How Much Paint for a 10x10 Room? [Calculator + Guide]
Quick Answer: 1-1.5 Gallons
A standard 10x10 room with 8-foot ceilings typically needs 1-1.5 gallons for 2 coats (walls only)
Exact Calculation for 10x10 Room
How We Calculate This
- Measure all four walls: (10+10+10+10) × 8 = 320 sq ft
- Subtract doors and windows: ~30 sq ft = 290 sq ft
- Divide by coverage rate: 290 ÷ 350 = 0.83 gallons per coat
- Multiply by coats needed: 0.83 × 2 = 1.66 gallons total
Pro tip: Always buy an extra quart for touch-ups
What Changes This Amount?
- •Ceiling height: 9-10 ft ceilings need 1.5-2 gallons
- •Paint type: Flat paint covers more than high-gloss
- •Wall texture: Rough walls absorb 20% more paint
- •Color change: Dark to light needs 3 coats (2 gallons)
Get Your Exact Amount
Every room is different. Use our free calculator to get a precise estimate for YOUR 10x10 room
Related Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How much paint do I need for a 10x10 room?
For a standard 10x10 room with 8-foot ceilings, you'll need approximately 1 to 1.5 gallons of paint for 2 coats on the walls. This covers about 320 square feet of wall area (after subtracting doors and windows). If you're also painting the ceiling, add an additional 0.75-1 gallon for 2 coats.
How much paint for a 10x10 room?
A 10x10 room requires 1-1.5 gallons for 2 coats on walls only. The calculation: (10+10+10+10) × 8 feet = 320 sq ft of wall area. After subtracting one door (20 sq ft) and one window (15 sq ft), you have 285 sq ft. At 350-400 sq ft per gallon coverage, you need ~0.8 gallons per coat, or 1.5 gallons for 2 coats.
How many gallons of paint for a 10x10 room?
You'll need 1 to 1.5 gallons of paint for a 10x10 room with standard 8-foot ceilings. This assumes 2 coats of paint on the walls. For high-quality coverage, we recommend buying 1.5 gallons (or 1 gallon plus 2 quarts) to ensure you have enough paint and some left over for touch-ups.
Do I need to paint the ceiling too?
A 10x10 ceiling adds 100 square feet, requiring an additional 0.5 gallons per coat (1 gallon total for 2 coats). So if you're painting both walls and ceiling, you'll need approximately 2-2.5 gallons total for a complete paint job.
Should I buy 1 gallon or 2 gallons for a 10x10 room?
For a 10x10 room, 1.5 gallons is ideal if doing 2 coats on walls. You can buy 1 gallon plus 2 quarts, or round up to 2 gallons if you want extra for touch-ups. Having leftover paint is useful for future repairs.
What if my 10x10 room has high ceilings?
For 9-foot ceilings, add approximately 0.25 gallons. For 10-foot ceilings, add 0.5 gallons. A 10x10 room with 10-foot ceilings would need approximately 1.5-2 gallons for 2 coats.
What if my room has different dimensions?
Use our free paint calculator to enter your exact room dimensions (length, width, height) and get a precise calculation. Our calculator accounts for doors, windows, and multiple coats automatically.