yields more accurate results, and all you need is a [tape measure](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/measuring-tools/>), a pencil, and a sheet of paper.

**RELATED:** [**How to Match Paint: 7 Effective Methods**](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-match-paint/>)

## Calculate the area of the surfaces you are painting.

![How Much Paint Do I Need](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/iStock-83163697.jpg>)
*Photo: istockphoto.com*

Are you going to [paint the ceiling](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/2393-how-to-paint-a-ceiling/>)? What about the [baseboards](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-paint-trim/>)? Once you know which surfaces you’re updating, determining how many gallons to buy is a simple matter of calculating the square footage of those surfaces. You should also plan for a second coat of paint, particularly if you’re painting a lighter color over a darker one. Here’s how to come up with an accurate estimate for how much paint you need to [paint a room](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/388-how-to-paint-a-room/>).

### Calculate the area of the room’s solid walls.

**Multiply the width by the height to get the total surface area of each wall.**

**width (ft) x height (ft) = square feet**

For example, a solid wall that measures 12 feet wide by 10 feet high has an area of 120 square feet:

**12 x 10 = 120 square feet**

And say that you'll also be painting second solid wall in the room, which is 10 feet wide by 10 feet high:

**10 feet x 10 feet = 100 square feet**

Those two walls together add up to 220 square feet.

**120 + 100 = 220 square feet**

Be sure to omit the trim—baseboards, crown molding, and so on—from your measurements, because you’ll probably be [taping it off](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-use-painters-tape/>) and painting it a different color.

### Subtract the area of the windows.

**Next, subtract the area of each window.** (Measure just the window frame and the glass—leave out any molding.) If a 12-by-10-foot wall

**12 x 10 = 120 square feet**

has one 4-by-6-foot window

**4 x 6 = 24 square feet**

you’d subtract the area of the window from the total area of the wall.

**120 - 24 = 96 square feet**

The wall area that’s left to be painted is 96 square feet.

### Subtract the area of any doors.

Presuming that you are not [painting doors](<https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/16-pro-tips-for-painting-interior-doors-52793/>) the same color as the walls, **you’ll need to subtract the area of any doors in the room, just as you did for the windows**. Measure the length and width of the wall and multiply those two measurements to get the wall’s square footage. Next, calculate the area of the door panel. If a 12-by-10-foot wall

**12 x 10 = 120 square feet**

has a door that measures 3 feet wide by 6 feet tall

**3 x 6 = 18 square feet**

you’ll subtract the area of the door from the area of the wall

**120 - 18 = 102 square feet**

leaving 102 square feet to be painted on that wall. Now, for the whole room, sum the total square footage of each wall minus its doors and windows.

**wall square footage - window/door square footage = square footage to paint**

## Next, calculate how much paint you need to complete the project.

![How Much Paint Do I Need](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/iStock-1170750983.jpg>)
*Photo: istockphoto.com*

Now that you know the total surface area of the walls you’re painting, how many gallons of paint do you need to cover the entire room? How much does a gallon of paint cover? Well, that depends.

Manufacturers typically estimate the paint coverage per gallon at 250 to 400 square feet—a wide range, because different surfaces take paint in different ways. A gallon covers about 400 square feet of a smooth surface, like primed or prepainted drywall. If the surface is rough or textured, has never been painted before, or will be painted a color that’s very different from what’s already on the wall, that gallon may cover only 250 square feet.

Most of the [best paint manufacturers’](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-paint-brands/>) calculators claim the higher range. For instance, [Sherwin-Williams](<https://lowes.sjv.io/c/264145/897039/12374?subId1=BV-HT&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lowes.com%2Fsearch%3FsearchTerm%3Dsherwin%2Bwilliams>) and PPG both estimate about 400 square feet of coverage per gallon, while [Benjamin Moore](<https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/13-top-tips-to-make-any-paint-job-go-faster-48365/>)’s and [Behr](<https://homedepot.sjv.io/LPLbaY>)’s calculators hover around 350 square feet per gallon.

Let’s say that you have 500 square feet of wall space to paint and a gallon of this particular manufacturer’s paint covers about 325 square feet. Because you want the [best results for your paint finish](<https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/13-top-tips-to-make-any-paint-job-go-faster-48365/>), you’ll paint two coats:

**500 x 2 = 1,000 square feet**

And if the paint manufacturer says you'll be able to paint 325 square feet per gallon, you’ll need

**1,000 / 325 = 3.08 gallons of paint**

It’s always a good idea to round up and purchase more paint than the math says you’ll need. You should always have some extra paint on hand for touch-ups. But rounding up to 4 gallons from 3.08 will leave you a ton of [leftover paint](<https://www.bobvila.com/slideshow/19-cool-projects-you-can-do-with-leftover-paint-48398/>)—instead, you might consider buying 3 gallons and 1 quart.

