How much paint for a 12×14 room?
A 12 × 14 ft room with 8 ft walls needs about 2.09 gallons of paint for two coats (366 square feet of wall), so buy 2 gallons + 1 quart.
How to work it out
- 2 × (14 ft + 12 ft) × 8 ft = 416 sq ft of wall − 1 door × 20 sq ft − 2 windows × 15 sq ft = 366 sq ft
- 366 sq ft × 2 coats ÷ 350 sq ft/gal = 2.09 gal
- Buy 2 gallons + 1 quart (3 cans of the size chosen)
A 12 × 14 ft room, a typical primary bedroom or family room, is just past the point where two gallons stretch. At the low end of the coverage range you need a little more than two; with a premium paint at the top of its range, two will do.
Adjust for your project
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- Paint needed
- 2.09 gal (7.92 L)
- Wall paint, cans of the size you chose
- 3 cans · 1-gallon
- Area painted (one coat)
- 366 sq ft
- Paint per coat
- 1.05 gal
- Coverage used
- 350 sq ft/gal
- Coverage is per coat on a smooth, primed wall. Fresh drywall, flat old paint and textured walls soak up more, so if you are near a can boundary, round up.
- 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 for this room by wall height
| Wall height | Area painted (one coat) | Paint needed | Buy (gallons and quarts) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 ft | 366 sq ft | 2.09 gal | 2 gallons + 1 quart |
| 9 ft | 418 sq ft | 2.39 gal | 2 gallons + 2 quarts |
| 10 ft | 470 sq ft | 2.69 gal | 3 gallons |
| 12 ft | 574 sq ft | 3.28 gal | 3 gallons + 2 quarts |
What to know about painting a 12×14 room
- 366 sq ft per coat. The walls are 2 × 26 × 8 = 416 sq ft, less 20 for the door and 30 for two windows.
- Two gallons and a quart. 732 sq ft of painting at 350 sq ft per gallon is 2.09 gallons, a little over two, so buy 2 gallons and a quart. Only if your can’s coverage is 400 sq ft per gallon or more (1.83 gallons) do two gallons cover it, and only on smooth, previously painted walls.
- A third window or a second door takes off another 15–20 sq ft per coat and brings the job back under two gallons.
- Bigger rooms, more cutting in. The edge work around the ceiling line, corners and trim is about 100 linear ft in this room. Budget a roll and a half of painter’s tape if you tape rather than cut in freehand.
The square version of this room is how much paint for a 12x12 room. For a whole-house order, add rooms one at a time with Add to project list.
Different size? Use the full Room Paint Calculator.
What you’ll need
- Paint roller frame and covers (9 in)Budget price
A sturdy 9 in frame and a few 3/8 in nap covers handle smooth drywall. Rougher walls and ceilings want 1/2–3/4 in nap, as the data sheets suggest.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - 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) - 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.
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Frequently asked questions
How much paint for a 12x14 room at 400 sq ft per gallon?
About 1.83 gallons for two coats, so two gallons will do.
How much paint for a 12x14 room with 9 ft walls?
About 2.39 gallons for two coats; buy 2 gallons + 2 quarts.
Other common sizes
- How much paint for a 12x12 room — 1.91 gal: buy 2 gallons (walls only, 2 coats)
- How much paint for a 10x10 room — 1.54 gal: buy 2 gallons (walls only, 2 coats)
- How much paint for a 10x12 room — 1.73 gal: buy 2 gallons (walls only, 2 coats)
- How much paint for a small bathroom — 0.73 gal: buy 1 gallon (walls only, 2 coats)
- How much paint for a 12x12 room and ceiling — 1.91 gal walls + 0.82 gal ceiling, 2 coats
- How many litres of paint for a 10x12 room — 6.52 L: 1 × 5 L + 2 × 1 L (walls, 2 coats)
Sources
- Sherwin-Williams, ProMar 200 Zero VOC Interior Latex Eg-Shel (B20 series), product data sheet (opens in a new tab) — Coverage 350–400 sq ft per gallon at 4 mils wet; two coats over primer on drywall; sheen 15–20 units at 85°.
- 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°.
- Benjamin Moore, Regal Select Interior Eggshell (549), technical data sheet (opens in a new tab) — Coverage 400–450 sq ft per gallon at 3.8 mils wet; two coats for full color; eggshell 15–22 units at 85°.
- Behr, Premium Plus Interior Flat Paint (No. 1050), technical data sheet (opens in a new tab) — Coverage 250–400 sq ft per gallon depending on application method and substrate porosity; does not include spray loss.
- US EPA, Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program Rules (opens in a new tab) — Covers homes, child care facilities and kindergartens built before 1978; firms and renovators must be certified.