Home / Paint Calculator

Paint Calculator

How many gallons of paint your project needs.

Details

Results

Gallons needed
Wall area
Coverage used

Estimates — add extra for waste and confirm with your supplier.

How it works

Wall area = perimeter × ceiling height, minus doors and windows. We multiply by your number of coats and divide by 350 ft² per gallon (typical coverage), rounding up to whole gallons.

Coverage: one gallon covers about 350 ft². Rough or porous walls may need more.

HomeImprovCalc has more free tools

Plan your whole project with our other free DIY calculators.

Good to know

FAQs

How much paint do I need?

Measure wall area, subtract openings, multiply by coats, divide by ~350 ft² per gallon.

How many coats should I use?

Two is standard; dark colors or big color changes may need a primer plus two coats.

Does ceiling height matter?

Yes — taller walls mean more area and more paint.

How much does a gallon cover?

About 350 square feet on smooth, primed surfaces.

Should I buy extra?

Keep a little for touch-ups; rounding up to whole gallons usually covers it.