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Paint calculator
Industry standard
Result
Paintable area
Gallons
Coats
Region
Waste
Prices: national avg · Jun 2026 · sources
DiagramUpdates as you type

Estimate how many gallons of paint you need from your wall area, the number of coats, and any openings.

Formula

gallons = paintable_area ÷ 350 × coats (round up)

Method & sources
Formula basisIndustry coverage rates
How we calculatePaintable area ÷ coverage (≈ 350–400 ft²/gal) × number of coats, minus door and window openings. Full method →
Formula verified against the published standard above. Method last reviewed June 2026. Estimates are for planning — confirm against supplier quotes.

Coverage

One gallon covers roughly 350–400 ft² in a single coat. We use the conservative 350 ft² figure so you don't run short.

Coats and primer

Most jobs need two coats. Treat primer as an additional coat at the same coverage.

Worked example

Two coats on a 12 x 14 ft living room

Walls: perimeter 2 x (12 + 14) = 52 ft, times 8 ft = 416 square feet. Subtract a door and two windows, roughly 50 square feet, for 366 square feet of paintable wall. At 350 square feet per gallon and two coats: 366 ÷ 350 x 2 = 2.1 gallons, rounded up to 3 gallons.

If the walls are a dramatic color change or you're covering a dark wall with a light one, add a primer coat — treat it as a third coat at the same coverage, which pushes you to 4 gallons. Textured walls also drink more paint, so drop your coverage estimate to 300 square feet per gallon.

What affects your result

Common mistakes to avoid

Where the numbers come from

Coverage is the conservative end of the manufacturer label range (350 ft²/gal). Textured or porous surfaces use more.

Frequently asked questions

How much paint for a 400 sq ft wall?

About 3 gallons for two coats at 350 ft² per gallon.

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