Paint Coverage Calculator

This calculator works out how much paint you need for a job, from the area to cover, the number of coats, and how far the paint goes per litre. Buying paint is a balance: too little means an extra trip partway through, while too much wastes money on tins you will never finish. The amount needed depends on three things, the total surface area, how many coats you are applying, and the paint's spread rate, the area one litre covers, which the manufacturer prints on the tin and typically sits around ten to twelve square metres per litre for a smooth surface. This calculator turns those into a clear quantity. You enter the area to paint in square metres, the number of coats, and the coverage per litre, and the calculator returns the litres of paint required, the total area you are actually covering across all coats, the coverage rate used, and the number of standard cans you would need. The results update as you type. Use it to estimate paint for a room, a wall, a fence or a ceiling, to budget a project, or to avoid over- or under-buying. The litres required are the area times the number of coats, divided by the coverage per litre. Two coats are usual for a good finish, and more may be needed when painting a light colour over a dark one or onto bare or porous surfaces, which also reduce the effective coverage. To find the area, multiply the width by the height of each wall and add them up, subtracting large openings like windows and doors if you wish to be precise, though many people leave them in as a margin. It is sensible to round up and allow a little extra for touch-ups and waste, so buying to the next whole can is wise. Always check the spread rate on your specific paint, as it varies by type and surface.

Litres = area x coats / coverage per litre. Coverage is usually 10-12 m²/L; bare or porous surfaces and dark-to-light changes need more. Round up and allow extra for touch-ups.