How to Calculate the Paint Amount for a Square Foot

Before you begin painting, it is necessary to calculate the amount of paint you need for your project. Buying too much paint is better than not buying enough to finish the job. If you run out of paint, the chances of successfully matching the color for a seamless blend are almost impossible. There are some things to consider when trying to figure out how much paint you need for each square foot, such as how much paint will be absorbed into the wood and how many coats you need to cover the previous coat of paint.

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the length and width of each wall you are going to paint. Multiply the length times the width. Add up the amount of each area to give you the square foot measurements. If you have windows or doors in any of those section, you need to figure those measurements into your calculations.
- 2
  Measure the width and height of each door, window or any other areas you are not going to paint. Multiply the length times the width of each place. Subtract this number from the total area of the wall.
- 3
  Divide the area by the square foot coverage stated on the can of paint. This tells you how many gallons of paint you need to buy.
- 4
  Inspect the area you are going to paint and determine how many coats you will need. If you are going to use two coats, double the amounts of paint. Textured paint will not cover as much as smooth paint.

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