Technical Free

Paint Coverage & Touchup Calculator

Enter area and paint type, get gallons needed and cost. Covers smooth, textured, and rough surfaces with primer estimates.

Results

Paint Gallons
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Primer Gallons
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Material Cost
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Customer Price
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Labor Hours
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Total Job Cost
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Coverage rates from industry standards. Actual coverage varies by paint quality, application method, and surface porosity.

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How to Use This Calculator

1. Enter the area to paint. For walls, multiply room perimeter by wall height and subtract window/door areas. For a 12x12 room with 8-foot ceilings, that is about 384 sqft of wall area.

2. Select surface type. Smooth drywall gives the best coverage. Textured or rough surfaces absorb more paint and need more product.

3. Set coats and primer. Most repaints need 2 coats. New drywall or color changes benefit from a primer coat first.

4. Choose paint quality and hourly rate. The calculator shows total material cost, labor hours, and customer price.

How the Paint Formula Works

Paint_Gallons = ceil((Area / Coverage_Rate) x Coats)

Primer_Gallons = ceil(Area / 300)

Labor_Hours = (Area / 350) x Coats

Customer_Price = (Material + Labor) x 1.35

Coverage rates are based on industry standards: 350 sqft/gal for smooth drywall, 300 for textured, and 200 for rough surfaces. Labor rate assumes 350 sqft per hour for an experienced painter.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much paint do I need per square foot?
One gallon of latex paint covers about 350 square feet on smooth drywall. For textured surfaces, plan on 300 sqft per gallon. Rough or masonry surfaces may only get 200 sqft per gallon.
How many coats of paint do I need?
Most jobs need 2 coats for full coverage. Going from dark to light or light to dark typically needs 2-3 coats. Using a tinted primer reduces the number of topcoats needed.
Do I need primer before painting?
Use primer on bare drywall, new wood, stained surfaces, and when making drastic color changes. Self-priming paints work for repaints over similar colors.
How much does it cost to paint a room?
For a handyman, a typical 12x12 room costs $150-300 in materials and $200-500 in labor. Total customer price ranges from $500-1,100 depending on paint quality, prep work, and number of coats.

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