How Much Paint for a 12×12 Room?
A 12×12 ft bedroom with 8 ft ceilings is the classic one-weekend repaint: 384 sq ft of wall plus 144 sq ft of ceiling. At 350 sq ft per gallon and two coats, that is about 3 gallons of wall paint and 1 gallon of ceiling paint — here is the room-by-room method professionals use, including cutting in, dry times, and primer calls.
Step-by-Step Takeoff
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1
Walls: 2 × (12 + 12) × 8 = 384 sq ft; subtract ~40 sq ft for door and windows = 344.
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2
Paint: 344 × 2 coats ÷ 350 = 2 gallons (round up). Ceiling: 144 × 2 ÷ 350 = 1 gallon.
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3
Primer: 1 gallon if painting over dark color, stains, or new drywall patches.
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Order of work: ceiling first, then trim, then walls — cut in edges with a 2.5-inch angled brush.
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5
Recoat after 4 hours (latex); two thin coats beat one thick coat every time.
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Cleanup and touch-up kit: save a labeled jar per color for future scuffs.
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7
Enter it all in the Painting Calculator for the exact order with waste.
Guide FAQ
How many square feet does a gallon cover?
About 350–400 sq ft per coat on smooth walls; less on textured or porous surfaces.
Do I need primer over old paint?
Only for dramatic color changes, stains, or bare drywall patches — spot-prime those areas.
How long between paint coats?
Four hours for latex in normal conditions; overnight in cold or humid rooms.
How much paint for just the ceiling?
One gallon covers a 12×12 ceiling twice with a little left for touch-ups.
Eggshell or satin for bedrooms?
Eggshell hides imperfections; satin wipes clean easier in kids rooms.
Related Guides
How Many Drywall Sheets for a Bedroom?
Drywall sheets, screws, joint compound, and tape for a 12x12 room with 8 ft ceilings and two windows.
How Many Wallpaper Rolls for an Accent Wall?
Drop-method roll count, pattern repeat math, and spare-roll rule for a 12x8 ft accent wall.
How Much Insulation for an Attic?
R-value targets by zone, batt counts, blown-in bags, and air-sealing order for a 1,000 sq ft attic.