How Much Paint for a Front Door?
The short answer: one quart, both sides, two coats. Which is why a gallon is almost always the wrong purchase.
One quart of paint is enough for a front door — both sides, two coats. A standard 3×7 door is 21 square feet per side, so both sides plus the edges is roughly 50 square feet. Two coats is 100 square feet, and a quart covers about 87 to 100 square feet. If your door has glass, deep panels or you want margin, buy a half-gallon.
Estimates only. Textured walls, high ceilings, sprayers and major colour changes can all increase the amount you need. Always buy slightly more than the calculation suggests.
Paint needed by number of doors
| Room / surface | Surface | Coats | Paint | Paint cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One standard door, one side | 21 sq ft | 2 | 1 gal | $32 |
| One standard door, both sides | 50 sq ft | 2 | 1 gal | $32 |
| One door both sides, one coat | 50 sq ft | 1 | 1 gal | $32 |
| Two doors, both sides | 100 sq ft | 2 | 1 gal | $32 |
| Four doors, both sides | 200 sq ft | 2 | 2 gal | $64 |
| Six doors, both sides | 300 sq ft | 2 | 2 gal | $64 |
Both sides plus edges, at 350 sq ft per gallon. A standard 3x7 door is about 25 sq ft of actual surface including edges.
Why a quart does a door
A standard exterior door is 36 inches wide and 80 inches tall — 20 square feet of face. With the edges, mouldings and both sides, you are painting around 50 square feet.
Two coats is 100 square feet. Interior and exterior door paint covers roughly 350 to 400 square feet per gallon, which is 87 to 100 square feet per quart. So a quart covers it — just.
The exception: a door with raised panels, deep mouldings, or glass with muntins has considerably more surface than the flat measurement suggests. Those doors can easily take 25 to 40 % more paint. Buy a half-gallon in that case.
Finish: this is where doors differ from walls
Doors take more physical contact than any wall — hands, keys, bags, weather. That rules out flat and matte finishes.
- Exterior doors: satin or semi-gloss in a 100 % acrylic or waterborne alkyd. Semi-gloss is the traditional choice; satin is more forgiving of a less-than-perfect surface.
- Interior doors: satin or semi-gloss enamel. The higher the gloss, the harder the film and the easier it wipes clean.
Waterborne alkyds have largely replaced traditional oil-based paints for doors. They level out to a smooth, hard finish like oil, but they dry faster, clean up with water and do not yellow over time. If you want a factory-smooth door, this is the product to use.
How to get a finish with no brush marks
The paint matters less than the technique. Four things make the difference:
- Take the door off its hinges. Lay it flat. Paint runs when you paint a vertical door, and it is much harder to keep a wet edge.
- Paint the panels first, then the stiles and rails. Work top to bottom on the vertical sections.
- Use a quality angled brush — 2 to 2.5 inches — and lay the paint off with light, long strokes in one direction.
- Sand lightly between coats with 220-grit, and wipe the dust off. This is what separates a good door from a great one.
Frequently asked questions
Is a quart of paint enough for a front door?
Yes, for a standard door painted on both sides with two coats. A quart covers roughly 87-100 square feet and you need about 100. Buy a half-gallon if the door has glass, deep panels, or you want margin.
How much paint for 4 doors?
About a gallon for two coats on both sides of four standard doors, which works out at roughly 200 square feet of surface.
What finish should I use on a front door?
Satin or semi-gloss. Doors take more contact and weather than walls, so a flat finish will mark and wear quickly. A waterborne alkyd gives the hardest, smoothest finish.
Do I need to prime before painting a door?
Yes, if it is bare wood, previously stained, or you are making a significant colour change. A tinted primer also reduces the number of topcoats you need.