How Much Paint for a Bedroom?
Quick answer: a 12×12 bedroom has about 320 sq ft of paintable wall — about 1 gallon per coat, or 2 gallons for two coats. The ceiling adds 144 sq ft, about half a gallon per coat.
- Wall area math
- Subtract the openings
- The ceiling is separate
- Gallons by room size
- Finish and coats
- Worked example: 12×12 bedroom
- FAQ
Wall area math
Wall area = perimeter × height. A 12×12 bedroom with 8-foot ceilings: 48 × 8 = 384 sq ft, minus a door (~21 sq ft) and window (~12 sq ft) ≈ 350 sq ft, and you may skip closet doors if you're not painting them.
Subtract the openings
Standard deductions: a door is about 21 sq ft, a window about 12 sq ft. Subtract each opening you're not painting, then divide by coverage — 350 sq ft per gallon for wall paint.
The ceiling is separate
The ceiling takes its own paint — length × width for a 12×12 is 144 sq ft, about half a gallon per coat of ceiling paint. Use flat white or a ceiling formulation; it also hides the tape line where wall color stops.
| Room size | Walls (minus openings) | Paint per coat | Ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10×10 | ~280 sq ft | 0.8 gal | 100 sq ft |
| 12×12 | ~320 sq ft | 1 gal | 144 sq ft |
| 12×15 | ~400 sq ft | 1.1 gal | 180 sq ft |
| 14×16 | ~460 sq ft | 1.3 gal | 224 sq ft |
Finish and coats
Eggshell or matte for bedroom walls — low sheen hides imperfections and reads calm. Two coats are standard for even color; one gallon per coat covers a 12×12, so budget 2 gallons for the walls plus 1 quart of ceiling paint.
Worked example: a 12×12 bedroom
- Walls = 384 − 21 (door) − 12 (window) ≈ 350 sq ft
- ÷ 350 sq ft/gal = 1 gallon per coat
- Two coats → 2 gallons of wall paint
- Ceiling 144 sq ft → 1 gallon (half used)
FAQ
A 12×12 bedroom has about 320 sq ft of paintable wall — roughly 1 gallon per coat, or 2 gallons for two coats. The ceiling adds 144 sq ft, about half a gallon per coat.
About 1 gallon per coat for the walls (320 sq ft ÷ 350), or 2 gallons for two coats. The 144 sq ft ceiling adds about half a gallon per coat.
About 320 sq ft of paintable wall — 384 sq ft of perimeter wall minus a 21 sq ft door and 12 sq ft window.
About 3 quarts to 1 gallon per coat for the walls. A 10×10 room has ~280 sq ft of paintable wall after openings; at 350 sq ft/gal that's 0.8 gallons.
Yes — the ceiling is a separate surface and usually gets flat white. A 12×12 ceiling is 144 sq ft; one gallon covers it easily.