Exterior Paint Calculator
A typical 2,000 sq ft single-story home needs 10–13 gallons of paint for 2 coats ($400–$900 in premium paint). Enter your walls and texture for an exact estimate.
Inputs
Estimate
- Paintable area1320 sq ft
- Gallons of paint neededRound up to the nearest whole gallon. Order one extra for touch-ups.8 gal
- 5-gallon buckets needed2
- Paint cost — low ($30/gal)$240
- Paint cost — high ($70/gal premium)$560
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Try Remodel AI freeHow to calculate exterior paint
A gallon of exterior paint covers 200–350 square feet depending on siding texture. Smooth surfaces (vinyl, smooth wood) get the best coverage. Rough surfaces (stucco, split-face block, T1-11) absorb more paint and need 30–40% extra.
Calculate paintable area by multiplying total wall height × perimeter, then subtracting the area of windows and doors. Multiply by number of coats (2 is standard). Divide by the per-gallon coverage rate to get gallons needed.
For two-tone paint jobs (siding + trim), calculate trim area separately. Trim typically uses 5–10% of total paint volume. Order one extra gallon for touch-ups and future repairs.
Formulas used
- Paintable area
(wall_height × perimeter) − openings_areaSubtract window and door areas — you're not painting them. - Gallons needed
(paintable_area × coats) / coverage_per_gallonCoverage varies by texture: 350 sq ft smooth, 300 lightly textured, 250 rough, 200 very rough.
Frequently asked questions
How many gallons of paint do I need for a 2,000 sq ft house?+
A 2,000 sq ft single-story home has about 1,800 sq ft of exterior wall (perimeter × 9 ft). Subtracting 150 sq ft of openings = 1,650 sq ft paintable × 2 coats = 3,300 sq ft. At 300 sq ft/gallon for textured siding = 11 gallons of paint.
How many square feet does a gallon of exterior paint cover?+
350 sq ft on smooth surfaces (vinyl, smooth wood). 300 on lightly textured (most siding). 250 on rough (stucco, T1-11). 200 on very rough (split-face block, heavy stucco). These are for one coat.
How much does exterior paint cost in 2026?+
Builder-grade paint: $25–$40 per gallon. Mid-tier: $40–$60. Premium (Sherwin-Williams Duration, Benjamin Moore Aura): $60–$90. Most house exteriors need 8–15 gallons, costing $200–$1,350 for paint alone.
Do I need 2 or 3 coats of exterior paint?+
2 coats is standard for same-color repaints and going light-on-light or dark-on-dark. 3 coats are needed for big color shifts (light-to-dark or dark-to-light) and for porous surfaces like raw cedar or stucco being painted for the first time.
Should I include trim in my paint calculation?+
If you're painting trim the same color as siding, include it. If you're using a separate trim color, calculate it separately — trim typically uses 5–10% of total paint volume. Use this calculator twice: once for body, once for trim.