BuildMaterialCalc

Paint & Finishes

How Much Does 1 Gallon of Paint Cover?

Quick Reference

At a glance

What a single gallon of paint covers
Surface or useCoverageCoats needed
Smooth interior walls350 ft²2 coats typical
Textured walls250–300 ft²2 coats
One small bedroom (12×12)All walls, 1 coat~96 ft² ceiling extra
Exterior wood siding250 ft²2 coats
Trim and cabinets400 ft²2 coats
Stucco150–200 ft²2–3 coats

How to calculate it yourself

Wall area in ft² ÷ 350 = gallons per coat. Multiply by number of coats. A single gallon at one coat handles roughly 350 ft²; the same gallon stretched to two coats handles only 175 ft².

Common scenarios

Small bedroom (12×12, 8-ft ceiling)

384 ft² of wall. One gallon = one coat with 35 ft² to spare. Two coats need 2 gallons.

Hallway (3 ft × 20 ft × 8 ft)

Wall area 368 ft². One gallon for one coat; 2 gallons for two coats.

Single accent wall (15×8 ft)

120 ft². One quart (¼ gallon) covers it for one coat with extra. Two coats: ½ gallon.

Related questions

Frequently asked

  • A small bedroom (~12×12 ft with 8-ft ceilings) for one coat on the walls. Two coats need 2 gallons.

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