Paint Coverage Per Gallon: What 350 Really Means
Why every can claims 350 sq ft, why you almost never get it, and how to estimate real-world coverage.
Every paint can on the shelf advertises about 350 square feet per gallon. That number is true under lab conditions: smooth, primed drywall, applied at proper thickness with a roller. Almost nobody paints under lab conditions.
Real-world coverage by surface
- Smooth, primed drywall: 350–400 sq ft (the lab number)
- Previously painted smooth wall: 350 sq ft
- New drywall (no primer): 200–250 sq ft
- Light texture (orange peel): 300 sq ft
- Heavy texture or popcorn ceilings: 200 sq ft
- Bare wood: 200–300 sq ft
- Stucco or brick: 100–150 sq ft (very porous)
Why dark colors cover less
Deep colors (especially reds, yellows, and blues) often need three coats because the pigments lack opacity. Plan for 75% of normal coverage when painting saturated colors.
How application method affects coverage
Brush: nearly 100% efficiency, but slow. Roller: 95% efficiency. Sprayer: 60–70% efficiency due to overspray. Sprayers save time, not paint.
Adjust the coverage-per-gallon input in the calculator to match your surface — accuracy goes way up.
Open the Paint CalculatorThe shortcut for non-perfect surfaces
Multiply lab coverage by 0.8 for typical walls, 0.6 for rough surfaces. So plan for 280 sq ft/gallon on average — not 350.
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