One of the most frequently asked questions regarding painting projects is, How much paint should I buy? There’s not an exact answer to this question, because it depends on so many things like how large the room you’re painting is, what kind of paint you’re using, and how many coats you plan to do. However, there are some general guidelines to follow so that you don’t waste too much money on unused paint or have to go back and do additional touch-ups once your project is finished.
Total Room Square Feet
The first step in calculating how much paint you’ll need is determining how many square feet your project will cover. Calculate this by multiplying the length of your wall by its height. For example, if your room measures 20′ x 10′, then it has 200 square feet. If you’re painting a hallway that measures 10′ x 12′, then it has 120 square feet.
Add Additional 10% For Borders
The last thing you want is to run out of paint and have to order more. So before you start, make sure you add an additional 10% for borders. For example, if you need 100 square feet of paint, order 110. If your room measures 400 square feet, buy 440 sq ft of paint. If your painting project includes three rooms (600 sq ft total) you’ll need 660 sq ft of paint.
Multiply By The Coverage Rate Per Gallon
To figure out how much paint you need for a project, start by multiplying the square footage that you’re painting by the coverage rate per gallon. For example, if you have a 5×5 room and are using an interior latex paint that has a coverage rate of 75 sq. ft. per gallon, then multiply 5x5x75 = 375 gallons. If your calculation yields a number greater than what can be stored in your standard containers (e.g., five-gallon buckets), divide the result by the amount of available space in each container. If it’s less than what can be stored in your standard containers, add more containers to accommodate for any unused space or choose a different paint with a lower coverage rate (i.e., 45 sq. ft./gal).
Round Up
To figure out how much paint you need, you need to know how many square feet your project will cover. Once you have an idea of this, multiply that number by the height and width of the wall or surface area. For example, if your project is going on a 5 ft x 10 ft wall, that is 50 square feet. So 50 x 5 = 250 sqft (this would be enough for one coat) or 100 sqft (this would be enough for two coats).
