Paint for an 8 × 10 ft room
This is a small bedroom, a nursery or a home office. With 8 ft ceilings the four walls have 288 ft² of surface, and after deducting one door (21 ft²) and two windows (30 ft²) there are 237 ft² to paint. The ceiling is 80 ft².
How the number of coats changes it
| Coats | Wall gallons | Buy for walls | Ceiling gallons | Buy for ceiling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 coat | 0.68 | 3 quarts | 0.23 | 1 quart |
| 2 coats | 1.35 | 1 gallon + 2 quarts | 0.46 | 2 quarts |
| 3 coats | 2.03 | 2 gallons + 1 quart | 0.69 | 3 quarts |
If your ceilings are taller
| Ceiling height | Wall area | Gallons (2 coats) | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 ft ceilings | 288 ft² | 1.35 | 1 gallon + 2 quarts |
| 9 ft ceilings | 324 ft² | 1.56 | 1 gallon + 3 quarts |
| 10 ft ceilings | 360 ft² | 1.77 | 2 gallons |
If your walls are rough or your paint covers less
The label on your can gives its coverage. Rough or textured walls and dark colors cover less, so the amounts go up:
| Coverage | Gallons (2 coats) | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| 250 ft² per gallon | 1.90 | 2 gallons |
| 300 ft² per gallon | 1.58 | 1 gallon + 3 quarts |
| 350 ft² per gallon | 1.35 | 1 gallon + 2 quarts |
| 400 ft² per gallon | 1.19 | 1 gallon + 1 quart |
Trim, tape and prep
The room is 36 ft around. Taping both the ceiling line and the baseboard is 72 ft of painter's tape, which is 1 roll of 60 yard tape. A quart of trim paint usually covers the baseboards and window and door casings for a room this size, and a gallon of primer is worth having for stains and patches.
Paint one wall at a time from the ceiling down, "cut in" the edges with a brush before rolling, and keep a wet edge to avoid lap marks. Let the first coat dry fully before the second, as the can directs.
An 8 × 10 room: more brush work than roller work
An 8 × 10 ft room has only 237 sq ft of wall left once the door and two windows come out, under an 80 sq ft ceiling. Two coats on the walls use 1.35 gallons, so buy 1 gallon + 2 quarts; the ceiling takes 0.46 gallons.
The walls add up to 36 ft around, and a door and two windows interrupt most of that, so you spend longer cutting in along frames and corners than rolling open wall. A nursery or office of this size is a one-day job with drying time between coats. If the color change is mild and the old finish is sound, one coat (0.68 gallons) may be all it needs, and the coats table above shows that case.
Want to change anything else? The calculator above is the full Paint Calculator: edit any number and the results update instantly.
Tools & materials for this project
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Frequently asked questions
How many gallons of paint do I need for an 8x10 room?
With 8 ft ceilings, one door, two windows and two coats at 350 ft² per gallon, the walls need 1.35 gallons, so buy 1 gallon + 2 quarts. If you also paint the ceiling, add 0.46 gallons (2 quarts).
How much paint for the walls and ceiling of an 8x10 room?
Walls and ceiling together need about 1.81 gallons for two coats. That is 2 gallons if you use the same paint on both, though ceilings are usually painted with a separate flat ceiling paint.
How much primer do I need for an 8x10 room?
One coat of primer over the same walls is about 0.68 gallons (3 quarts). Primer often covers a little less than paint on bare surfaces, so check the can.
Related sizes and guides
Estimates only. Results assume standard materials and simple shapes. Supplier products vary, and the final call on quantity, structure and safety is yours. Check your local code and your supplier's guidance before ordering.