🎨 Paint Calculator
Buying paint is expensive — too little and you have to make another trip, too much and you've wasted money. This calculator tells you exactly how many litres of paint you need based on the surface area, paint coverage, and number of coats.
Paint needed
4 L
Per coat
2 L
Total surface
40 m²
Total area to paint: 20 m² × 2 lagen = 40 m²
Divide by coverage: 40 m² ÷ 10 m²/L = 4 L
Formula
Litres of paint = (Area × Number of coats) ÷ Coverage per litre
Paint spreads out: 1 litre can cover 10-15 m² (depends on colour, surface, and quality). If you want to paint a 20 m² wall twice, that's 40 m². Divided by 10 m²/L = 4 litres. Always check your paint can for exact coverage data — it varies a lot.
Steps
- 1Enter the surface area you want to paint in square metres.
- 2Enter your paint's coverage (check on the paint can).
- 3Enter how many coats you want (standard is 2).
- 4Read off how many litres you need — go to the store!
Standard coverage values
| Paint type | Coverage m²/L |
|---|---|
| Matt (interior) | 10-12 |
| Gloss (interior) | 12-14 |
| Exterior | 8-10 |
Dark colours often have lower coverage. Always check your paint can.
commonMistakes
- Planning only one coat — experts recommend at least 2 coats for good results.
- Not checking the coverage on the paint can — can differ a lot from standard.
- Not accounting for surface prep: unprepared walls absorb more paint.
useCases
- Interior walls: Calculate how many paint cans you need.
- Outdoor painting: More coats for weather resistance.
- Budgeting: Know exactly how much you'll spend.