How much does a gallon of paint cover? About 350 to 400 square feet with one coat on a smooth, well-prepped wall. Rough or porous surfaces drop that to around 250 to 300 square feet. With two coats, one gallon finishes about 175 to 200 square feet of wall.
Always check the label on your can first, since each product has its own rate. Below, you will see what changes coverage, how to work out your gallons, and when one gallon is enough for a room.
The Standard Range for One Coat
Most paint cans list 350 to 400 square feet per gallon for one coat. Use 300 to 400 as a safe planning range across brands. If you ask how many square feet does a gallon of paint covers, that is the answer for a smooth wall that is already painted or primed.
Lowe’s says paint is usually applied at 350 to 400 square feet per gallon. It also tells you to use the number on the can for a closer match (Lowe’s Paint Calculator). PaintCare sees most rates between 300 and 400. It suggests 350 when you do not know the rate (PaintCare Buy Right guide).
The square foot coverage of a gallon of paint changes with the surface. Use this table as a starting point.
Surface | Typical coverage per gallon, one coat |
Smooth wall, already painted or primed | 350 to 400 sq ft |
Textured wall, such as stucco or brick | 250 to 300 sq ft |
Bare drywall, plaster, or wood | Below 350 sq ft, so check the label |
These are planning numbers, not promises. Some exterior paints list as low as 250 square feet per gallon. When the label and this table disagree, trust the label.
So how much does a gallon of paint cover if the label is missing? Plan on 350 square feet.
Coverage by Can Size
A gallon holds four quarts, so divide by four to size up a quart. A 5-gallon bucket is simple multiplication. This table uses 350 square feet per gallon and one coat.
Paint amount | Coverage, one coat |
1 quart | 87.5 sq ft |
1 gallon | 350 sq ft |
2 gallons | 700 sq ft |
3 gallons | 1,050 sq ft |
4 gallons | 1,400 sq ft |
5-gallon bucket | 1,750 sq ft |
Across the 300 to 400 range, a quart covers 75 to 100 square feet. A 5-gallon bucket covers 1,500 to 2,000 square feet. The same paint coverage per gallon scales up or down with the size of the can.
People who search how much sq ft does a gallon of paint cover often just need this table. Quarts suit doors, trim, and small touch-ups. For more detail, read how much a quart covers.
What Changes the Coverage
The label number assumes ideal conditions. Five things can pull it down.
Surface Texture
Rough walls have more surface to cover. Stucco, brick, and heavy texture can drop coverage to 250 to 300 square feet per gallon. PaintCare says very rough walls may need up to 50 percent more paint. Treat 250 to 300 as a planning number, not a rule.
Porosity and Priming
Porosity is how much a surface soaks up. New drywall, plaster, and bare wood act like a sponge. A primed wall or an already painted wall takes less paint.
Color Change
Going from dark to light, or light to dark, can take three or four coats. Reds, oranges, and purples often need even more.
Sheen
Flat paint stretches further. Satin and semi-gloss usually need more coats to look even.
Application Method
A roller with a thick nap holds more paint and uses more of it. A sprayer loses paint to overspray. A brush or thin-nap roller generally uses less.
One Coat vs. Two Coats
The label rate is for one coat. A second coat uses the same amount of paint again. So one gallon covers half as much wall when you apply two coats. Most walls get two coats. A similar color over a good surface may need only one.
Label rate | Wall one gallon covers with one coat | Wall one gallon covers with two coats |
300 sq ft | 300 sq ft | 150 sq ft |
350 sq ft | 350 sq ft | 175 sq ft |
400 sq ft | 400 sq ft | 200 sq ft |
The two-coat column shows how much wall one gallon can finish. It is not a new label rating.
How to Figure Out How Many Gallons You Need
Use this formula: wall area × number of coats ÷ coverage rate.
- Multiply width by height for each wall. Or multiply the room’s perimeter by the ceiling height.
- Subtract doors, at about 20 square feet each, and windows, at about 15 square feet each.
- Multiply the result by your number of coats.
- Divide by the coverage rate on the label.
Here is an example. Take a 12 by 12 room with an 8-foot ceiling. The perimeter is 48 feet, and 48 × 8 gives 384 square feet. One door and one window remove 35 square feet. That leaves about 350 square feet of wall.
For two coats, 350 × 2 equals 700. At 350 square feet per gallon, 700 ÷ 350 equals 2 gallons.
If your math lands on 2.4 gallons, round up. Buy 3 gallons, or two gallons and two quarts. Measure the ceiling on its own, since ceiling paint often has a different rate.
Does Primer Cover the Same as Paint?
No. Primer is its own product with its own rate. Lowe’s uses about 200 to 300 square feet per gallon for primer, so it spreads less than wall paint. Check the primer label.
Primer helps most on bare drywall, plaster, and bare wood. It seals the surface, so the top coat soaks in less. For a big color change, ask the store to tint the primer closer to your new color. PaintCare says this can cut the number of top coats.
Paint-and-primer products still list one coverage rate. Read the label before you do your math.
Is One Gallon Enough for a Room?
Go by wall area, not floor size. This table uses 8-foot ceilings and 350 square feet per gallon. Each room has one door and one window, except the living room, which has one door and two windows.
Room | Wall area after openings | Gallons, one coat | Gallons, two coats |
Small bathroom, 5 by 8 | about 170 sq ft | 0.5 | 1.0 |
Bedroom, 10 by 12 | about 320 sq ft | 0.9 | 1.8 |
Bedroom, 12 by 12 | about 350 sq ft | 1.0 | 2.0 |
Living room, 12 by 16 | about 400 sq ft | 1.1 | 2.3 |
Round up to whole gallons, or add a quart. Tall walls add area fast. A 10-foot ceiling adds 25 percent more wall than an 8-foot ceiling.
Get the Amount Right
How much does a gallon of paint cover on your walls? Measure them, pick your number of coats, and divide by the label rate. That keeps you from a second trip to the store.
Our Bid Calculator can help you size a job. Our team also handles interior painting across San Diego. Learn more about SD Custom Painting.
Frequently Asked Questions
How far does a 5-gallon bucket go?
About 1,750 square feet per coat at 350 square feet per gallon. The usual range is 1,500 to 2,000.
Do two coats double the paint?
For the same wall, yes. You use about twice the gallons. Good paint over a similar color may need only one coat.
Do textured walls use more paint?
Yes. Plan on 250 to 300 square feet per gallon. Very rough walls can need up to 50 percent more paint.
Is 350 square feet per gallon a safe guess?
Yes, when you do not have the label rate. Swap in the label number as soon as you have it.
Does primer change how much finish paint I need?
It can. A sealed wall takes less paint, and tinted primer can cut top coats.
