Openings come out before coats
Measure total wall length and height to the eave. Deduct doors and windows you will not paint — planning defaults are 21 ft² per door and 15 ft² per window, both editable. Two coats double the film; you still round purchase up to a whole gallon.
Stucco, brick and rough cedar need a lower coverage figure than a smooth clapboard. Enter the number from the selected exterior product.
Interior paint is a different page
Rooms, ceilings and trim enamel are not this takeoff. Primer is its own product. Gables are triangles — add them as extra length or a second line rather than pretending the eave height covers the peak.
Do it in order
- Enter wall length and eave height, then door and window counts.
- Type coats and the coverage from the selected exterior can.
- Round up to whole gallons, then add gables, primer and trim as extras.
Worked example — 40 ft × 9 ft, two doors, six windows, 2 coats, 350 ft²/gal, 10% waste
Gross wall is 360 ft². Two 21 ft² doors and six 15 ft² windows leave 228 ft² paintable. Two coats plus 10% waste is 502 ft² of film, which purchases as 2 gallons at 350 ft²/gal. A third accent colour is another line.
Planning boundary
This estimates gallons. It does not specify prep, moisture, lead-safe work or a live paint price.
Do gables use the same height?
No. A gable is a triangle. Add it separately or the eave height will short the peak.
Is this the interior paint tool?
No. Interior rooms open the paint calculator.
Does coverage include primer?
No. Primer is a different product and a different calculator.