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Gallons of Paint for 1,000 Square Feet

For 1,000 square feet of wall, two coats at 350 sq ft per gallon take about 5.7 gallons, or about 6.3 gallons with 10% for waste.

Try your own numbers

Room lengthRoom widthSeen from aboveDoorWindowWall heightOne wall
Key Where each paint measurement is taken.
Units
ft
ft
Typical ceiling. 8 ft is common, and 9 ft is common in newer homes. Editorial rule of thumb.
ft
sq ft

If you fill this in, it is used instead of the room size for the walls.

Typical door. An interior door is usually 80 in tall and 30 to 32 in wide, about 17 to 18 sq ft. A 36 in door is 20 sq ft. Measure yours if it differs. Editorial rule of thumb.
sq ft
Windows vary a lot. The starting figure is only a placeholder. Measure each window you will not paint.
sq ft
sq ft/gal

Check the can. The starting figure is cautious.

%
$

Adds an estimated cost for the suggested sizes.

Paintable area1,000 sq ft
Paint needed, 2 coats5.71 gal
Paint to buy, with waste6.29 gallons
Suggested cans1 × 5 gal + 1 × 1 gal + 2 × 1 qt (6.5 gal)

Walls: 1,000 sq ft (entered directly), gives 1,000 sq ft to paint. × 2 coats = 2,000 sq ft; ÷ 350 sq ft/gal = 5.71 gal; with 10% waste = 6.29 gal.

Porous, rough or dark surfaces need more paint. Check the coverage on the can.

Fig. 1 1,000 sq ft of wall, two coats.

Every formula is tested against worked examples. How we check

CoatsPaint to buySuggested cans
1 coat3.14 gal3 × 1 gal + 1 × 1 qt
2 coats6.29 gal1 × 5 gal + 1 × 1 gal + 2 × 1 qt
3 coats9.43 gal1 × 5 gal + 4 × 1 gal + 2 × 1 qt

Fig. 2 The same room at one, two and three coats.

Last checked 11/10/2026. Sources: Sherwin-Williams: Paint calculator (a gallon covers about 350 to 400 sq ft).

Wall area, not floor area

Paint covers walls, so a 1,000 sq ft figure only works if it is the area of the surface you are painting. Floor area is a different number: the walls of a room are its perimeter times its height. If you only know the floor area, use the room-size boxes instead, or measure each wall.

This page enters 1,000 sq ft directly in the wall-area box, with no door or window deduction. The calculation is 1,000 × 2 coats ÷ 350 sq ft per gallon = 5.71 gallons. Adding 10% gives 6.29 gallons, which the tool turns into cans.

Why 350? Sherwin-Williams says a gallon covers about 350 to 400 sq ft. At 400 sq ft per gallon the same job needs 5 gallons before waste. Try it: change the coverage box and watch the total move.

Common questions

How many 5-gallon buckets is that?

One 5 gallon bucket covers about 1,750 sq ft of wall for a single coat at 350 sq ft per gallon. For 1,000 sq ft over two coats you need more than one bucket, but not two.

Does texture change the amount?

Yes. Textured or porous walls can use noticeably more paint than smooth walls, so use a lower coverage figure.

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