Paint Coverage per Gallon

A gallon of standard interior paint covers approximately 350 square feet per coat. Premium paint covers up to 400 sq ft/gallon; textured surfaces and primer cover less.

Coverage by paint type

Paint type	Coverage per gallon	Notes
Standard interior	350 sq ft	Most common — Sherwin-Williams, Behr, etc.
Premium / self-priming	400 sq ft	Higher pigment density
Primer	250 sq ft	More absorption, surfaces vary
Exterior paint	300–400 sq ft	Varies by surface and brand
Textured walls	250–300 sq ft	Rough surfaces absorb more

Source: Manufacturer averages (Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore product data sheets)

How many gallons per coat?

Room/area	Wall area	Gallons per coat
8 × 10 ft room	288 sq ft	1 gallon
10 × 12 ft room	352 sq ft	1 gallon
12 × 12 ft room	384 sq ft	1–2 gallons
12 × 16 ft room	448 sq ft	2 gallons
Average house interior (~2,000 sq ft walls)	2,000 sq ft	6 gallons

Gross wall area before subtracting doors and windows. Divide by 350 for standard paint.

What a quart covers

A quart = 1/4 gallon ≈ 87 sq ft per coat.

Use case	Quart enough?
Accent wall (one wall, ~80 sq ft)	Yes
Color sample / test	Yes
Touch-ups	Yes
Full room (2 coats)	No — need gallons

Factors that reduce coverage

New drywall: Porous surface absorbs 20–30% more — prime first
Dark colors: May need 3 coats for full coverage over a lighter color
Brush vs. roller: Rollers cover faster and more evenly; brushes use more paint
Thick application: Going too heavy reduces coverage per gallon

Use the Paint Calculator to get the exact gallon count for your room, including door/window deductions and number of coats.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many square feet does a gallon of paint cover?

A gallon of standard interior paint covers approximately 350 square feet per coat on smooth walls. Premium paints can cover up to 400 sq ft per gallon. Textured or porous surfaces typically yield 250–300 sq ft per gallon.

How much wall area does a quart of paint cover?

A quart is one-quarter of a gallon and covers roughly 87–100 sq ft per coat — about the size of one average wall. Quarts are good for accent walls, touch-ups, or testing a color.

Does the number of coats affect coverage?

Yes. Coverage per gallon refers to one coat. For 2 coats, double your gallon estimate. A 12×12 room needs about 1.9 gallons per coat, so 4 gallons for 2 coats (before rounding up).

Why does paint coverage vary so much?

Coverage depends on surface texture (smooth vs. textured walls), surface porosity (new drywall absorbs more paint), application method (roller vs. brush), and the paint formula (cheaper paints have lower pigment density).