How much paint for a 5x8 ft bathroom?
Short answer
For a 5x8 ft bathroom with 8 ft ceilings, 1 door and 1 window, plan on 1 gallon for the walls and 1 gallon for the ceiling: 2 gallons in all, two coats each. We used 375 sq ft per gallon; your can's label has the final word.
You need about
2 gallons
2 coats, 375 sq ft per gallon, rounded up to whole gallons
| Surface | Area | Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Wallsexact 0.9 gal = 1 gal | 172 sq ft | 1 gallon |
| Ceilingexact 0.2 gal = 1 qt | 40 sq ft | 1 gallon |
Coverage per gallon is a rule of thumb. The label on your can has the real number for that paint: if it says less, you need more. Whole gallons leave a little for touch-ups.
What this assumes
- Every wall is painted: 172 sq ft after taking out the door and the window.
- The ceiling is 40 sq ft, the same as the floor.
- Smooth walls. Textured walls need more: see the questions below.
Your own room, the finish you pick, and every material counted.
Questions
How many gallons of paint do I need for a 5x8 bathroom?
Walls only: 1 gallon. Walls and ceiling: 2 gallons. That is two coats at 375 sq ft per gallon, with one door and one window and 8 ft ceilings, rounded up to whole gallons. Check the label on your can for its real coverage.
How much paint do I need for one coat, or for three?
One coat of walls and ceiling is 2 gallons; three coats is 3 gallons. Two coats is what the app's guides plan. A big color change or new drywall may need primer first, which is extra.
What if the walls are textured?
Textured walls soak up more paint, so the math uses 310 sq ft per gallon instead of 375. For this room that is 3 gallons instead of 2 gallons, at two coats on walls and ceiling.
Paint guides
- How to prep walls for painting
- How to paint walls: first coat
- How to paint a ceiling
- How to paint walls: final coat
Other room sizes: 12x12 bedroom · 10x12 bedroom · 12x14 bedroom · 14x16 living room · 10x10 kitchen
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