Wall paint for a 12×16 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 | 397 sq ft | 2.27 gal | 2 gallons + 2 quarts |
| 9 ft | 453 sq ft | 2.59 gal | 3 gallons |
| 10 ft | 509 sq ft | 2.91 gal | 3 gallons |
Ceiling paint
The ceiling is 192 sq ft. One coat needs 1 gallon; two coats need 1 gallon + 1 quart. Flat ceiling paint hides imperfections best.
Buying for this room
Walls and ceiling together come to about 3.4 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 + 1 quart for the walls.
The math
Common questions
How many gallons of paint for a 12x16 room?
2 gallons + 2 quarts for two coats on the walls with 8 ft ceilings, plus 1 gallon + 1 quart if you paint the ceiling.
How much paint for a 12x16 room with 9 ft ceilings?
3 gallons for two coats on the walls.
Is one gallon enough for a 12x16 room?
No — even one coat on the walls takes 1.13 gallons.
Want the full method, tips and other sizes? See the paint calculator guide.