Tool-first calculator
Paint calculator: gallons, coats, and cost.
Enter wall area, doors, windows, and number of coats to estimate gallons of paint and primer plus a broad material cost. The calculator uses editable assumptions because coverage varies by surface texture, paint brand, sheen, and color shift.
Independent FatBook v3 cost indexVerified permit/source data where availableReviewed by Leonard "Chuck" Thompson
Paint needed (DIY material)
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Local installed cost
What an installer charges for your scope.
The numbers above are material counts and sizing. Below shows what a contractor typically charges in your city for an installed version of this scope, scaled from FatBook's cost index of BLS wages + Craftsman labor hours + permits + materials.
Pick the cost-index service that matches the scope you're scaling. The default is the trade's headline service.
National Average
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How to use this result
- Buy whole gallons. Round up. Half a gallon left over is cheap insurance for touch-ups.
- Premium paint usually covers 350 to 400 sqft per gallon and may skip a coat. Budget paint often needs three coats to match.
- Material cost is paint only. Local installed cost below adds painter labor, prep, masking, and supplies.
Cost-index version: 2026.Q2. Read the FatBook methodology, or use the bid and true cost calculators for an installed painting bid check.
Data Sources Used On This Page
- Independent FatBook v3 cost index for paint calculator for Chicago.
- BLS OEWS wage inputs and FRED PPI material inflation references.
- Craftsman labor-hour references and contractor overhead benchmarks.
- Verified permit/source data from PermitCalculator.com and permits_compiled where available.
Cost-index version: 2026.Q2
Updated: May 2026
Sources: BLS, Craftsman, FRED
Reviewed by: Leonard "Chuck" Thompson
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Cost index built by David Olson, Founder of TheFatBook · Methodology reviewed by Leonard "Chuck" Thompson, LC Thompson Construction Co., Owner (retired) · 2026.Q1