## How much ceiling paint do I need?

![How Much Paint Do I Need](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/iStock-614443830.jpg>)
*Photo: istockphoto.com*

Chances are that you’ll be painting the ceiling a color that’s different than that of the walls. If that’s the case, simply measure the length and width of the ceiling and multiply the two measurements to find the square footage. If a bedroom ceiling is 100 square feet, you know that you need enough paint to cover at least that area.

A quart of paint typically covers about 100 square feet, so if you’re planning on [painting one coat](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-one-coat-paint/>), you might be able to get away with buying just 1 quart of [ceiling paint](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-paint-for-ceilings/>). If you’re painting two coats (and you probably should), you’ll need 2 quarts. The price of 2 quarts of paint is usually about the same as that of a gallon. It makes sense to spring for the gallon, particularly if you’re planning to use that [ceiling color](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/ceiling-paint-color-trends/>) elsewhere in your home.

## How much paint do I need for baseboards and window trim?

![How Much Paint Do I Need](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/iStock-185567931.jpg>)
*Photo: istockphoto.com*

The above advice about ceiling paint also applies to trim. Assuming that you are going to paint your molding a color that’s different from what is on the walls, you’ll want to take separate measurements for the trim. Once you know how much surface area the trim covers, calculate how much paint you will need to give the trim two coats.

**RELATED:** [**Solved! The Best Paint for Trim**](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-paint-for-trim/>)

## How much paint do I need for cabinets or furniture?

![How Much Paint Do I Need](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/iStock-1226940032.jpg>)
*Photo: istockphoto.com*

When [painting kitchen cabinets](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-paint-kitchen-cabinets/>) or furniture, your first order of business is to figure out which surfaces you intend to refresh: Will you paint the backs of the doors as well as the fronts? Will you paint the shelves? Don't start measuring until you have first settled the scope of the project.

The tricky part about painting cabinets and furniture is that you’ll be doing a lot more math, because you'll have to sum multiple smaller measurements. For [kitchen cabinets](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-kitchen-cabinets/>), start by measuring the surface area of the base cabinets. Add together the length of each run of base cabinets (including any end panels) and multiply it by the base cabinet height. Include the toe kick in the height measurement if you plan to paint it the same color as the cabinets.

In other words, if you have a run of base cabinets that measures 9 feet long and 3 feet high, then the surface area of the base cabinets is 27 square feet. Repeat this process for the upper cabinets and add the two figures together.

In the example above, if the [base cabinets](<https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-to-install-base-cabinets/>) totaled 27 square feet and the upper cabinets measured 45 square feet, the total surface area would be 72 square feet.

**27 + 45 = 72 square feet**

If you're painting the backs of the cabinet doors, double that figure (doubling here actually gives you a little more paint than you need because you won't be painting the backs of the wood frame between the cabinet doors).

**72 + 72 = 144 square feet**

Calculate the surface area of the base cabinets' sides. In this sample kitchen, the base cabinets are 1 foot deep and 3 feet high.

**2 x (1 x 3) = 6 square feet**

Calculate the surface area of the top cabinets' two sides. In this example, our top cabinets are also 1 foot deep and 3 feet high.

**2 x (1 x 3) = 6 square feet**

Sum the surface area of the top and bottom sets of cabinets (and the backs of the doors), plus the sides of the cabinets.

**72+ 72+ 6+ 6 = 156 square feet**

Double the figure again to account for a second coat of paint.

**156 + 156 = 312 square feet**

Estimating a quart of paint coverage at about 100 square feet, you’d need a little more than 3 quarts to complete this painting project. Since a gallon of paint is cheaper than buying 4 quarts, you’re better off buying a whole gallon and saving whatever is left for touch-ups.

**Note:** Some homeowners may opt to paint the undersides of the top cabinets. If that's the case in your situation, you'll want to calculate the surface area of the undersides and add that to the other surface area calculations before doubling your total area to account for the second coat.

## FAQs

![How Much Paint Do I Need](<https://www.bobvila.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/iStock-1366398139.jpg>)
*Photo: istockphoto.com*

If you’re still wondering how much paint you should buy for different projects around the house, here are some quick answers to a few common questions.

## Author
Margaret Foley is an editor, educator, and writer based in New York City who has worked for a variety of magazines over her career. She has been contributing to BobVila.com for roughly a decade. When she isn’t sitting in front of a laptop, she spends her time keeping her family of humans, dogs, and one cat fed and healthy and trying to prevent a 100-year-old house from falling down.