How much paint for a front door?
The outside face and edges of a 36 × 80 in front door come to about 22.8 square feet and need 0.46 quarts of paint for two coats. Buy 1 quart.
How to work it out
- 36 in × 80 in = 20 sq ft per face × 1 + edges 2.8 sq ft = 22.8 sq ft per door
- 22.8 sq ft × 2 coats ÷ 400 sq ft/gal = 0.46 qt → 1 quart
A front door is the smallest paint job on the house and the one everyone sees. One side of a 36 × 80 in entry door is 20 sq ft, so two coats use well under a quart; the question is the paint, not the amount.
Adjust for your project
More options: T · Extra (spray loss, touch-up stock)
- Paint needed
- 0.46 qt (0.43 L)
- Cans of the size you chose
- 1 can · 1-quart
- Door surface (one coat)
- 22.8 sq ft
- Paint per coat
- 0.23 qt
- Coverage used
- 400 sq ft/gal
- Raised-panel doors have more surface than a flat slab of the same size; add 10–15% under Extra for deep panels.
- Edges on a door with two colors: the latch edge takes the color of the side the door swings into, and on an inswing front door the hinge edge takes the exterior color, so each edge matches the face you see when the door is open.
- Old house? If it was built before 1978, read lead paint safety before you sand or scrape: EPA advises assuming old paint contains lead until it is tested.
Paint by number of doors (same size and sides)
| Doors | Door surface (one coat) | Paint needed | Buy (gallons and quarts) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22.8 sq ft | 0.46 qt | 1 quart |
| 3 | 68.5 sq ft | 1.37 qt | 2 quarts |
| 5 | 114 sq ft | 0.57 gal | 1 gallon |
| 8 | 183 sq ft | 0.91 gal | 1 gallon |
| 12 | 274 sq ft | 1.37 gal | 1 gallon + 2 quarts |
What to know about painting a front door
- 20 sq ft plus 2.8 for the edges. Exterior doors are usually 1¾ in thick, so their edges are a little bigger than an interior door’s.
- Under half a quart for two coats. A quart leaves plenty for a third coat, which strong reds, blues and yellows often need for full color.
- Inside face too? Painting the inside face the same color doubles the face area; it still fits in one quart.
- Sidelights and transoms. Add the frames as trim, or measure the sidelight panels and add them as a second, narrower door.
Use an exterior paint made for doors and trim, usually in semi-gloss or high gloss, and follow the can’s temperature limits. Bright sun on a dark door makes it hot: paint it in the shade or early in the day. Steel and fiberglass doors may need a specific primer; the door maker’s finishing guide says which.
For an interior door painted both sides, see how much paint for a door. If the whole house is getting new paint, the 1,500 sq ft house exterior page covers the siding.
Different size? Use the full Door Paint Calculator.
What you’ll need
- 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) - Sanding sponges (fine/medium)Budget price
Knocks down patches and scuffs glossy trim so the next coat grips. Damp sponges keep dust down.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Painter’s tape (multi-surface)Budget price
Masks trim, ceilings and glass. Pull it at an angle while the last coat is still slightly soft for the cleanest line.
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 both sides of a front door?
About 0.86 quarts for two coats: 1 quart.
How much paint for three coats on a front door?
About 0.68 quarts: 1 quart.
Other common sizes
- How much paint for a door — 0.75 qt: buy 1 quart
- How much paint for a garage door — 0.56 gal: buy 1 gallon
Sources
- Benjamin Moore, Advance Interior Matte (791), technical data sheet (opens in a new tab) — Coverage 400–500 sq ft per gallon at 3.6 mils wet; a cabinet, door and trim enamel; matte 2–6 units at 85°.
- Sherwin-Williams, ProMar 200 Zero VOC Interior Latex Semi-Gloss (B31 series), product data sheet (opens in a new tab) — Coverage 350–400 sq ft per gallon at 4 mils wet; for walls, ceilings and trim.