How Much Paint for a 8x10 Room?
A 8×10 ft room with 8 ft ceilings has 238 sq ft of paintable wall. Two coats take 1.36 gallons, so buy 2 gallons of wall paint. Adding the ceiling brings the total to 1.82 gallons (2 gallons).
Paint needed for a 8x10 room
| Scenario | Paintable area | Exact gallons | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walls, 1 coat | 238 sq ft | 0.68 | 1 gallon |
| Walls, 2 coats | 238 sq ft | 1.36 | 2 gallons |
| Ceiling, 2 coats | 80 sq ft | 0.46 | 1 gallon |
| Walls + ceiling, 2 coats | 318 sq ft | 1.82 | 2 gallons |
| Walls, 2 coats, 9 ft ceiling | 274 sq ft | 1.57 | 2 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 × (8 + 10) × 8 = 288 sq ft
Minus door and windows: 288 − 50 = 238 sq ft
Two coats: 238 × 2 ÷ 350 = 1.36 gallons → 2 gallons
Ceiling: 8 × 10 = 80 sq ft → 80 × 2 ÷ 350 = 0.46 gallons
Tips for a 8x10 room
- The two-coat need is 1.36 gallons, so a single gallon is not quite enough. Buy 1 gallon plus 2 quarts rather than a second full gallon.
- Cutting in with a brush runs 36 ft along the ceiling line and another 36 ft along the baseboards, before counting door and window frames.
- The 80 sq ft ceiling needs only 0.46 gallons for two coats, so a quart or a gallon of ceiling paint is plenty.
- Small rooms like this are mostly cutting-in work around trim. Spend your time on edges and use a 3 inch angled brush.
Frequently asked questions
How many gallons of paint for a 8x10 room?
With 8 ft ceilings the walls total 2 × (8 + 10) × 8 = 288 sq ft. After deducting 50 sq ft for one door and two windows, 238 sq ft remain. Two coats at 350 sq ft per gallon is 1.36 gallons, so buy 2 gallons. One coat needs 0.68 gallons.
How much paint for the walls and ceiling of a 8x10 room?
The ceiling adds 80 sq ft. Walls plus ceiling, two coats, comes to 1.82 gallons, so buy 2 gallons. The ceiling alone needs 0.46 gallons for two coats.
How much does it cost to paint a 8x10 room?
Paint for the walls (2 gallons) costs roughly $50–$120 at $25–$60 per gallon. With 9 ft ceilings you would need 1.57 gallons, so 2 gallons. Primer, tape and supplies are extra.