Behr Paint Coverage Calculator

Behr paint calculator — how to use this tool

If you searched “Behr paint calculator” or “Behr paint coverage calculator,” you are in the right place. Read the Coverage line on your Behr can, enter room size above, set sq ft per gallon to that number, and get gallons per coat.

Typical Behr interior ranges (one coat, smooth primed drywall): Premium Plus Interior up to ~400 sq ft/gallon; Premium Plus Ultra and Marquee similar on flat walls; ceiling flat often 350–400 sq ft/gallon. Exterior and primer lines list lower numbers — always use your exact can.

This calculator is brand-neutral: the same workflow works for Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, or store brands at Home Depot Canada. Need coats and waste as a shopping list? Use how much Behr paint do I need.

How much does a gallon of Behr paint cover? Worked examples

One gallon of Behr Premium Plus Interior at the common 400 sq ft/gallon label covers about 400 sq ft of smooth wall in one coat — roughly the walls of a small 10×10 room (320 sq ft) with product left over, or most of a 12×12 room’s walls (384 sq ft) in a single coat.

Two coats doubles the paint: that same 12×12 room needs ~768 ÷ 400 ≈ 1.9 gallons — buy 2 gallons if walls are smooth and primed. Texture, primer, or a dark-to-light colour change? Drop to 350 sq ft/gallon and plan 3 gallons.

For a full chart by Behr product type, see Behr paint coverage per gallon chart. For coats + waste as a store list, stay with how much Behr paint do I need.

Why coverage varies more than people expect

A label that says 400 sq ft/gallon assumes smooth, primed drywall with a light colour. Popcorn ceilings, brick, and unprimed new drywall can drop real-world coverage to 250–300 sq ft/gallon or lower.

Spraying uses more paint than rolling because of overspray; rolling into a deep colour over white may need an extra coat that the label does not account for. Our Behr paint coverage per gallon chart breaks down typical ranges by product type.

Interior vs primer vs exterior numbers

Interior latex: often 350–400 sq ft/gallon. Primer: 250–350 sq ft/gallon. Exterior on wood siding: 200–300 sq ft/gallon. Never mix products in one calculation — run the calculator separately for primer and topcoat.

If you are comparing brands at the store, coverage per gallon is a fair way to compare value: a more expensive can that covers 25% more area may cost less per square foot painted.

Quarts vs gallons at the counter

The results panel shows gallons and quarts. Closets, powder rooms, and single accent walls often need only one or two quarts. Whole rooms and open-plan spaces almost always need full gallons — we round up so you are not caught short.

For a full room estimate that includes coats and waste, also try the how much paint do I need page or the room paint calculator.