Exterior paint calculator
Gallons of paint and primer for the outside walls of a house.
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0 gallons
How it works
walls = distance round the house x wall height gables = gable ends x 1/2 x gable width x (gable width / 2 x pitch / 12) area = walls + gables - doors - windows gallons = area x coats / coverage
The distance round the house is 2 x (length + width) for a plain rectangle; for an L-shaped house or one with bump-outs, walk it with a wheel. The gable triangles above the eaves are worked out from the roof pitch. A typical door is about 20 square feet and a window about 15.
Coverage on the can assumes smooth, primed siding. Rough-sawn wood, stucco and masonry soak up more and often get 200 to 300 square feet a gallon. Trim, doors and shutters are measured and bought separately in their own sheen.
Questions
- How much paint does a house exterior need?
- Work out the wall and gable area, take off doors and windows, multiply by the coats and divide by the coverage. A 50 x 30 foot single-storey house with two gables often needs 8 to 9 gallons for two coats.
- How many square feet does a gallon of exterior paint cover?
- About 350 to 400 on smooth, primed siding, and 200 to 300 on rough wood, stucco and masonry. The can gives the maker's figure.
- One coat or two?
- Two for a color change, bare wood or faded siding. One coat can do when you repaint the same color over sound paint.
- Is trim included?
- No. Trim, doors and shutters usually take a different sheen or color, so measure and buy them separately.
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