Most Reddit painters agree that coverage estimates of 250 to 400 square feet per gallon are a safer starting point than any single number, and buying a bit extra is cheaper than a second trip to the shop. The threads below show how different communities, from wall painters to fine artists, actually work out their quantities.
What do Redditors recommend for estimating paint quantities?
- How much paint? A simple buy-as-you-go method for anyone unsure of total wall area: start with a 5 gallon bucket and top it up with another gallon as soon as levels run low, rather than waiting until you run out completely.
- How much paint for an 11×14 canvas A beginner oil painter asks how many tubes of paint a small canvas actually needs before buying a full set.
- How much primer do I need Commenters work out primer coverage at roughly 250 to 300 square feet per gallon, then divide total wall area by that figure.
- r/Paintcalculator A dedicated community built around a painting cost calculator that estimates quantity and budget from room measurements.
- How much wall paint do I need Experienced painters suggest adding 10 to 15 percent extra to the initial calculation to cover uneven absorption and touch-ups.
Our take
Reddit’s advice lines up with what we have seen in our own projects: measure first, then add a buffer, rather than guessing and hoping. For a single wall, our guide on how much paint for one wall walks through the same square footage maths that the r/paint and r/Fencepainting threads use, but with the numbers already worked out for standard wall sizes. If you are tackling a whole room rather than one surface, our piece on how much paint for a living room covers how ceiling height, doors and windows change the final gallon count. The primer thread is worth reading closely too, since skipping that calculation is one of the most common reasons people run short mid-project. We would also echo the r/Fencepainting advice on buffering by 10 to 15 percent, particularly with textured walls or darker colours that often need a second coat. The canvas painting thread is a useful reminder that these calculations scale down as well as up, whether you are covering a feature wall or a small piece of art. In short, Reddit’s collective experience and our own guides both point the same way: measure the area carefully, check the coverage rate printed on the tin, and buy a little more paint than the maths suggests so you are not left short halfway through a wall.
– Mara, Loom & Glow
Common questions
How much paint?
A simple buy-as-you-go method for anyone unsure of total wall area: start with a 5 gallon bucket and top it up with another gallon as soon as levels run low, rather than waiting until you run out completely.
How much wall paint do I need?
Experienced painters suggest adding 10 to 15 percent extra to the initial calculation to cover uneven absorption and touch-ups.
How much primer do I need?
Commenters work out primer coverage at roughly 250 to 300 square feet per gallon, then divide total wall area by that figure.
Free guide
The Calm Shelf
12 styling ideas to help you compose calm, balanced shelves in natural texture homes.