Paint Calculator for a 500 sq ft Home
Estimate gallons of paint for a 500 sq ft space.
A 500 sq ft home or space has roughly 1,250 sq ft of paintable wall area at 8 ft ceilings. That's about 4 gallons for one coat or 8 gallons for two coats — the standard for a color change. Buy an extra gallon per color for touch-ups. Enter your exact room dimensions below to get a precise gallon count.
Gallons
1.81
Buy the next whole gallon
Paintable area
316 ft²
Total wall area
352 ft²
Save this project
Sign in to save calculations to your dashboard.
Download your PDF report & project guide
Your results and inputs, a printable shopping list, a step-by-step guide and pro tips — in one PDF.
Planning a whole project?
Get every calculator, a full shopping list and a budget template for:
Recommended tools & materials
Handy picks for this project on Amazon.
Paint Roller Kit
Roller, tray and covers in one set
View on Amazon →
Angled Sash Brush
Crisp cut-in lines
View on Amazon →
Painter's Tape
Clean lines, no residue
View on Amazon →
Canvas Drop Cloth
Protect floors and furniture
View on Amazon →
As an Amazon Associate, MaterialCalc earns from qualifying purchases.
How does the paint calculator work?
Wall area is the room perimeter × ceiling height. Subtract roughly 21 ft² per door and 15 ft² per average window, then multiply by the number of coats and divide by 350 ft²/gallon.
Formula: gallons = ((2(L+W) × H − doors×21 − windows×15) × coats) ÷ 350
What else do people ask about this calculator?
How many gallons of paint for 500 sq ft?
About 4 gallons for one coat or 8 gallons for two coats, based on ~350 sq ft of coverage per gallon and average 8 ft ceilings. Rough walls or dark-to-light color changes need more.
Does that include primer?
No — the gallon estimate is for finish paint only. If you're painting over new drywall, patches or a very different color, add 1 gallon of primer per 350 sq ft of wall area.
How much paint do I need for a 12×12 room?
A 12×12 room with 8 ft ceilings, 1 door and 1 window needs about 2 gallons for two coats.
How much does a gallon of paint cover?
About 350 ft² per gallon on smooth interior walls. Textured or porous surfaces reduce coverage to 250–300 ft².
Which related calculators should I use next?
Where can I learn more about these materials?
Weights, coverage, types and buying tips for the materials this calculator estimates.
All calculators