How Much Does a Gallon of Paint Cover? (Coverage Chart)
One gallon of paint covers the area its maker prints on the can; the published rates here run from 300 ft²/gal[1] to 450 ft²/gal[2] for one coat, and the chart below gives a quart, a gallon and a pail at each rate.
Estimates for planning, not professional advice. Read the full notice.
Work it out for your own sizes
Turn your room into gallons of paintExample to try: Area one gallon covers 350 ft², Coats 2 coats
Square feet one can covers, by coverage rate and coats
Area covered by a quart, a gallon and a five gallon pail at each coverage rate a source prints, for one coat and two coats
| Source and end of range | Rate printed | Quart, one coat | Gallon, one coat | Gallon, two coats | Pail, one coat | Pail, two coats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PaintCare, most rates, low end | 300 ft²/gal | 75 ft² | 300 ft² | 150 ft² | 1,500 ft² | 750 ft² |
| PaintCare, rate unknown (rough estimate) | 350 ft²/gal | 87.5 ft² | 350 ft² | 175 ft² | 1,750 ft² | 875 ft² |
| PaintCare, most rates, high end | 400 ft²/gal | 100 ft² | 400 ft² | 200 ft² | 2,000 ft² | 1,000 ft² |
| Sherwin-Williams interior matte, low end | 350 ft²/gal (per Sherwin-Williams' data sheet, checked Nov 12, 2026) | 87.5 ft² | 350 ft² | 175 ft² | 1,750 ft² | 875 ft² |
| Sherwin-Williams interior matte, high end | 400 ft²/gal (per Sherwin-Williams' data sheet, checked Nov 12, 2026) | 100 ft² | 400 ft² | 200 ft² | 2,000 ft² | 1,000 ft² |
| Benjamin Moore satin/pearl, low end | 400 ft²/gal (per Benjamin Moore's data sheet, checked Nov 12, 2026) | 100 ft² | 400 ft² | 200 ft² | 2,000 ft² | 1,000 ft² |
| Benjamin Moore satin/pearl, high end | 450 ft²/gal (per Benjamin Moore's data sheet, checked Nov 12, 2026) | 112.5 ft² | 450 ft² | 225 ft² | 2,250 ft² | 1,125 ft² |
Estimate for planning, from what you entered and the product data shown. Check product labels and your supplier before you buy.
Product names are trademarks of their owners. HoneyDoMath is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by these makers. Figures come from each maker's published sheets and are shown for information only.
Each cell is the can's volume times the printed rate, divided by the coats, with nothing rounded. A quart is a quarter of a gallon and a pail is five gallons.
Where the can sizes come from
A US gallon is 231 in³[4] by NIST Handbook 44. The chart takes a quart as a quarter of that, 57.75 in³, and a pail as five gallons.
Rough or textured surfaces take more. PaintCare says up to 50%[1] more paint for rough textures, so the chart's areas are for a smooth surface.
Questions
How many square feet does a quart of paint cover?
A quart is a quarter of a gallon, so it covers a quarter of the area a gallon does at the same rate. The first column of the chart gives the quart at each printed rate.
How much does five gallons of paint cover?
Five gallons cover five times the area of one gallon at the same rate, for one coat. The pail columns of the chart give it at each printed rate, for one coat and for two.
How much does a gallon cover with two coats?
Two coats use the paint twice, so a gallon covers half the area it does for one coat. The chart's two-coat column shows it at each rate.
Why do the printed coverage rates differ?
Each maker prints the rate for its own paint, and PaintCare gives a wider range for most paints. Texture and a porous surface also use more, so the calculator lets you change the rate and a roughness factor.
Calculate it for your project
Enter your own sizes to get the amount to buy or the layout figures, with the working shown and a page to print.
Enter your room in the paint calculatorSources (4)
-
Buy the Right Amount of Paint to Reduce Waste (Buy Right) (opens in new tab), PaintCare, web page, © 2026 PaintCare Inc..
Standards or industry body.
“Most coverage rates are between 300–400 square feed per gallon. If you don’t know the coverage rate, use 350 to get a rough estimate.”
“Textured walls require more paint than smooth walls because they have more surface area. The greater the texture, the more paint is needed. You may need up to 50 percent more paint for rough textures.”
Checked November 12, 2026. Figures and codes change; verify with the source. Back to where this is used (Source 1) -
Regal® Select Premium Interior Paint & Primer Satin/Pearl N550, product data sheet (opens in new tab), Benjamin Moore & Co., N550 US 040225 (data sheet, © 2022, 2025).
Manufacturer data.
“Spread Rate Per Gallon 400 – 450 Sq. Ft.”
Per Benjamin Moore's data sheet, checked Nov 12, 2026. Figures and codes change; verify with the source. Back to where this is used (Source 2) -
Emerald® Interior Latex Matte K36 Series, product data sheet (opens in new tab), The Sherwin-Williams Company, K36 Series data sheet dated 08/2020.
Manufacturer data.
“Coverage: 350 - 400 sq.ft. per gallon @ 4 mils wet; 1.6 mils dry”
Per Sherwin-Williams' data sheet, checked Nov 12, 2026. Figures and codes change; verify with the source. Back to where this is used (Source 3) -
NIST Handbook 44, Appendix C: General Tables of Units of Measurement (opens in new tab), National Institute of Standards and Technology, 2026 edition.
Code or government.
“1 gallon (gal) = 231 cubic inches”
Checked November 12, 2026. Figures and codes change; verify with the source. Back to where this is used (Source 4)
These are summaries of what the sources say, not professional advice. Codes and product data change. Check with your building department and the product label about your own project.