How Much Paint to Paint a House Exterior?
Part of Interior & Finishes
Quick answer
An average 2,000 ft² two-story house needs roughly 6–10 gallons for the siding plus 1–3 gallons for trim, doors and shutters, for two coats. Exterior paint covers about 250–350 ft² per gallon — less on rough or textured siding. Measure the wall area, not the floor area.
Exterior estimating works like interior — area ÷ coverage × coats — but the surfaces are rougher and the area is the outside walls, so coverage runs lower and you measure differently.
Gallons by house size (body, 2 coats)
| House size | Approx. wall area | Body paint |
|---|---|---|
| 1,000 ft² (1 story) | ~1,100 ft² | ~6 gal |
| 1,500 ft² | ~1,700 ft² | ~8 gal |
| 2,000 ft² (2 story) | ~2,400 ft² | ~8–10 gal |
| 2,500 ft²+ | ~3,000 ft²+ | ~12+ gal |
How to measure an exterior
- Wall area = total perimeter × wall height (do each story).
- Add gable triangles: ½ × width × peak height for each gable end.
- Don't subtract for windows/doors unless they're very large — the offcuts become waste anyway.
- Estimate trim, fascia and soffits separately; they often take a different paint.
- Rough or textured siding (stucco, rough cedar) covers ~250 ft²/gal, not 350 — buy more.
Put your measured exterior wall area and 2 coats into the paint calculator for the body gallons, then run the trim area separately.
FAQs
How much paint to paint a 2000 sq ft house exterior?
About 6–10 gallons for the siding (two coats) plus 1–3 gallons for trim and doors. The exact amount depends on the wall area and how rough the siding is — textured surfaces use more.
How much does exterior paint cover per gallon?
About 250–350 ft² per gallon. Smooth lap siding is near the top of that range; rough cedar, stucco and masonry are near the bottom, so plan for ~250 ft²/gal on textured surfaces.