Ceiling Paint Cost

The Cost of Ceiling Paint calculator estimates the cost of paint or primer needed to cover a ceiling (light grey in diagram) of a rectangular room based on the length and width of the room.  

INSTRUCTIONS: Choose units and enter the following:

• (l)  Length of the Room
• (w) Width of the Room
• (uP) Price of one gallon of paint or primer (see Unit Price below).
• (PC) Coverage per Gallon (Paint usually covers 400ft², and primer 200 ft².)
• (CT) Coats of Paint

Total Cost (TC): The calculator computes the number of gallons of paint or primer needed for the ceiling and uses volume to compute the cost in U.S. dollars. However, this can be automatically converted into other currency units via the pull-down menu.

Paint Quality
Premium Brand
Mid Brand
Economy Brand

The Math / Science

The formula has a pull down option for paint or primer.  The mean square feet of coverage for a gallon of quality paint is 400 ft² .  Quality paints that are generally available include Behr (Home Depot) or Valspar (Lowes).  If you choose paint (default), you will be given the number of gallons needed to paint the interior of your room.

Primer covers 200 ft².  If you choose primer, you will be given the number of gallons of primer needed to prime the interior walls of your room.  Paint is used for ceilings in rooms around the world.  In addition to aesthetics, paint provides protection for the wall materials and extends their life.  Paint also provides sanitary benefits. Many governments require the painting of apartments (flats) for each new tenant. 

Paint Pricing Survey Data

Always use use local pricing for paint or primer since prices and availability will vary.  However, the following prices are recent U.S. dollar costs for one gallon of paint or primer in the United States:

• Paint Pricing Survey date: 1/30/25
• Paint Price Survey Source (online): Menards
  • Price of premium (high quality) paint: $118.0 USD
  • Price of medium grade paint: $50.98 USD
  • Price of economy paint: $15.99 USD
  • Price of primer: $14.98 USD

Paint Calculators

• Paint for a Room: Computes the number of gallons of paint or primer needed to paint an entire room, the four walls and ceiling and also for just the walls.
• Room Paint Cost: Estimates the cost of paint or primer needed to cover a rectangular room (blue in diagram) based on the length, width and height of the room.
• Paint for a Wall: Computes the number of gallons of paint or primer needed to paint a wall or any rectangular area (wall or ceiling).
• Cost to Paint a Wall: Estimates the cost of paint or primer needed to cover a wall or other area defined by a length and a height or width.
• Ceiling Paint Cost: Estimates the cost of paint or primer needed to cover a ceiling of a rectangular room based on the length and width of the room.  
• Exterior Paint for a House: Computes the number of gallons of exterior paint for a gabled building like a common house based on the dimensions, number of large and small windows, number of doors and the number of coats of paint
• Wood Stain Calculator: Computes the amount of wood stain to finish wood surfaces based on a length, width and the stain product coverage defined by a container size and coverage per container.
• Deck Stain and Sealer: Computes the number of quarts of stain and sealer needed for a deck based on the size and whether rough or smooth.
• Paint for Pipes: Computes the amount of paint needed to cover the exterior surface area of one or more pipes based on the pipe diameter, length, number of coats, number of pipes and the recommended area coverage of the paint. 
• Paint for Corrugated Surfaces: Computes the amount of paint needed for a corrugated surface based on the dimensions of the corrugated surface area (length and width), a corrugation factor, coverage per gallon of paint used and the number of coats of paint.
• Paint for Gambrel Wall: Computes the gallons of paint needed to cover a wall under a gambrel shaped roof.
• Paint Pricing Survey: Dataset containing a history of periodic pricing for paint products including primer and three price points (economy, medium and premium) paint.  Data comes from nationally advertised prices on the website of national retailers.
• Barn Paint Calc: Computes the amount of paint needed for the surface area of a barn (not the roof) including the sides under a gambrel roof and the sides.  This is based on the barn's span, length, total height, and height and width of the loft and coverage of the barn paint.