How to estimate paint for your bedroom
Most bedrooms are a single gallon job for two coats, but closet doors and multiple windows change the math. Enter the room dimensions and how many doors and windows to skip, and the calculator gives you the exact number of gallons.
Painting a bedroom a similar color? One coat may be enough. Going from a bold accent wall back to a neutral usually needs two coats plus primer, which the checkbox estimates separately.
Coverage cheat sheet
| Surface / situation | Approx. coverage per gallon |
|---|
| Smooth, previously painted surface | 350 to 400 sq ft |
| New or bare wood / drywall (thirsty) | 250 to 350 sq ft |
| Textured, rough, or weathered | 200 to 300 sq ft |
| Primer | 200 to 300 sq ft |
This tool defaults to 350 sq ft per gallon for a bedroom. Change it under
Advanced if your surface is rougher or more porous than average.
Frequently asked questions
How much paint for a 10x12 bedroom?
A 10 by 12 bedroom with 8-foot walls is about 352 square feet of wall. With two coats and a door and window skipped, that is right around 2 gallons at standard coverage.
Do I paint the closet interior too?
If you want the closet painted, add its wall area by treating it as a small extra room, or bump your total up by about a quarter gallon. Closet interiors are often left in primer or the original color.
How many square feet does a gallon of paint cover?
One gallon of interior wall paint typically covers 350 to 400 square feet in a single coat. Textured, porous, or dark-to-light surfaces cover less, so this calculator uses a conservative default to keep you from coming up short.
Should I buy extra paint?
Yes. Keep a little for touch-ups. Rounding up to full gallons usually gives you enough of a cushion; for large jobs, add roughly 10 percent so you have a color-matched can on the shelf later.