How Much Paint for a Garage Door?
The short answer: one quart for a single door, and usually one gallon is more than enough for a double.
A standard 9×7 single garage door needs about 1 quart of paint for two coats — 63 square feet per side, so 126 square feet painted twice, against roughly 87-100 square feet per quart. A 16×7 double door needs a gallon. Add a quart if you are painting both sides.
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 garage door size
| Room / surface | Surface | Coats | Paint | Paint cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single door, 9x7, one coat | 63 sq ft | 1 | 1 gal | $45 |
| Single door, 9x7, two coats | 63 sq ft | 2 | 1 gal | $45 |
| Single door, both sides, two coats | 130 sq ft | 2 | 1 gal | $45 |
| Double door, 16x7, two coats | 112 sq ft | 2 | 1 gal | $45 |
| Double door, both sides, two coats | 230 sq ft | 2 | 2 gal | $90 |
| Double door, bare wood, two coats | 112 sq ft | 2 | 1 gal | $45 |
One side only, at 400 sq ft per gallon — smooth metal or a previously painted surface.
Why a garage door is almost all surface
There is nothing to subtract. A garage door is a flat slab, so the calculation is simply width times height, times the number of coats.
A single door at 9 feet by 7 feet is 63 square feet. A double door at 16 by 7 is 112 square feet. Two coats doubles those figures.
Panelled and raised-panel doors have more surface than the flat measurement suggests — the recesses and mouldings add roughly 15 to 25 %. If yours is panelled, round up.
The right product for a garage door
A garage door lives outdoors and takes sun, rain, temperature swings and physical contact. It needs a product built for it.
- Exterior acrylic or waterborne alkyd in a satin or semi-gloss finish.
- Metal doors: a primer formulated for metal, or a paint labelled "direct to metal". Skipping this is why paint peels off steel doors in sheets.
- Wooden doors: an exterior primer, then two topcoats. Bare wood will absorb far more — use the 250 sq ft coverage setting.
- Previously painted doors: clean, sand lightly, and check for peeling edges. Feather any lifts before painting, or they will telegraph through.
Do not paint the rubber seal, the hinges or the tracks. Tape them off. Paint in the tracks will gum up the mechanism.
Brush, roll or spray?
A garage door is the one exterior surface where spraying genuinely wins. It is large, flat, and full of the recessed panels that a brush cannot reach without leaving marks.
If you spray, budget 20 to 30 % more paint for overspray, and mask thoroughly — including the driveway and anything within ten feet. If you brush and roll, use a 4-inch mini roller for the panels and a brush for the edges, and work in the shade so the paint does not flash-dry and leave lap marks.
Frequently asked questions
How much paint for a garage door?
About a quart for a single 9x7 door with two coats, or a gallon for a 16x7 double door. Add a quart if you are painting both sides.
Can I paint a garage door without removing it?
Yes. Painting it in place is normal and works well. Just tape off the seals, hinges and tracks, and work in the shade to avoid lap marks.
Do I need special paint for a metal garage door?
Yes. Use a metal primer or a paint labelled "direct to metal". Without it, paint on a steel door tends to peel in sheets.
How long does garage door paint last?
Five to ten years for a properly prepared exterior acrylic, depending on sun exposure. A south-facing door in a hot climate will fade faster.