12 × 12 ft room: the short answer
With 8 ft walls, a 12 × 12 ft room has about 384 sq ft of wall. For 2 coats that's roughly 2.2 gallons — the smart buy is 2 gal + 1 qt.
Room size
Paint for a 12 × 12 ft room
A 12 × 12 ft room with 8 ft walls has about 384 sq ft to paint. For 2 coats that's about 2.2 gallons — buy 2 gal + 1 qt. Adjust coats, openings, or the ceiling below.
Paint needed
—Enter a room size to estimate paint.
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| Paint (with coats) | — |
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Shopping list
Run the calculator to prepare a list.
Estimate only.
Coverage is about 350 sq ft per gallon per coat for most interior paint — check the can.
Bare drywall, patches, and big colour changes soak up more, so prime first and consider an
extra coat.
Adjust for your room
Subtract big windows and doors, add the ceiling if you're painting it, and bump to three coats for a strong colour change. Prime bare or patched walls first so two coats is enough.
Coverage ≈ 350 sq ft/gal at 8 ft walls, 2 coats. Estimates only.
What a 12 × 12 ft room needs
A 12 × 12 ft room is a square bedroom or den with simple wall runs, which makes painting straightforward and waste low. At an 8 ft ceiling, two coats of paint usually total around two gallons plus any primer needed for bare surfaces.
How to decide
The square layout makes the perimeter calculation simple, but coverage still depends on the surface: smooth painted walls need less than bare drywall or textured surfaces. Divide the paintable area by the can's coverage figure and round up to full gallons. The calculator uses a common 350 sq ft per gallon reference with two coats.
Checks before you buy
- Confirm the surface condition; bare drywall and texture absorb more paint.
- Round up to full gallons; partial-gallon math rarely survives real roller use.
- Count primer separately if the surface has never been painted.
FAQ
How much paint for a 12 × 12 ft room?
With 8 ft walls, a 12 × 12 ft room is about 384 sq ft. For 2 coats you need roughly 2.2 gallons — the smart buy is 2 gal + 1 qt. Subtract doors and windows in the calculator for a tighter number.
How many gallons to paint a 12 × 12 ft room?
About 2.2 gallons for 2 coats at 350 sq ft per gallon. If you're painting the ceiling too, tick that option — it adds the room's footprint to the area.
Sources & verification
Source links and page assumptions reviewed .
- Sherwin-Williams: paint calculator — Assumes roughly 350–400 square feet of coverage per gallon per coat.
- Lowe's: paint calculator — Common interior paint coverage guidance of 350–400 square feet per gallon.
Estimate only, based on standard coverage at 8 ft walls and 2 coats. Coverage varies with paint, surface, and colour change. Prime bare or patched walls before painting.