Paint Guide
The basic formula is simple: measure your walls, divide by the coverage rate, and account for multiple coats.
Most interior paint covers 350-400 square feet per gallon on smooth surfaces. Our calculator uses conservative estimates:
| Surface | Coverage | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Walls (smooth drywall) | 350 SF/gal | Most common |
| Ceilings | 400 SF/gal | Flat paint spreads further |
| Textured walls | 250-300 SF/gal | Texture absorbs more |
| New drywall | 300 SF/gal | More porous, needs primer |
Always buy a little extra. Having the same batch (lot number) for touch-ups later is worth the few extra dollars.
Most painting jobs need two coats for even coverage and durability. Here's when you might need more or less:
Primer creates a uniform surface for paint to stick to. You need it in these situations:
| Situation | Primer Needed? |
|---|---|
| New drywall | Yes - drywall absorbs paint unevenly |
| Drywall patches/repairs | Yes - spot prime the patches |
| Dark to light color | Yes - gray-tinted primer helps |
| Covering stains | Yes - use stain-blocking primer |
| Same/similar color, good condition | Usually no |
| Using paint+primer combo | Depends on surface condition |
Unpainted drywall will absorb paint unevenly, leaving visible seams and texture differences. A coat of primer is much cheaper than extra coats of finish paint.
Paint comes in quarts (covers ~90 SF), gallons (covers ~350 SF), and 5-gallon buckets (covers ~1,750 SF).
If you need more than 3 gallons of the same color, a 5-gallon bucket is usually cheaper per gallon and ensures color consistency across the whole room.
Use our free paint calculator to figure out exactly how much you need.
🎨 Open Paint Calculator