How Many Square Feet Does a Gallon of Paint Cover?

Painting your home is fun, but you need to know how many square feet a gallon of paint covers to buy the right amount. Too little paint means you run out. 

Too much paint wastes money. This guide makes it easy for homeowners like you to figure out paint coverage per gallon. 

Whether you’re painting one room or your whole house, we’ll show you how to plan. We’ll use simple tips from real people online, like a Reddit user who needed paint for a 1,200-square-foot home.

This guide is for DIYers who want to paint walls or maybe the outside of their home. It’s also for people hiring painters, but who want to check costs. 

We’ll cover how much paint I need, how to save money, and how to avoid mistakes.

Why Paint Coverage Per Gallon Is Important

Knowing how many square feet a gallon of paint covers¹ helps you buy just enough paint. If you buy too little, you might not finish. 

If you buy too much, you waste cash. For example, a Reddit user wanted to paint a 1,200-square-foot house but didn’t want to measure every wall. Knowing coverage saves time and stress.

This guide helps:

• DIYers painting a room or house.
• People are hiring painters to check quotes.
• Small contractors making quick plans.

How Many Square Feet Does a Gallon of Paint Cover?

A gallon of paint usually covers 350 to 400 square feet for one coat on smooth walls. This is for inside walls with normal paint. For example:

• Interior paint coverage: About 375 square feet for walls.
• Ceilings: Around 350 square feet because paint drips more.

Outside walls use more paint—about 250 to 350 square feet per gallon. Paint cans tell you the coverage. Check the label!

Different brands vary a bit:

• Sherwin-Williams: 350-400 square feet.
• Behr: 250-400 square feet.
• Benjamin Moore: Up to 425 square feet with good paint.

What Changes One Gallon Paint Coverage?

Lots of things affect how far paint goes. Here’s what to know:

1. Wall Texture: Smooth walls use less paint. Rough walls, like stucco, need more. Paint for textured walls covers 300-350 square feet.
2. Wall Condition: Dirty or new walls soak up paint. They cover only 200-300 square feet. Clean walls first or use a primer.
3. Color Change: Painting light over dark (or dark over light) needs more paint. Paint coverage for dark-to-light color changes drops to 250 square feet.
4. Paint Type: Good paint covers more. Cheap paint covers less. Flat paint uses more; glossy paint spreads farther. Paint finish types (matte, eggshell, semi-gloss) make a difference.
5. How You Paint: Rollers spread paint evenly. Brushes are used more. Sprayers cover more but need setup. Paint roller vs. sprayer efficiency can save 10-20% paint.
6. Number of Coats: Two coats make the paint look nice. How many coats per gallon? One coat uses the full amount; two coats cut coverage in half (175-200 square feet).
7. Weather: Hot or wet air changes how paint sticks. Wait 2-4 hours between coats for best results.

Knowing these helps you plan better and avoid running out.

Using a Paint Coverage Calculator

A paint coverage calculator makes it easy. Find them on paint store websites like Lowe’s. Here’s how:

1. Measure your room’s length, width, and height.
2. Take away 20 square feet for each door, 15 for each window.
3. Add up all wall areas.
4. Divide by 400 (or the can’s coverage number).
5. Add 10% extra for spills or fixes.

Example: A 12×12 room with 8-foot walls has 384 square feet. Minus a door and a window, it’s 350 square feet. For one coat, you need less than 1 gallon. For two coats, about 2 gallons.

Paint Coverage Formula

Use this paint coverage formula: Wall area ÷ Coverage per gallon = Gallons needed.

For two coats, double it. For ceilings, add length x width. For trim, add 0.5 square feet per foot of trim.

Example: How much paint do I need to cover a 12×12 room? 384 square feet ÷ 400 = 1 gallon for one coat. Two coats need 2 gallons.

For a house: How many gallons of paint for a 1500 sq ft house? Walls might be 4,000 square feet. At 350 per gallon for two coats, you need 23-29 gallons.

