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How Much Does a Gallon of Paint Cover
Calculate how much paint you need for a room. Enter dimensions, number of doors and windows, and coats. Shows litres and gallons. Free, no signup.
How Much Does a Gallon of Paint Cover
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About How Much Does a Gallon of Paint Cover
A gallon of interior latex paint covers 350 to 400 square feet in a single coat on a smooth, primed or previously painted wall. Most jobs need two coats, so plan on about 175 to 200 square feet of finished wall per gallon. This page opens in US units with one gallon and 350 square feet per gallon already filled in, the conservative end of the range printed on most cans, so you only adjust the coats and the coverage from your own label. To see whether that is enough, compare it with the walls of the room. A 12 by 12 foot bedroom with 8 foot ceilings has 384 square feet of wall, or roughly 350 after a door and a window, which is one gallon per coat and two gallons for the usual two coats. Coverage drops well below the label on fresh drywall, bare wood, texture or a big colour change, where a primer coat pays for itself. Primer itself spreads less, often 200 to 300 square feet per gallon. For bigger jobs see How Much Does 5 Gallons of Paint Cover? Sq Ft & Rooms, for trim and doors see How Much Does a Quart of Paint Cover? Doors, Trim & More, and for litre tins see How Much Does 5 Litres of Paint Cover.
How to use How Much Does a Gallon of Paint Cover
Enter room length, width, and wall height in metres or feet
Set the number of doors and windows to subtract their area
Choose number of coats and see litres and gallons needed
Frequently Asked Questions
How many square feet does a gallon of paint cover?
About 350 to 400 square feet in one coat on a smooth, previously painted surface. Over two coats that becomes roughly 175 to 200 square feet of finished wall.
How many gallons of paint for a 12x12 room?
About two gallons for the walls with two coats. A 12 by 12 room with 8 foot ceilings has 384 square feet of wall, or about 350 after a door and window, so one gallon covers each coat. The ceiling is another 144 square feet.
Is one gallon enough for an accent wall?
Usually yes. A 12 by 8 foot wall is 96 square feet, so even two coats use only about 190 square feet of coverage, around half a gallon. A quart is too little for two coats on a wall that size.
Why does my gallon cover less than the can says?
The label figure assumes a smooth, sealed surface and a fairly thin, even coat. Rough texture, fresh drywall, bare wood and rolling on thick all use more. Covering a dark colour with a light one may need a third coat.
How much does a gallon of primer cover?
Typically 200 to 300 square feet, less than finish paint, because primer soaks into bare and porous surfaces. Enter the figure from the primer can in the coverage field to check your job.