The short answer
A quart of paint covers about 85 to 100 sq ft per coat, a quarter of the 350 to 400 sq ft a gallon covers. One quart is enough for both sides of one standard door in two coats, or for the baseboards and door casing in a typical room. An accent wall or a small bathroom needs a gallon.
How much does a quart of paint cover?
Sherwin-Williams puts a gallon of paint at about 350 to 400 sq ft per coat on smooth walls. A quart holds a quarter of a gallon, so it covers about 85 to 100 sq ft per coat. Primer covers less, about 200 to 300 sq ft per gallon, or 50 to 75 sq ft per quart.
| Can | Paint | Primer |
|---|---|---|
| Quart | 85–100 sq ft | 50–75 sq ft |
| Gallon | 350–400 sq ft | 200–300 sq ft |
| 5 gallon bucket | 1,750–2,000 sq ft | 1,000–1,500 sq ft |
Is a quart enough for…
| Job | Area per coat | Two coats | What to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| One door, one side (3 × 7 ft) | 21 sq ft | 42 sq ft | 1 quart |
| One door, both sides | 42 sq ft | 84 sq ft | 1 quart |
| Three doors, both sides | 126 sq ft | 252 sq ft | 1 gallon |
| Baseboards in a 12 × 12 ft room (48 ft × 4 in) | 16 sq ft | 32 sq ft | 1 quart |
| Accent wall, 12 × 8 ft | 96 sq ft | 192 sq ft | 1 gallon |
| Small bathroom, 5 × 8 ft, 8 ft walls | About 170 sq ft | About 340 sq ft | 1 gallon |
| Front door touch-up or a piece of furniture | Under 30 sq ft | Under 60 sq ft | 1 quart |
Panel doors take a little more paint than flat ones, so a single quart for one door in two coats is close to the limit. For the bathroom, the area is the wall area of 208 sq ft less a door and a mirror or window.
Quart or gallon?
- When a job needs more than two quarts, a gallon is usually the better buy. Compare the shelf prices; two quarts often cost close to a gallon.
- Covering a dark color, or painting raw wood, needs primer first or an extra coat. Plan on more paint.
- Trim and doors usually get a harder-wearing semi-gloss or gloss, which is sold in quarts for exactly these jobs.
- Keep a labeled quart of each wall color for touch-ups.
How to work it out yourself
Area = width × height of each surface
Paint needed (sq ft) = area × coats
Quarts = paint needed ÷ 90, rounded up
For whole rooms, the paint calculator subtracts doors and windows and rounds the result into gallons and quarts. For ceilings, use the ceiling paint calculator.
Calculators for this job
These calculators do the arithmetic from this guide. Each card shows the result for a typical project; open one to enter your own measurements.
Frequently asked questions
Is a quart of paint enough for a door?
Yes. A standard 3 × 7 ft door is about 21 sq ft per side, so both sides in two coats is about 84 sq ft, which one quart covers.
How many quarts are in a gallon?
Four. A quart covers about a quarter of what a gallon covers, roughly 85 to 100 sq ft per coat.
Is a quart enough for an accent wall?
Usually not. A 12 × 8 ft wall is 96 sq ft, so two coats need about 192 sq ft of coverage: two quarts at least. Buy a gallon.
How much paint do I need for trim?
Baseboards are only a few inches tall, so the trim in a typical room is under 20 sq ft. One quart covers the baseboards and door casing in one or two rooms.
Sources
- Sherwin-Williams, How to Use Paint Calculator
- Bob Vila, How Much Paint Do I Need?