Wall paint for a 12×12 room by ceiling height
Two coats, 350 sq ft per gallon, one door and two windows subtracted.
| Ceiling height | Wall area | Exact paint | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 ft | 333 sq ft | 1.9 gal | 2 gallons |
| 9 ft | 381 sq ft | 2.18 gal | 2 gallons + 1 quart |
| 10 ft | 429 sq ft | 2.45 gal | 2 gallons + 2 quarts |
Ceiling paint
The ceiling is 144 sq ft. One coat needs 2 quarts; two coats need 1 gallon. Flat ceiling paint hides imperfections best.
Buying for this room
Walls and ceiling together come to about 2.7 gallons, so single gallons and quarts are the right size. If you plan to paint other rooms the same color, a 5-gallon bucket may still be the better buy. Need primer for new drywall or a big color change? Plan on 1 gallon for the walls.
The math
Common questions
How many gallons of paint for a 12x12 room?
2 gallons for two coats on the walls with 8 ft ceilings, plus 1 gallon if you paint the ceiling.
How much paint for a 12x12 room with 9 ft ceilings?
2 gallons + 1 quart for two coats on the walls.
Is one gallon enough for a 12x12 room?
One gallon covers one coat on the walls (0.95 gal needed), but you'll want 2 gallons for two coats.
Want the full method, tips and other sizes? See the paint calculator guide.