How many gallons of paint for a 10x12 bedroom?

Two gallons for two coats. The net wall area is 316 sq ft (352 minus ~36 for the door and window), and two coats need 632 sq ft of coverage — 632 ÷ 350 ≈ 1.81 gallons, rounded up to 2.

How much paint for one coat in a 10x12 bedroom?

One gallon. A single coat over 316 sq ft of wall needs just under one gallon at 350 sq ft per gallon — but most color changes need two coats for even coverage.

How do you calculate wall square footage for paint?

Multiply the room perimeter by the ceiling height, then subtract doors and windows. For a 10 × 12 room with 8-ft ceilings: 2 × (10 + 12) × 8 = 352 sq ft, minus ~36 sq ft of openings = 316 sq ft.

Does ceiling paint count in the bedroom paint estimate?

No — ceilings use flat ceiling paint and are measured separately (the 10 × 12 ceiling is 120 sq ft). The 2-gallon figure covers walls only; trim and doors need their own paint too.

How much paint for a 12x14 bedroom?

Three gallons for two coats. The net wall area is about 380 sq ft (416 minus ~36 for openings), so two coats need 760 sq ft ÷ 350 ≈ 2.17 gallons — rounded up to 3.

Guide

How Much Paint Do I Need for a 10x12 Bedroom?

A 10 × 12 foot bedroom with standard 8-foot ceilings has 352 square feet of wall. After subtracting about 36 square feet for the door and window, you are left with 316 square feet to paint — and since one gallon covers around 350 square feet per coat, two coats need 632 ÷ 350 = 1.81 gallons. Plan on 2 gallons.

Key Takeaways

Wall area: 2 × (10 + 12) × 8 = 352 sq ft, minus 36 sq ft of openings = 316 sq ft.
Two coats: 316 × 2 = 632 sq ft of coverage needed.
One gallon covers about 350 sq ft per coat — 632 ÷ 350 = 1.81 gallons.
Buy 2 gallons; you cannot buy 0.81 of a gallon, and touch-ups need paint anyway.
Ceilings, trim, and doors are painted separately and are not in this count.

Calculate Your Paint

How to Calculate Paint for a 10x12 Bedroom

Paint is counted by wall area minus openings, multiplied by the number of coats, divided by the coverage per gallon. Measure each wall, not the floor.

1Calculate the wall area: 2 × (10 + 12) × 8 ft ceilings = 352 sq ft.
2Subtract openings: one door plus one window ≈ 36 sq ft → 352 − 36 = 316 sq ft.
3Multiply by coats: two coats × 316 = 632 sq ft of coverage needed.
4Divide by coverage: 632 ÷ 350 sq ft per gallon ≈ 1.81 gallons.
5Round up to 2 gallons — the leftover covers touch-ups and future scuffs.

The Paint Gallon Formula

Wall area is the perimeter of the room times the ceiling height, minus doors and windows. Multiply by the number of coats, then divide by the coverage printed on the can — typically about 350 square feet per gallon for interior wall paint.

Gallons = Paintable wall area (sq ft) × Coats ÷ Coverage per gallon

Worked Example: 10 ft × 12 ft Bedroom, 8-ft Ceilings, Two Coats

Here is the full calculation for the 10 × 12 bedroom, plus a chart for other common bedroom sizes (all with 8-ft ceilings and two coats).

Step 1

Wall area: 2 × (10 + 12) × 8 = 352 square feet.

Step 2

Openings: subtract ~36 sq ft for one door and one window → 316 sq ft.

Step 3

Two coats: 316 × 2 = 632 sq ft of coverage.

Step 4

Gallons: 632 ÷ 350 ≈ 1.81 gallons.

Step 5

Buy: round up to 2 gallons.

Room size	Net wall area	Gallons for 2 coats
10 × 10	284 sq ft	2
10 × 12	316 sq ft	2
12 × 12	348 sq ft	2
12 × 14	380 sq ft	3

Common Mistakes

Measuring the floor area instead of the wall area — a 10 × 12 room has 120 sq ft of floor but 316 sq ft of paintable wall.
Forgetting the second coat — one coat over a color change almost always looks patchy.
Counting only one wall or forgetting the ceiling height in the math.
Buying the exact 1.81 gallons — paint only comes in whole gallons and quarts, and you need extra for touch-ups.
Including the ceiling and trim in the wall-paint count — they need different paint and separate math.

Practical Tips

Buy all the wall paint at once so the color batch matches across cans.
A paint-and-primer combo can sometimes cut a two-coat job to one coat over light colors.
Dark or bold colors over white walls may need a third coat — budget an extra gallon.
Roll the walls before cutting in the edges with a brush for the cleanest lines.
Use the NOVORY Paint Calculator to double-check gallons for any room size and coat count.