Short answer
A 10x10 kitchen with 8-foot ceilings, one door, and two windows needs 1.54 gallons of wall paint for two coats. The ceiling adds less than a quart (0.29 gallons), and trim runs about 2 quarts. Two 1-gallon cans of wall paint and a single quart of ceiling paint will cover this room.
How this calculator works
The calculator breaks a room's paint needs into three separate surfaces: walls, ceiling, and trim. Each uses a different formula because they're typically different colors and painted with different tools.
Wall paint
The core formula calculates gross wall area, subtracts unpainted surfaces, multiplies by the number of coats, then divides by coverage rate:
((2 × (length + width) × height) − (doors × 21) − (windows × 15)) × coats ÷ 350
For this 10x10 kitchen:
- Gross wall area: 2 × (10 + 10) × 8 = 320 sq ft
- Subtract one door: 320 − 21 = 299 sq ft
- Subtract two windows: 299 − 30 = 269 sq ft
- Two coats: 269 × 2 = 538 sq ft
- Divide by 350 sq ft/gallon: 538 ÷ 350 = 1.54 gallons
The 21 sq ft door deduction assumes a standard 3×7-foot interior door. The 15 sq ft window deduction assumes a typical 3×5-foot window. If your windows are large picture windows or your doors are double-width, those deductions undercount — adjust by entering additional "windows" or "doors" to manually increase the deduction.
The 350 sq ft/gallon coverage rate is intentionally conservative. Paint can labels often print 400 sq ft/gallon, but that's tested in lab conditions on smooth surfaces with a fine roller. On textured drywall or orange-peel finish, actual coverage is closer to 300–350 sq ft. Using 350 sq ft keeps you from running short.
The 10% default waste factor is already baked in. It accounts for roller nap saturation (a 9-inch roller cover absorbs roughly 3–4 oz of paint before it transfers to the wall), paint left in the tray, and minor spills.
Ceiling paint
Ceiling coverage is simpler — just floor area divided by coverage rate:
(length × width) ÷ 350
For a 10×10 kitchen: 100 ÷ 350 = 0.29 gallons. One quart covers 87.5 sq ft, so a single quart is the right buy here with a bit of margin.
Trim paint
Trim is calculated in quarts rather than gallons because the total area is small:
⌈(doors + windows) × 0.25 + 1⌉
For one door and two windows: ⌈3 × 0.25 + 1⌉ = ⌈1.75⌉ = 2 quarts. This estimate covers door and window casings plus baseboard trim around the perimeter. If your kitchen has crown molding or wainscoting, add a quart.
What the output tells you
The main output — 1.54 gallons — is paint in the can before it hits the wall. It's not the amount you'll "use up" because some stays in the roller and tray. That's what the waste factor addresses. When you go to the store, round up to the next whole container size: two 1-gallon cans for walls, one quart for ceiling, two quarts for trim.
Recommended materials
For a small kitchen, you don't need commercial-grade paint, but a quality mid-shelf product is worth it — kitchens take more scrubbing than most rooms, and cheaper paint loses its sheen faster. A good roller cover makes a bigger difference than most people expect; too cheap and it sheds fibers, too thick a nap and it puts on too much texture.
- Behr Premium Plus interior paint (1 gallon) — holds up well in kitchens; available in satin and semi-gloss finishes suited to high-moisture areas
- Purdy 9-inch roller cover (3-pack) — a 3/8-inch nap works well on standard drywall; having extras lets you swap covers between wall color and trim without washing out mid-job
- Frog Tape painter's masking tape (1.41-inch x 60yd) — worth using at the ceiling line and around cabinet faces where a clean edge saves significant touch-up time
FAQ
How many gallons of paint does a 10x10 kitchen need? Two coats on the walls of a 10x10 kitchen with 8-foot ceilings, one door, and two windows requires about 1.54 gallons. Buying two 1-gallon cans gives you a small buffer for touch-ups.
Do I need a separate gallon for the ceiling? A 10x10 ceiling is 100 square feet. At 350 sq ft per gallon, you need roughly 0.29 gallons — well under one quart. A single quart of ceiling paint is enough for one coat on this size room.
Why does the calculator subtract area for doors and windows? Doors and windows are not painted with wall paint, so their surface area is deducted before calculating. The calculator uses 21 sq ft per door and 15 sq ft per window as standard deductions.
What coverage rate does the calculator use? The formula uses 350 square feet per gallon, which reflects a realistic applied coverage rate for flat and eggshell finishes. Paint cans often claim 400 sq ft, but that assumes perfect conditions and a single thin coat.
Should I add a waste factor? The default calculation includes a 10% waste factor. That accounts for spills, roller nap absorption, and the small amount left in the tray. For a 10x10 kitchen, this adds roughly a quarter-quart to your total.
How much trim paint does a 10x10 kitchen need? With one door and two windows, the calculator estimates 2 quarts of trim paint. That covers baseboards, window casings, and door casing with enough left for a second coat on most surfaces.
Does kitchen paint need to be a specific sheen? Kitchens benefit from a satin or semi-gloss finish because grease and moisture wipe off more easily than with flat or eggshell. Factor in that higher-sheen paints typically cover slightly less per gallon than flat paint.
Can I get away with one coat of paint? One coat works if you're applying a very similar color over a properly primed surface. Going from white to white or using a paint-and-primer product are the most common single-coat scenarios. For color changes or fresh drywall, plan on two coats.
How does ceiling height affect the total? Wall square footage scales directly with ceiling height. An 8-foot ceiling in this kitchen produces about 320 sq ft of gross wall area before deductions. A 9-foot ceiling would add 40 more square feet, requiring roughly an extra 0.23 gallons for two coats.
Is a 10x10 kitchen considered small? Yes. A 10x10 grid is the industry standard for measuring kitchen cabinet pricing, but as an actual room it's compact. Most kitchens are larger, so if your kitchen has a longer run of walls, use the calculator with your actual dimensions.
What if my kitchen has an open pass-through or doorway with no door? Set the door count to zero for open doorways — the opening still reduces paintable wall area, but there's no door to paint trim on. You can manually reduce the wall square footage if the opening is unusually wide.