Wall Paint Coverage Guide for Rooms

Different rooms need different amounts:

• How much paint is needed to paint a bedroom? A 10×12 bedroom needs 1-2 gallons for two coats.
• Living room (15×20): 3-4 gallons.
• Bathroom: 1 gallon, use special paint for wet areas.
• Kitchen: 2-3 gallons, watch out for cabinets.

Ceiling height and paint needs: Tall ceilings (10 feet) add 20% more paint.

For an apartment: How much paint is needed to paint an entire apartment? A 1,000-square-foot place needs 10-15 gallons.

Paint Coverage Chart for Brands

Here’s how brands compare:

One gallon paint coverage Behr vs Sherwin-Williams comparison: Behr is cheaper; Sherwin lasts longer.

How Many Coats Per Gallon?

Two coats look best. Paint coverage per coat: One coat gets full coverage (350-400 square feet). Two coats cut it to 175-200 square feet.

Use primer for new walls or big color changes. Primer covers 200-300 square feet. Primer and topcoat coverage saves paint.

How many coats of paint per square foot coverage: About 1/400 gallon per square foot for one coat.

Inside vs. Outside Painting

Interior paint coverage²: Covers more because the walls are smooth.

Exterior paint coverage: Covers less (250-350 square feet) because of the weather and rough surfaces. Brick or stucco uses even more paint.

Paint coverage for new drywall: Use primer; covers 300 square feet.

Paint coverage for rough plaster or brick walls: Only 200-300 square feet.

Paint Absorption Rate and Tips to Save Paint

Some walls soak up paint. The paint absorption rate is high on new or dirty walls. Use primer to save paint.

Tips for paint efficiency:

• Use good rollers (3/8-inch nap).
• Don’t think about paint too much.
• Paint one wall at a time to avoid streaks.

Paint spread rate: Thick paint covers less but hides better.

Paint Cost Per Square Foot

Paint costs $0.10-0.20 per square foot. A $30 gallon covers 400 square feet, so about $0.075 per square foot.

Can you spend less than $100 for a big room? Yes! A 15×20 room needs 2 gallons ($40 each) plus brushes. Look for cheap “oops” paint at stores.

How Many Square Feet Will One Gallon of Paint Cover on Textured Walls

For how many square feet will one gallon of paint cover on textured walls: 300-350 square feet. Use a thick roller.

DIY Painting Tips

• Clean and fix the walls first.
• Roll in a W shape for even paint.
• Don’t put too much paint on the roller.
• Buy 10% extra for fixes.

A painter on Reddit said, “Two coats make it look good.”

How to Estimate Paint Coverage Without a Calculator

For quick paint measurement tips: Multiply wall length by height. One gallon covers a small room for two coats.

Needs more paint—about 250 square feet per gallon. Use gray primer.

Paint Brand Coverage (Sherwin-Williams, Behr, Benjamin Moore, Valspar)

• Sherwin-Williams: Best for pros.
• Behr: Great for DIY.
• Benjamin Moore: Covers with less paint.
• Valspar: Good for most jobs.

How much wall area does 5 gallons of paint cover: 1,750-2,000 square feet for one coat.

Thick paint hides better but covers less. Thin it a little for sprayers.

FAQs

How many square feet does a gallon of paint cover with two coats? 

About 175-200 square feet.

How much paint for one coat vs two coats? 

One coat: 350-400 square feet. Two coats: Double the paint.

How many gallons to paint two rooms with 8-foot ceilings? 

3-5 gallons.

How to calculate paint coverage for walls and ceilings? 

Add ceiling (length x width) to walls.

Paint coverage calculator for home interior? 

Use store websites.

Conclusion

To wrap up, how many square feet a gallon of paint covers is usually 350-400 for inside walls, but texture, color, and coats change it. 

Use these simple tips to buy the right amount and paint like a pro. Clean walls and use good tools for the best job.

What room are you painting, and how will you use this paint coverage estimate?

References

1. Reddit: How do I know how much paint I need? ↩︎
2. Quora: How many square feet should a gallon of eggshell white indoor paint cover? ↩︎