Home upkeep
Prepare a shopping list for painting one room
Coverage varies by product and surface, and buying too little means a second trip mid-project. Measure the wall area first and subtract doors and windows before you estimate paint, primer and supplies.
A text to start with
I'm painting a bedroom. The walls total 480 square feet before subtracting two doors of 20 square feet each and two windows of 15 square feet each. The paint label gives 400 square feet per gallon per coat on smooth walls. Calculate paint for one coat and two coats separately, then list the other supplies. Ask me about wall condition before deciding whether primer is needed. I will follow the product's ventilation and drying instructions.
Example request. Change the details to fit your situation.What to check in the shopping list
The paintable area in this example is 410 square feet: 480 minus 40 for the doors and 30 for the windows. Divide by the label's coverage per coat, then multiply by the number of coats. Check available container sizes before rounding the purchase quantity. Coverage varies with surface condition and application, so confirm the estimate against the actual product label and the room.
Before you buy
Take your measurements to the paint counter and ask staff to confirm the quantity, since they can account for waste and cut-in areas that simple area math misses. Buy a sample pot first if you are matching existing trim or flooring.