Interior paint planner

Interior Paint Calculator

Estimate wall area and paint quantity for a rectangular room, accounting for openings, coats, coverage and optional primer.

Interior Paint Calculator project example
Rooms · walls · gallons · litres
Recommended interior paint
✓ formula-based calculation✓ editable assumptions✓ shopping list
🇺🇸 United States · Imperial · USD

Project breakdown

Illustrative material range

Planning only. Local prices, delivery, tax, labor and product choice can materially change actual cost.

Starter shopping list

Next steps

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How the calculation works:
What you'll get

A useful project estimate, not a blank calculator.

Enter measurements directly or describe the project in plain English. The result keeps the assumptions visible and turns the quantity into a practical planning conversation.

Paint Calculator example
Project guide

How to estimate paint for a room

Interior wall paint is driven by wall area rather than floor area. PrepMyBuild calculates the room perimeter, multiplies it by ceiling height, subtracts planning allowances for doors and windows, applies the number of coats, and divides by the coverage rate you select.

Coats can matter more than room size

Two coats approximately double the paint applied compared with one coat. Coverage can also change with surface texture, color change and product choice.

Doors and windows are planning deductions

The calculator uses standard opening allowances rather than asking you to measure every opening. For unusually large glass areas or doors, adjust your inputs or treat the result as a conservative planning estimate.

Primer is kept separate

Primer has its own toggle because it is not required for every repaint. New drywall, stains, repairs and large color changes are examples where primer may be considered.

Example: 12 × 14 ft room, 9 ft ceilings, two coats

After standard door/window deductions, the calculator estimates the net wall area and converts two coats into a paint quantity using the selected coverage rate.