How much paint for a small bathroom?
A typical 5 × 8 ft bathroom with a tiled tub surround has about 128 square feet of paintable wall and needs 0.73 gallons for two coats. Buy 1 gallon.
How to work it out
- 2 × (8 ft + 5 ft) × 8 ft = 208 sq ft of wall − 1 door × 20 sq ft = 188 sq ft
- − 60 sq ft not painted = 128 sq ft
- 128 sq ft × 2 coats ÷ 350 sq ft/gal = 0.73 gal
- Buy 1 gallon (1 can of the size chosen)
The common full bathroom in American houses is about 5 × 8 ft: a tub along the 5 ft end and the toilet and vanity along one long wall. Tile and the tub surround take a big share of the wall, so even two coats rarely need more than a gallon.
Adjust for your project
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- Paint needed
- 0.73 gal (2.77 L)
- Wall paint, cans of the size you chose
- 1 can · 1-gallon
- Area painted (one coat)
- 128 sq ft
- Paint per coat
- 1.46 qt
- 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 | 128 sq ft | 0.73 gal | 1 gallon |
| 9 ft | 154 sq ft | 0.88 gal | 1 gallon |
| 10 ft | 180 sq ft | 1.03 gal | 1 gallon + 1 quart |
| 12 ft | 232 sq ft | 1.33 gal | 1 gallon + 2 quarts |
What to know about painting a small bathroom
The gross wall is 2 × 13 × 8 = 208 sq ft. The door takes off 20, and the tub surround, tiled to about 6 ft on the back wall and both ends (5 + 2.5 + 2.5 ft wide), takes off another 60 under Other wall area. That leaves 128 sq ft per coat, 256 for two: 0.73 gallons at 350 sq ft per gallon.
- Three quarts or a gallon? The math rounds to three quarts, and three quarts nearly always cost more than one gallon. Buy the gallon.
- Behind the toilet and vanity. Count those walls; they get painted even if you can only reach them with a small roller. Take the mirror and towel bars down rather than painting around them.
- Moisture. Pick a paint whose label says it is for kitchens and baths, usually in satin or semi-gloss, and run the exhaust fan during and after showers. Let the paint cure the full time on the can before steamy showers.
- No tile? A half bath or a bathroom with only a shower stall has more paintable wall; set Other wall area to zero or the size of the stall.
Caulk the tub and sink joints before you paint: how many tubes of caulk for a bathtub. The bathroom ceiling usually takes the same moisture-resistant paint; a 5 × 8 ceiling is 40 sq ft, about a quart for two coats.
Different size? Use the full Room 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) - Paintable acrylic latex caulkBudget price
For trim gaps and baseboard joints before painting. Check the tube for its paint-ready time.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - 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)
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Frequently asked questions
How much paint for a 6x8 bathroom?
About 0.82 gallons for two coats with a tiled tub surround: buy 1 gallon.
How much paint for a half bathroom with no tile?
A 5 × 6 ft powder room needs about 0.89 gallons for two coats: buy 1 gallon.
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 12x14 room — 2.09 gal: buy 2 gallons + 1 quart (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.