BagsAndYards How much you need — and what it costs

Paint for a 10×12 room

A 10×12 ft room with 8 ft ceilings has 352 sq ft of wall. For the standard 2 coats you need 3 gallons of paint (≈ $105).

Wall area352 sq ft
1 coat2 gal
2 coats (standard)3 gal
3 coats (big color change)4 gal
2 coats, textured/bare walls3 gal
2 coats + ceiling3 gal
Estimated cost (2 coats)≈ $105

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How much paint do I need?

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Paintable area
Coverage needed (with coats)
Estimated paint cost

Estimate for walls (2 coats by default). Coverage assumes smooth, primed drywall; bare or textured walls absorb more — pick "Textured." Small doors/windows are left in as a cut-in buffer. Cost is an estimate (as of June 2026) — confirm the price of your chosen paint.

The math: wall area = 2 × (10 + 12) × 8 = 352 sq ft; × 2 coats = 704 sq ft; ÷ 350 sq ft per gallon (smooth drywall) = 2.01 → round up to 3 gallons. Read the full guide: How much paint do I need?

Other room sizes

Last updated: 2026-07-03.
Coverage from Sherwin-Williams (350–400 sq ft/gal smooth drywall) and Behr guidance. Cost is a US-average estimate.