Important: square feet here means the wall, ceiling, or siding surface receiving paint—not a home's floor area. Measure the actual surfaces before purchasing.
Gallons of paint by surface area
| Paintable area | One coat | Two coats | Detailed estimate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 sq ft | 1.57 gal → buy 2 | 3.14 gal → buy 4 | View calculation → |
| 750 sq ft | 2.36 gal → buy 3 | 4.71 gal → buy 5 | View calculation → |
| 1,000 sq ft | 3.14 gal → buy 4 | 6.29 gal → buy 7 | View calculation → |
| 1,500 sq ft | 4.71 gal → buy 5 | 9.43 gal → buy 10 | View calculation → |
| 2,000 sq ft | 6.29 gal → buy 7 | 12.57 gal → buy 13 | View calculation → |
The table assumes smooth, previously painted surfaces, 350 sq ft per gallon per coat, and 10% extra. Replace this planning rate with the coverage of the product you intend to use.
Formula
Gallons = paintable square feet × coats × 1.10 ÷ coverage per gallon.
For example, 1,000 sq ft with two coats requires 1,000 × 2 × 1.10 ÷ 350 = 6.29 gallons, so a whole-gallon purchase plan would be 7 gallons.
When to use a lower coverage rate
- New or unsealed drywall and repaired patches
- Brick, masonry, stucco, or heavily textured walls
- Spray application with measurable overspray
- A product whose label specifies less than 350 sq ft per gallon
Need to calculate wall area first?
Use the wall area calculator to subtract doors and windows, or enter all project details in the custom paint calculator.
