How much paint do I need for one wall?

Accent walls and single walls · 2 coats · 350 sq ft per gallon · 10% safety margin

Short answer: multiply the wall's width by its height, double it for two coats, and divide by 350. A typical 12 × 8 ft accent wall needs about 0.55 gallons, so 1 gallon is enough with room to spare.

Common wall sizes

Wall	Area	Paint needed	Buy (incl. 10% margin)
8 × 8 ft	64 sq ft	0.37 gal	2 × quart	Customize
10 × 8 ft	80 sq ft	0.46 gal	1 × 1-gallon can	Customize
12 × 8 ft	96 sq ft	0.55 gal	1 × 1-gallon can	Customize
14 × 8 ft	112 sq ft	0.64 gal	1 × 1-gallon can	Customize
16 × 8 ft	128 sq ft	0.73 gal	1 × 1-gallon can	Customize
10 × 9 ft	90 sq ft	0.51 gal	1 × 1-gallon can	Customize
12 × 9 ft	108 sq ft	0.62 gal	1 × 1-gallon can	Customize
14 × 9 ft	126 sq ft	0.72 gal	1 × 1-gallon can	Customize
12 × 10 ft	120 sq ft	0.69 gal	1 × 1-gallon can	Customize
16 × 10 ft	160 sq ft	0.91 gal	1 × 1-gallon can + 1 × quart	Customize

Subtract about 20 sq ft for each door and 15 sq ft for each window on the wall. Dark or bold accent colors often need a tinted primer or a third coat to cover evenly.

Why a gallon instead of quarts?

Three quarts usually cost more than one gallon. When you need more than about half a gallon, a single gallon is the better buy, and the extra is handy for touch-ups.

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