Paint Calculator
Pick the paint type (interior, exterior, primer) and the area. See a rough required liters for 2 coats based on common coverage rates, plus an order suggestion with 10% waste allowance.
Optional. Enter the door/window area you've measured; it will be subtracted from the gross area.
Hover over the square: compare with the unpainted surface
The area is shown as a square drawn to scale; the filled grid cells match the cans to order one for one: you can count them.
Optional. Enter the price you see at the store and we will total it up.
Enter the price per can
The total is simply your price multiplied by the number of cans; labour and ancillary materials (primer, tape, rollers) are not included.
We usually reply the same day.
Let's choose the right material and color together based on the real surface condition of your facade/wallsThis is a rough illustration using a common reference coverage rate for the selected paint type; actual consumption varies with surface roughness, absorbency, and application method.
How is the required paint volume calculated?
Paint volume is calculated by dividing the area to be painted (m²) by the coverage rate (m²/liter) of the paint. Since a single coat usually doesn't provide adequate coverage in professional practice, applying two coats is standard practice.
The tool above uses a common coverage rate for your selected paint type to show the required liters for two coats, plus an order suggestion with a 10% waste allowance added on top.
Common coverage rates by paint type
Interior wall paints typically cover 10-14 m² per liter on flat, less absorbent surfaces; exterior facade paints have a lower coverage rate (roughly 8-10 m²/liter) since they work on rougher, more absorbent surfaces; primer can cover a somewhat wider area (10-12 m²/liter) since its purpose is to even out the surface.
This tool uses a common reference rate for each type. Actual consumption varies with surface roughness, absorbency, and application method (brush, roller, spray).
Why two coats and a waste allowance are factored in
A single coat may not provide homogeneous coverage, especially with color changes or unprimed surfaces, which is why two-coat application is standard practice. In addition, brush/roller loss, edge/corner touch-ups, and differences in surface absorbency mean a waste allowance of around 10% is typically added to the calculated amount.
Let's choose the right material and color together based on the real surface condition of your facade/walls.
Contact usFrequently Asked Questions
How many m² does 1 liter of paint cover?
It depends on the paint type: interior paints cover 10-14 m²/liter, exterior paints 8-10 m²/liter and primers 10-12 m²/liter. These are single-coat figures; with two coats the covered area halves. So a 2.5-liter tin of interior paint covers roughly 25-35 m² in one coat and about 12-17 m² in two.
How much paint does a room need, and how is it calculated?
Simple formula: Liters = (Area (m²) ÷ Coverage Rate (m²/liter)) × Number of Coats. For example, a 50 m² wall painted with interior paint at 12 m²/liter coverage for 2 coats needs (50 ÷ 12) × 2 ≈ 8.3 liters. Enter your wall area in the tool above to see the number of tins directly.
Why is two-coat application usually recommended?
A single coat may not provide homogeneous coverage, especially with color changes or unprimed surfaces. Two-coat application is standard professional practice and gives a more consistent result.
Why do interior, exterior and primer paints have different coverage rates?
Interior wall paints usually work on flatter, less absorbent surfaces so they cover a wider area (10-14 m²/liter); exterior facade paints have a lower coverage rate on rougher, more absorbent surfaces (8-10 m²/liter); primer uses a middle rate (10-12 m²/liter) since it evens out the surface.
Does this tool also recommend a paint color or brand?
No. The tool only calculates an approximate quantity (liters); color, brand and quality selection is a separate consideration based on the project's aesthetic and budget goals.