Sherwin-Williams Paint Calculator
Estimate how much Sherwin-Williams paint you'll need for your project and get an approximate cost. This calculator helps you determine the right quantity based on your room dimensions, number of coats, and typical paint coverage rates.
Room Dimensions (in feet)
Obstructions & Coats
Paint Details
(Typical Sherwin-Williams interior paint covers 350-400 sq ft/gallon)
(Prices vary by product line and sales)
Understanding Your Sherwin-Williams Paint Needs
Painting a room can dramatically transform its look and feel. To ensure a smooth project without multiple trips to the store, accurately estimating the amount of paint needed is crucial. Our Sherwin-Williams Paint Calculator is designed to help you do just that, taking into account various factors that influence paint consumption.
How to Measure Your Room for Paint
- Room Length and Width: Use a tape measure to find the length and width of your room. Measure along the baseboards.
- Room Height: Measure from the floor to the ceiling.
- Doors and Windows: Count the number of doors and windows in the room. While our calculator uses standard approximations (21 sq ft for a door, 15 sq ft for a window), you can measure them precisely if you wish for more accuracy.
Accurate measurements are the foundation of a good paint estimate. Always double-check your numbers before inputting them into the calculator.
Factors Affecting Paint Quantity
- Room Dimensions: The primary factor. Larger rooms naturally require more paint.
- Number of Coats: Most painting projects require two coats for optimal coverage, especially when changing colors significantly or painting over a darker shade. Priming can sometimes reduce the need for multiple topcoats.
- Paint Coverage Rate: This is the estimated square footage a gallon of paint can cover. Sherwin-Williams paints typically offer excellent coverage, often ranging from 350 to 400 square feet per gallon for interior latex paints. Factors like paint type (e.g., primer + paint in one), sheen, and surface porosity can affect this.
- Surface Condition: Porous surfaces (like new drywall or unprimed wood) will absorb more paint on the first coat than previously painted, smooth surfaces.
- Color Change: Painting a light color over a dark one will generally require more coats (or a good primer) than painting a similar shade.
Using the Calculator Effectively
Input your room's length, width, and height in feet. Specify the number of doors and windows to subtract their area from the total paintable surface. Choose the number of coats you plan to apply (typically 2). The default paint coverage rate is set to 350 sq ft/gallon, a common rate for Sherwin-Williams interior paints, but you can adjust this based on the specific product you choose. Finally, enter an estimated price per gallon to get a rough cost estimate.
Example Calculation:
Let's say you have a room that is 12 feet long, 10 feet wide, and 8 feet high, with 1 door and 2 windows. You plan to apply 2 coats of Sherwin-Williams paint that covers 350 sq ft per gallon, and costs $50 per gallon.
- Wall Area: 2 * (12 ft + 10 ft) * 8 ft = 2 * 22 ft * 8 ft = 352 sq ft
- Ceiling Area: 12 ft * 10 ft = 120 sq ft
- Total Surface Area: 352 sq ft (walls) + 120 sq ft (ceiling) = 472 sq ft
- Door Area: 1 door * 21 sq ft/door = 21 sq ft
- Window Area: 2 windows * 15 sq ft/window = 30 sq ft
- Total Obstruction Area: 21 sq ft + 30 sq ft = 51 sq ft
- Net Paintable Area: 472 sq ft – 51 sq ft = 421 sq ft
- Paint Needed for One Coat: 421 sq ft / 350 sq ft/gallon = 1.20 gallons
- Total Paint Needed (2 Coats): 1.20 gallons * 2 = 2.40 gallons
- Estimated Cost: 2.40 gallons * $50/gallon = $120.00
Based on this, you would likely purchase three 1-gallon cans of paint to ensure you have enough, as paint is typically sold in full gallons.
Always remember it's better to have a little extra paint for touch-ups than to run out mid-project. Happy painting!