Buying too little paint can interrupt a project. Buying far too much ties up money and leaves you storing cans you may never use. A practical estimate uses room dimensions and the coverage printed on the paint you plan to buy.
Calculate the paintable wall area
Use our Paint Calculator to enter room length, width, wall height, doors, windows and number of coats. You can also replace the default coverage with the figure stated by the paint manufacturer.
Do not forget the second coat
Coverage figures usually describe area per gallon, but color changes, porous surfaces and finish quality can make a second coat necessary. If you are moving from a dark color to a light one, primer may also be part of the job.
Ceilings and trim are separate
A wall-paint estimate does not automatically include ceilings, doors, baseboards, crown molding or window trim. Calculate those surfaces separately if they will use different paint or finish.
Use the same batch when possible
For large continuous areas, buying enough paint from the same batch can reduce the chance of slight color variation. Keep a small labeled amount for future touch-ups.
Material cost is not installed cost
The calculator can estimate paint material cost, but professional painting quotes may also include preparation, patching, sanding, masking, moving furniture and cleanup. Compare contractor scopes before comparing totals.