How Much Paint Do I Need? A Room-by-Room Guide

The right answer depends on five things: room size, ceiling height, number of doors and windows, number of coats, and paint coverage. Here are realistic numbers for the rooms in a typical American home.

Bedroom (12 × 12, 9-ft ceilings)

Walls only: 2 gallons for two coats. With ceiling: add 1 gallon (you can use the same color or a dedicated ceiling paint).

Master bedroom (14 × 16)

2.5 gallons for walls — round up to 3 since you can't buy half-gallons. Add 1.5 gallons for the ceiling.

Bathroom (8 × 10)

1 gallon covers walls and ceiling. Use a mildew-resistant paint with satin sheen — it'll wipe clean and resist humidity.

Living room (16 × 20)

3 gallons for walls. 2 gallons for the ceiling if you're painting it. Add a dedicated quart of trim paint.

Kitchen (12 × 14, with cabinets)

1.5 gallons for walls (after subtracting cabinet area). Cabinets are separate — figure 1 gallon of cabinet paint per 100 linear feet of cabinet face.

Whole-house interior (2,000 sq ft, 8 rooms)

• Walls: 12–15 gallons of premium paint
• Ceilings: 4–5 gallons of flat ceiling paint
• Trim and doors: 2 gallons of semi-gloss
• Primer (if needed): 3–5 gallons
• Total cost: $700–$1,400 depending on brand

Always buy 10% extra

Spills, touch-ups, and uneven coverage all eat into your supply. A sealed leftover gallon also lets you do an invisible touch-up two years from now.