How much paint for a 10×10 ceiling?
A 10 × 10 ft ceiling (100 square feet) needs about 0.57 gallons of ceiling paint for two coats on a smooth surface. That rounds to three quarts, so buy 1 gallon.
How to work it out
- 10 ft × 10 ft = 100 sq ft of ceiling
- 100 sq ft × 2 coats ÷ 350 sq ft/gal = 0.57 gal → buy 1 gallon
A 10 × 10 ft ceiling, in a small bedroom, office or laundry room, sits awkwardly between can sizes: two coats need a little over half a gallon. The math says three quarts, but most stores price a gallon below three quarts.
Adjust for your project
More options: Coverage · Extra (spray loss, touch-up stock)
- Ceiling paint needed
- 0.57 gal (2.16 L)
- Cans of the size you chose
- 1 can · 1-gallon
- Ceiling area
- 100 sq ft
- Paint per coat
- 1.14 qt
- Coverage used
- 350 sq ft/gal
- Using a planning coverage for this surface. The figure on your can is better: type it under More options.
Ceiling paint by room width (same length and coats)
| Room width | Ceiling area | Ceiling paint needed | Buy (gallons and quarts) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 ft | 80 sq ft | 1.83 qt | 2 quarts |
| 10 ft | 100 sq ft | 0.57 gal | 1 gallon |
| 12 ft | 120 sq ft | 0.69 gal | 1 gallon |
| 14 ft | 140 sq ft | 0.8 gal | 1 gallon |
| 16 ft | 160 sq ft | 0.91 gal | 1 gallon |
| 20 ft | 200 sq ft | 1.14 gal | 1 gallon + 1 quart |
What to know about a 10×10 ceiling
Two coats over 100 sq ft is 200 sq ft of painting. At 350 sq ft per gallon that is 0.57 gallons; at 400, half a gallon exactly. A quart covers about 87 sq ft at 350, so even one coat doesn’t quite fit in a single quart.
- Two quarts or a gallon? Two quarts cover one coat with some spare. For two coats you need three quarts, and the gallon is usually the better buy, with the rest for the next room.
- Bathrooms and laundry rooms. Steam and lint call for a moisture-resistant ceiling paint. A 10 × 10 bathroom is unusual; most are smaller, so check the small bathroom page for the walls.
- Textured ceilings. At 250 sq ft per gallon the same ceiling needs 0.8 gallons, a gallon either way.
- Light fixtures. Take the fixture canopy down and cap the wires, or at least loosen it so you can paint behind it. Turn the breaker off first.
The walls of a 10 × 10 room take about 1.5 gallons for two coats: see how much paint for a 10x10 room.
Different size? Use the full Ceiling Paint Calculator.
What you’ll need
- Extension pole (4–8 ft)Budget price
Rolls ceilings and tall walls from the floor, with more even pressure than reaching from a ladder.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Roller covers, 3/8 in and 1/2 in napBudget price
Shorter nap for smooth walls and trim-adjacent work, longer nap for textured ceilings and rough siding. A fresh cover per color saves cleanup.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Angled sash brush (2–2½ in)Budget price
For cutting in along ceilings, corners and trim. A nylon-polyester brush is what the latex data sheets recommend.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Links to products are affiliate links — they cost you nothing extra and help keep these calculators free.
Frequently asked questions
How much paint for a 10x10 textured ceiling?
About 0.8 gallons for two coats: 1 gallon.
How much paint for a 10x12 ceiling?
About 0.69 gallons for two coats on a smooth ceiling: 1 gallon.
Other common sizes
- How much paint for a 12x12 ceiling — 0.82 gal: buy 1 gallon
- How much paint for a 20x20 ceiling — 2.29 gal: buy 2 gallons + 2 quarts
Sources
- Behr, Premium Plus Interior Ceiling Flat Paint & Primer (No. 558), technical data sheet (opens in a new tab) — Coverage 250–400 sq ft per gallon depending on application method and porosity; formulated for textured, popcorn and acoustic ceilings.
- Sherwin-Williams, ProMar 200 Zero VOC Interior Latex Flat (B30 series), product data sheet (opens in a new tab) — Coverage 350–400 sq ft per gallon at 4 mils wet; sheen 1.5–3.5 units at 85°.
- US EPA, Learn About Asbestos (opens in a new tab) — Lists textured paint and patching compounds used on walls and ceilings among older products that may contain asbestos.