Paint Calculator

Your details

Enter a total wall area directly, or let the calculator build it from room size.
m²
Each door is treated as about 1.8 m² (19 sq ft) of unpainted area.
Each window is treated as about 1.4 m² (15 sq ft) of unpainted area.
Metric: most emulsions cover 10-12 m² per litre. Imperial: about 350 sq ft per US gallon.
m²/L
Bare, patched or strongly coloured walls usually need one priming coat.
Extra for roller loss, edges and touch-ups. 10% is typical.
%
Common tins are 1 L, 2.5 L and 5 L (or 1 qt and 1 gal cans).
L
Currency
Paint needed (with waste)
7.36 L
Cans to buy3
Area to paint (per coat)36.8 m²
Paint before waste6.69 L

Plan for about 7.36 L, which is 3 cans.

  • Paint needed is the area to paint times the number of coats, divided by the coverage rate, in litres.
  • Doors and windows have been subtracted, leaving 36.8 m² to cover per coat.
  • Porous, dark or fresh plaster surfaces drink more paint; add a primer coat for those.

Next stepBuy whole cans and keep a little spare from the same batch for touch-ups.

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