What You Need to Paint a Room: Supplies and Tools Checklist
Painting a room needs few tools, but the prep supplies make the difference: tape, drop cloths, filler and caulk. A 12 × 12 ft room with 8 ft walls takes 1.9 gallons for two coats on the walls, 0.8 gallons for the ceiling, 145 ft of tape and 2 tubes of caulk. The full checklist is below, and the room painting supplies calculator works out the amounts for your room.
Part of the project planner: Planning to paint a room or a house.
The checklist, stage by stage
1. Protect and prepare
| Tool | What it is for | Own or rent |
|---|---|---|
| Drop cloths | Canvas for the floor (it does not slip), plastic for furniture | Own |
| Painter's tape | Masking trim, ceilings and outlets | Buy per job |
| Screwdriver | Taking off outlet and switch covers | Own |
| Putty knife and spackle | Filling nail holes and dents | Own |
| Sanding sponge | Smoothing filled spots and glossy paint | Buy per job |
| Caulk and a caulk gun | Filling gaps between trim and wall | Own the gun |
| Bucket, sponge and a cleaner | Washing grease and dirt off the walls | Own |
2. Cut in and roll
| Tool | What it is for | Own or rent |
|---|---|---|
| Angled sash brush, 2 to 2½ in | Cutting in at the corners, ceiling and trim | Own, if you clean it |
| Roller frame, 9 in | Rolling the walls and ceiling | Own |
| Roller covers | 3/8 in nap for smooth walls, 1/2 in or more for textured walls and ceilings | Buy per job |
| Paint tray and liners | Loading the roller; liners save the cleanup | Own the tray |
| Extension pole | Rolling the ceiling and tall walls without a ladder | Own |
| Step ladder | Cutting in at the ceiling | Own or borrow |
| 5 gallon bucket and a grid | Faster than a tray for a big room or several gallons | Own |
3. Clean up
| Tool | What it is for | Own or rent |
|---|---|---|
| Rags | Wiping drips straight away | Own |
| Brush comb and a roller cleaner | Getting the paint out so the brush lasts | Own |
| Plastic wrap or bags | Wrapping brushes and rollers between coats | Buy per job |
Safety and ventilation
- Open windows and run a fan while you paint and while it dries.
- Test for lead before you sand paint in a home built before 1978: sanding lead paint is dangerous, and it needs lead-safe methods.
- Use a sturdy step ladder, not a chair, and do not stand on the top step.
- Safety glasses for painting the ceiling.
Supplies for other room sizes
8 ft walls, one door, two windows, two coats at 350 sq ft per gallon. Tape is counted around the trim and the ceiling, in rolls of 180 ft (60 yards; check your roll). The tools do not change with the room size, but in the 20 × 16 ft room the 3.0 gallons for the walls are worth pouring into a 5 gallon bucket with a grid, so the color is the same from wall to wall.
| Room | Wall paint | Ceiling paint | Painter's tape | Caulk tubes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft | 1.5 gal | 0.6 gal | 129 ft (1 roll) | 2 |
| 12 × 12 ft | 1.9 gal | 0.8 gal | 145 ft (1 roll) | 2 |
| 14 × 12 ft | 2.1 gal | 1.0 gal | 153 ft (1 roll) | 2 |
| 16 × 14 ft | 2.5 gal | 1.3 gal | 169 ft (1 roll) | 2 |
| 20 × 16 ft | 3.0 gal | 1.8 gal | 193 ft (2 rolls) | 2 |
For the whole shopping list, see the materials list for painting a room; for the order of work, the room painting planner; and before you start, the common mistakes when painting a room. Estimates only: check the coverage on your paint can.
Frequently asked questions
What supplies do I need to paint a room?
Paint, primer if the wall needs it, drop cloths, painter's tape, spackle and a putty knife, a sanding sponge, caulk, an angled brush, a 9 in roller with covers, a tray, an extension pole and a step ladder.
What size roller nap for walls?
3/8 in for smooth walls and 1/2 in for lightly textured walls or ceilings. Heavier textures need a thicker nap. Check the paint maker's advice for your paint.
How much paint for a 12x12 room?
1.9 gallons for two coats on 8 ft walls with one door and two windows, and 0.8 gallons for the ceiling.
What brush is best for cutting in?
An angled sash brush 2 to 2½ in wide. The angle lets you draw a straight line along the ceiling and trim.
More guides
Tools & materials for this project
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Estimates only. Quantities depend on your materials, site and supplier. Confirm important numbers before you order, and follow local building codes for anything structural.
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