How Much Paint for a 12x12 Room?
A 12×12 ft room with 8 ft ceilings has 334 sq ft of paintable wall. Two coats take 1.91 gallons, so buy 2 gallons of wall paint. Adding the ceiling brings the total to 2.73 gallons (3 gallons).
Paint needed for a 12x12 room
| Scenario | Paintable area | Exact gallons | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walls, 1 coat | 334 sq ft | 0.95 | 1 gallon |
| Walls, 2 coats | 334 sq ft | 1.91 | 2 gallons |
| Ceiling, 2 coats | 144 sq ft | 0.82 | 1 gallon |
| Walls + ceiling, 2 coats | 478 sq ft | 2.73 | 3 gallons |
| Walls, 2 coats, 9 ft ceiling | 382 sq ft | 2.18 | 3 gallons |
Assumes 1 door (20 sq ft) and 2 windows (15 sq ft each) deducted, 350 sq ft per gallon, 8 ft ceiling unless stated. Trim and doors not included.
How it is calculated
Walls: 2 × (12 + 12) × 8 = 384 sq ft
Minus door and windows: 384 − 50 = 334 sq ft
Two coats: 334 × 2 ÷ 350 = 1.91 gallons → 2 gallons
Ceiling: 12 × 12 = 144 sq ft → 144 × 2 ÷ 350 = 0.82 gallons
Tips for a 12x12 room
- You need 1.91 gallons, so 2 gallons leaves about 0.4 quarts spare – enough for touch-ups. Do not bother with a 5-gallon bucket.
- Cutting in with a brush runs 48 ft along the ceiling line and another 48 ft along the baseboards, before counting door and window frames.
- The 144 sq ft ceiling needs only 0.82 gallons for two coats, so a quart or a gallon of ceiling paint is plenty.
Frequently asked questions
How many gallons of paint for a 12x12 room?
With 8 ft ceilings the walls total 2 × (12 + 12) × 8 = 384 sq ft. After deducting 50 sq ft for one door and two windows, 334 sq ft remain. Two coats at 350 sq ft per gallon is 1.91 gallons, so buy 2 gallons. One coat needs 0.95 gallons.
How much paint for the walls and ceiling of a 12x12 room?
The ceiling adds 144 sq ft. Walls plus ceiling, two coats, comes to 2.73 gallons, so buy 3 gallons. The ceiling alone needs 0.82 gallons for two coats.
How much does it cost to paint a 12x12 room?
Paint for the walls (2 gallons) costs roughly $50–$120 at $25–$60 per gallon. With 9 ft ceilings you would need 2.18 gallons, so 3 gallons. Primer, tape and supplies are extra.