Free Tool

Paint Calculator: How Much Paint Do I Need?

Enter the wall area you're painting, the number of coats, and your paint's coverage. Get the exact gallons of paint and primer to buy — with door and window deductions so you never over-order. Free for homeowners and pros.

Paint Calculator

Works in square feet · adjust coverage to your product's label

You'll Need

0 GAL PAINT 0 FT² NET AREA

Gallons = net area × coats ÷ coverage, rounded up. Net area subtracts 21 ft² per door and 15 ft² per window.

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Who this is for

Homeowners & pros
Homeowners

Buy the right amount, once

Measure your walls, plug in the numbers, and walk into the paint store knowing exactly how many gallons to grab — no half-finished walls, no leftover cans stacking up in the garage.

Painting Pros

Quote materials in seconds

Turn a measurement into a materials count on the spot, add your unit price for an instant cost, and quote with confidence. In ServicePros Hub, the same calculation drops straight into a proposal.

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How the math works

First we find your net paintable area by subtracting openings — a standard door is about 21 ft², a typical window about 15 ft². Then it's simple.

Gallons = (net area × coats) ÷ coverage, always rounded up to the next full gallon.

Most interior wall paints cover roughly 350 ft² per gallon per coat, but that varies by product, surface texture, and color change — check your can's label and adjust the coverage field. Primer typically covers a bit less (around 300 ft²/gal), so we calculate it separately when you turn it on. Two coats is standard for a durable, even finish, especially over a color change.

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FAQ

Paint estimating
How much does a gallon of paint cover?

A gallon of interior wall paint covers about 350 square feet in one coat on a smooth, primed surface. Rough or porous surfaces (new drywall, stucco, textured walls) absorb more and reduce coverage — lower the coverage number to match. Always check your specific product's label.

How many coats of paint do I need?

Two coats is the standard for a durable, even finish and is almost always required when changing colors or painting over new drywall. A single coat may work for a light refresh of the same color. This calculator defaults to two coats.

Do I subtract doors and windows?

Yes — for larger jobs it prevents over-buying. Enter the count of each and the calculator deducts 21 ft² per door and 15 ft² per window from the paintable area. For a rough estimate on a small room, you can leave them at zero.

How do I measure paintable wall area?

Multiply each wall's width by its height and add them together, then subtract doors and windows using the fields above. For a quick rectangular-room estimate, add the room's length and width, double it, and multiply by ceiling height.

Should I add primer?

Add a primer coat for new drywall, bare wood, patched areas, stain-blocking, or big color changes (especially dark-to-light). Turn on "Include a primer coat" and the calculator estimates primer gallons separately at its own coverage rate.

Run every job from one simple app

This calculator is one of the trade tools inside ServicePros Hub — proposals, scheduling, invoicing, and card payments for home-service pros. One flat price. No tiers, no add-ons.

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