Skip to content
For employers Join free

Free Paint Calculator: Litres for a Room

Work out how many litres of paint a room needs, by size, coats and the coverage on your tin.

Paint brands state coverage differently, and some give it for two coats. Read your tin, and put its figure below.

Room, in feet

A door of 7 × 3 ft is 21 sq ft, and a window of 5 × 3 ft is 15 sq ft.

Paint needed
0 litres
Area to paint
Area with all coats
One way to buy it

Primer and putty are extra, and have coverage figures of their own on the pack.

How the quantity is worked out

Wall area = 2 × (length + width) × height, less doors and windows, plus the ceiling if you are painting it.

Litres = area × coats ÷ coverage per litre.

Example: a 12 × 10 ft room with a 10 ft height has 440 sq ft of wall. Less 36 sq ft of openings, that is 404 sq ft. Two coats at 120 sq ft per litre need about 6.7 litres.

A rough or dry wall drinks more paint than the tin says, and a dark colour under a light one may need another coat. The default of 120 sq ft is only a starting point.

Questions people ask

How much paint is needed for a 10 × 10 ft room?
With a 10 ft height, the walls are 400 sq ft, or about 364 sq ft after leaving out a door and a window. Two coats at 120 sq ft per litre per coat need about 6 litres. Your tin’s coverage figure decides.
How many coats of paint are needed?
Usually two coats of finish paint over primer. A new wall, a rough wall or a big change in colour may need more. Follow the instructions on the tin.
Does this include primer and putty?
No. They have their own coverage figures on the pack, so work them out separately.

Related free tools

Free Plaster Calculator: Cement and SandWork out cement bags and sand for wall and ceiling plaster, by area, thickness and mix. Free Tile Calculator: Tiles and Boxes for a RoomWork out how many tiles and boxes to buy for a floor, with an allowance for cuts and breakage. Free Unit Converter: Feet, Guntha, Brass, kg and MoreConvert length, area, volume, weight, pressure, temperature, power and speed, including guntha, gaj, acre and brass.

Put these numbers to work

Find freelance projects and jobs with the salary shown, or hire verified talent. Zero commission (fees compared with Upwork, Fiverr and others).

Find projects Browse jobs Join eGig free