How much does a quart of paint cover?
A quart of paint covers about 88–100 sq ft per coat at 350–400 square feet per gallon. Two coats cover about half that.
How to work it out
- 0.25 gal × 350 sq ft/gal = 87.5 sq ft
- At the high end: 0.25 gal × 400 sq ft/gal = 100 sq ft
A quart is a quarter of a gallon, so it covers a quarter of the gallon figure: about 88–100 sq ft per coat for most wall and trim paints. That makes it the right size for doors, trim, a vanity or a small accent, and the wrong size for walls.
Adjust for your project
More options: High
- Covers (at the high end)
- 100 sq ft
- Coverage range
- 88–100 sq ft
- Wall length at 8 ft high
- 10.9 ft
- Data-sheet coverage is measured on smooth, sealed surfaces at a set film thickness. New drywall, textured walls, rough siding and spraying all cover less.
- Most repaints over a different color, and all new drywall, need two coats; the per-coat figure is the one to plan from.
Coverage by container (same coverage and coats)
| Paint | Covers (at the low end) | Covers (at the high end) | Wall length at 8 ft high |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quart | 87.5 sq ft | 100 sq ft | 10.9 ft |
| Gallon | 350 sq ft | 400 sq ft | 43.8 ft |
| 2 gallons | 700 sq ft | 800 sq ft | 87.5 ft |
| 5-gallon pail | 1,750 sq ft | 2,000 sq ft | 219 ft |
What a quart covers in practice
- A door. One side of a 36 × 80 in door is 20 sq ft. Two coats on both sides plus edges is about 85 sq ft: one quart. See how much paint for a door.
- Trim in one room. Baseboards, a door casing and jamb and two window casings in a 12 × 12 room come to about 32 sq ft; two coats fit in a quart: how much trim paint for one room.
- A wall. A 12 × 8 ft wall is 96 sq ft, just under one coat. Two coats need three quarts, at which point a gallon is cheaper: see how much paint for an accent wall.
- Cabinets. A typical kitchen takes more than a quart. Cabinet enamels such as Benjamin Moore Advance list 400–500 sq ft per gallon, but you are painting both sides of every door.
Price per gallon in quarts is usually much higher, so as soon as a job needs three quarts, buy the gallon. In metric, a 1 litre tin is close to a US quart (0.95 L) and covers about 8.6–9.8 m² per coat at the same rates.
Different size? Use the full Paint Coverage Calculator (Gallons to Square Feet).
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) - Paint tray and linersBudget price
Liners turn a color change or the end of the day into a two-minute job instead of a scrub at the sink.
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)
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 does a quart of paint cover with two coats?
About 44–50 sq ft of surface.
How much does a quart of cabinet enamel cover?
At 400–500 sq ft per gallon (Benjamin Moore Advance), about 100–125 sq ft per coat.
Other common sizes
- How much does a gallon of paint cover — 350–400 sq ft per coat
- How much does a 5 gallon bucket of paint cover — 1,750–2,000 sq ft per coat
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°.
- 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.
- Sherwin-Williams, A-100 Exterior Latex Flat (A06 series), product data sheet (opens in a new tab) — Coverage 350–400 sq ft per gallon at 4 mils wet; for aluminum, vinyl and wood siding, shakes, masonry; two coats.