Paint Calculator
Estimate paint from area, coats and the coverage on your paint label.
Results
Total paint required
- Paintable area
- 50 m²
- Number of coats
- 2
- Paint required before waste
- 10 L
- Waste amount
- 1 L
Use your paint manufacturer's stated coverage and coat instructions. Surface porosity, texture and application method can affect actual use. The result is a volume estimate and does not round up to available can sizes.
Formula · How it works
Formula
Paint required = Area × Coats / Coverage; Waste amount = Paint required × Waste% / 100; Total paint = Paint required × (1 + Waste% / 100)Paint required = paintable area × number of coats ÷ coverage per coat. Waste amount = paint required × waste percentage / 100. Total paint = paint required + waste amount. Use m² with m²/L, or ft² with ft²/US gal; changing the unit system converts the same physical values.
Worked example
An area of 50 m², 2 coats and coverage of 10 m²/L require 10 L before waste. A 10% allowance adds 1 L, giving 11 L of total paint.
How it works
Coverage states how much area one liter or US gallon can cover in one coat under the conditions specified for the product. More coats increase the paint estimate proportionally. Enter the paintable area after subtracting any doors, windows or other surfaces you will not paint; this calculator does not subtract them automatically.
Common questions
How much paint do I need?
Multiply your paintable area by the number of coats and divide by the coverage per coat on the product label. Add a waste allowance if needed. For 50 m², 2 coats and 10 m²/L, the estimate before waste is 10 L.
Why does the number of coats affect paint quantity?
Each coat covers the area again. This calculator assumes the entered coverage applies to each coat, so two coats require twice the paint of one coat before waste. Follow the product's instructions for your surface.
What does paint coverage mean?
Coverage is the area a unit of paint covers per coat, such as m²/L or ft²/US gal. Enter the actual value from your paint label. A larger coverage value means less paint is needed for the same area and number of coats.
Should I add extra paint for waste?
An allowance can account for expected application losses or additional use. The initial 10% can be changed to suit the job, including zero. Check the final quantity against the can sizes you can buy.