Exterior Paint Calculator
How much exterior paint for a house? Enter the footprint, wall height and openings, pick the siding surface and brand, and get gallons, 5-gallon buckets and cost as a range.
One storey is about 10 ft; two storeys about 20 ft. Gables add area — add a little for them.
Exterior paint for 1,208 sq ft of siding (2 coats)
6.25–8.25 gal — 23.7–31.2 L · up to 2 × 5-gal buckets
$156–$453 — estimated paint cost (materials only)
Wall area: 1,208 sq ft (112.2 sq m) after deducting windows and doors. Coverage: 300–400 sq ft/gal — masonry, stucco and rough-sawn wood sit at the low end. Exterior paint is usually sold in 5-gallon buckets, which are cheaper per gallon than singles.
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: Wall area = 2 × (length + width) × height − windows × 15 − doors × 21 sq ft. Gallons = area × coats ÷ coverage, rounded up to the nearest quart.
How this estimate works: Exterior wall area is the house perimeter times the wall height, minus windows and doors. The surface matters most outdoors: brick, stucco and rough wood absorb far more paint than smooth siding, which is why the result is a range, not one number. Add gable triangles separately if the house has them — this tool counts rectangular walls only.
How the exterior paint calculator works
Exterior wall area is the house perimeter times the wall height, minus windows and doors. The surface matters most outdoors: brick, stucco and rough-sawn wood absorb far more paint than smooth siding, which is why the result is a range. Exterior paint is usually sold in 5-gallon buckets, which are cheaper per gallon than singles. This tool counts rectangular walls only — add gable triangles separately if the house has them. Estimate — check the can label and current shelf price.
Try next: Paint Calculator · Paint Cost Calculator · Ceiling Paint Calculator
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