How many gallons of paint for a 10×10 room?
Quick Answer
A 10×10 foot room with 8-foot ceilings needs approximately 1 gallon of paint per coat, or 1.5 gallons for two coats on the walls. After subtracting one door and one window, the net wall area is about 285–300 square feet. One gallon covers 350–400 sq ft, so 1.5 gallons covers two full coats with a little extra.
Quick Reference Table
| Room size | Paint needed (2 coats) |
|---|---|
| 8×8 ft | 1 gallon |
| 10×10 ft | 1–1.5 gallons |
| 10×12 ft | 1.5 gallons |
| 12×12 ft | 1.5–2 gallons |
| 12×15 ft | 2 gallons |
| Add ceiling | +1 quart to +1 gallon |
How to Calculate It Yourself
- 1
Wall area: (10+10+10+10) × 8 ft ceiling = 320 sq ft gross.
- 2
Subtract 1 door (21 sq ft) + 1 window (15 sq ft) = 36 sq ft. Net: 284 sq ft.
- 3
Per coat: 284 ÷ 375 (avg coverage) = 0.76 gallons.
- 4
Two coats: 0.76 × 2 = 1.52 gallons. Buy 2 gallons for safety.
Pro Tip
For a 10×10 room, the choice between 1 gallon and 2 gallons is often a coin flip. When in doubt, buy 2 — leftover paint in a sealed can stays good for 2–5 years for touch-ups. Going back to the store mid-project risks a slightly different tint from a new mix.
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