Painting a Room Materials List: Paint, Primer, Tape and Supplies
A 12 × 14 ft bedroom with 8 ft ceilings needs about 2.09 gallons of paint for the walls (buy 2 gallons + 1 quart) for two coats, 0.96 gallons for the ceiling, a gallon of primer for patches and stains, and a roll of painter's tape. This list assumes one door, two windows and 350 ft² of coverage per gallon.
The materials list
| What to buy | How much | How we worked it out |
|---|---|---|
| Wall paint | 2 gallons + 1 quart | Paint calculator: 416 ft² of wall, less 51 ft² for the door and windows, two coats at 350 ft² per gallon |
| Ceiling paint (optional) | 1 gallon | 168 ft² of ceiling, two coats. A flat ceiling paint hides flaws and splatters less than wall paint |
| Primer | 1 gallon + 1 quart for the walls | Needed on bare patches, stains, new drywall and big color changes. Primer is cheaper than extra coats of finish paint |
| Trim paint | 1 quart | Typically enough for the baseboards and the door and window casings of one room |
| Painter's tape | 1 roll of 60 yard tape | About 153 ft: along the ceiling and the baseboards, and around the door and two windows |
| Caulk (paintable) | 2 tubes | Caulk calculator: about 101 ft of trim joints at 1/8 in. Wider gaps use more |
| Spackle and sandpaper | 1 small tub, a few sheets | For nail holes and dents. Use fine sandpaper between coats |
| Roller, tray, brush | 1 set | A 9 in roller with a 3/8 in nap suits smooth walls, and a 2 to 2½ in angled brush cuts in the edges |
| Drop cloths | 2 | Canvas cloths stay put better than plastic, which is slippery |
Materials for other room sizes
Two coats at 350 ft² per gallon, 8 ft ceilings, one door and two windows:
| Room | Wall paint | Ceiling paint | Rolls of tape (60 yd) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 12 ft | 1.72 gal | 0.69 gal | 1 |
| 12 × 12 ft | 1.90 gal | 0.82 gal | 1 |
| 14 × 12 ft | 2.09 gal | 0.96 gal | 1 |
| 14 × 16 ft | 2.45 gal | 1.28 gal | 1 |
| 16 × 20 ft | 3.00 gal | 1.83 gal | 2 |
Order of work
- Move or cover the furniture, take down switch plates and hardware, and lay the drop cloths.
- Fill holes and cracks with spackle, sand them smooth, and wipe the dust off the walls.
- Caulk the gaps along trim, let it dry, and spot-prime any patches and stains.
- Tape the trim, then paint the ceiling first, then "cut in" the edges of the walls with a brush before rolling each wall.
- Keep a wet edge so that you do not get lap marks, and let the first coat dry fully before the second, as the can says.
- Remove the tape while the last coat is still slightly tacky, and pull it at a low angle.
Tips that save paint and time
- Buy all the paint for the room at once and mix the cans together (boxing) so that the color is the same on every wall.
- Keep a little left over for touch-ups, labeled with the room and the date.
- For a dramatic color change, a tinted primer can save a third coat.
- Rough or textured walls use up to 20 to 30% more, so choose a lower coverage figure in the calculator.
See the paint quantity guide for how coverage, coats and ceilings change the numbers. Estimates only: the label on your can wins.
Frequently asked questions
How much paint do I need for a 12x14 room?
About 2.09 gallons for the walls with two coats (buy 2 gallons + 1 quart), plus 0.96 gallons if you paint the ceiling. This assumes 8 ft ceilings, one door, two windows and 350 ft² per gallon.
Do I need primer before painting?
On bare patches, stains, new drywall and big color changes, yes. A coat of primer over these walls is about 1.04 gallons. Primer is cheaper than extra coats of finish paint.
How many rolls of painter's tape do I need for a bedroom?
One roll of 60 yard (180 ft) tape is enough for most bedrooms: this one needs about 153 ft for the ceiling line, the baseboards and the door and window trim.
How much caulk do I need to paint a room?
About 2 tubes of paintable caulk for roughly 101 ft of trim joints. Wide gaps use more.
More guides
Tools & materials for this project
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. These links do not change what you pay.
Estimates only. Quantities depend on your materials, site and supplier. Confirm important numbers before you order, and follow local building codes for anything structural.