How Much Paint for a Kitchen?
A 12 × 14 ft kitchen with 8 ft ceilings, 2 doors and 2 windows has about 346 sq ft of wall to paint. Two coats takes about 2.0 gallons, so buy 2. Change the sizes, doors or ceiling below.
Method: Paintable wall area (perimeter × height, minus doors and windows) × coats ÷ about 350 sq ft per gallon, the coverage on most paint cans.
Paint to buy
2 gallons
About 7.6 litres · 346 sq ft of wall
| Wall area | 416 sq ft |
| Doors and windows (2 + 2) | −70 sq ft |
| Paintable wall | 346 sq ft |
| Walls, 2 coats | 2.0 gal → buy 2 |
| Total (litres) | 7.6 L |
- • Coverage assumes 350 sq ft per gallon per coat. Rough or porous walls use more, and smooth primed walls use a little less.
- • Going from a dark colour to a light one, or painting new drywall? Add a coat of primer (same coverage as paint).
Paint needed by room size
Two coats on the walls of a room with 8 ft ceilings, one door and two windows.
| Room | Paintable wall | Gallons needed | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10′ × 10′ | 270 sq ft | 1.5 | 2 gal |
| 12′ × 12′ | 334 sq ft | 1.9 | 2 gal |
| 12′ × 16′ | 398 sq ft | 2.3 | 3 gal |
| 14′ × 16′ | 430 sq ft | 2.5 | 3 gal |
| 15′ × 20′ | 510 sq ft | 2.9 | 3 gal |
How the calculation works
Wall area is the distance around the room times the ceiling height. Each door (about 20 sq ft) and window (about 15 sq ft) is subtracted. That area, times the number of coats, is divided by the 350 sq ft one gallon covers, then rounded up to whole cans. Ceilings are added separately.
More paint guides
- 10×10 room
- 10×12 room
- 12×12 room
- 12×14 room
- 12×16 room
- 14×14 room
- 14×16 room
- 15×20 room
- Bedroom
- Living room
- Bathroom
Frequently asked questions
How much paint do I need for a 12x12 room?
About 2 gallons for two coats on the walls of a 12 × 12 ft room with 8 ft ceilings, one door and two windows. Add a gallon if you are also painting the ceiling.
How many square feet does a gallon of paint cover?
About 350 sq ft per coat on smooth walls. Manufacturers quote anywhere from 250 to 400 sq ft depending on the paint and the surface.
Do I need two coats?
Usually yes. Two coats give an even colour and better wear. One coat only works over a very similar colour.
Should I buy extra paint?
The calculator rounds up to whole gallons, which leaves a little for touch-ups. Buy the whole amount from one batch so the colour matches.