How much paint do I need for a room?
Answer
1-2 gallons for an average bedroom, 2-3 gallons for a living room (2 coats)
Small bedroom (10x10): about 1.5 gallons for walls with 2 coatsAverage bedroom (12x12): about 2 gallons for walls with 2 coatsLarge living room (16x20): about 3 gallons for walls with 2 coatsOne gallon covers 350-400 sq ft per coatSubtract about 15% from wall area for windows and doorsTextured walls or dark-to-light color changes may require an extra coat
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How We Calculated This
Gallons = (Wall Area x Coats) / 350 sq ft per gallon
12x12 room, 8ft walls: 2 x (12+12) x 8 = 384 sq ft x 0.85 = 326 sq ft x 2 coats / 350 = 1.9 gallons (round to 2)
Related Calculations
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Calculated using verified formulas. Last updated March 2026.