Ceiling Paint Calculator
How much paint for a ceiling, smooth or popcorn-textured? Enter the ceiling size and coats — textured ceilings use about 25% more paint — and get gallons and cost as a range.
Paint for a 120 sq ft ceiling (2 coats)
0.75–0.75 gal — 2.8–2.8 L
$18–$39 — estimated paint cost
Ceiling area: 120 sq ft (11.1 sq m). Coverage: 340–388 sq ft/gal. Flat or matte ceiling paint hides roller marks best; buy a dedicated ceiling paint if the can says so — it is thicker and drips less overhead.
Estimate — check the can label and current shelf price. Coverage varies by brand, finish and surface, and prices vary by store and region. The range above is a planning figure, not a quote.
Formula used: Gallons = ceiling area × coats ÷ coverage (sq ft/gal), with a 25% allowance for popcorn/textured ceilings, rounded up to the nearest quart.
How this estimate works: Ceiling area is length times width. A popcorn or textured ceiling has far more surface than a flat one, so the estimate adds 25% before dividing by the coverage range for your surface and finish. Two coats are the norm for ceilings because a single coat almost always shows lap marks under overhead light.
How the ceiling paint calculator works
Ceiling area is length times width, and a popcorn or textured ceiling gets a 25% allowance because its surface area is far larger than a flat ceiling's. Two coats are the norm for ceilings, because a single coat almost always shows lap marks under overhead light. Flat or matte ceiling paint hides roller marks best, and dedicated ceiling paint is thicker so it drips less overhead. Estimate — check the can label and current shelf price.
Try next: Paint Calculator · Paint Cost Calculator · Trim and Door Paint Calculator
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