BagsAndYards How much you need — and what it costs

Paint for a 8×10 room

A 8×10 ft room with 8 ft ceilings has 288 sq ft of wall. For the standard 2 coats you need 2 gallons of paint (≈ $70).

Wall area288 sq ft
1 coat1 gal
2 coats (standard)2 gal
3 coats (big color change)3 gal
2 coats, textured/bare walls3 gal
2 coats + ceiling3 gal
Estimated cost (2 coats)≈ $70

Adjust it

Change the size, ceiling height, coats, or surface below:

How much paint do I need?

ft
ft
ft
You'll need about
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 × (8 + 10) × 8 = 288 sq ft; × 2 coats = 576 sq ft; ÷ 350 sq ft per gallon (smooth drywall) = 1.65 → round up to 2 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.