Paint calculator

Paint needed = paintable area × coats ÷ stated coverage per container, plus your extra allowance. Round up to whole containers.

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Paintable area

Coverage per container per coat

More inputs and assumptions

Number of coats

Extra allowance (%)

Answer

…

Paint needed = paintable area × coats ÷ stated coverage per container, plus your extra allowance. Round up to whole containers.

More results

Precision and calculation record

Decimal places in numeric results and text downloads

Rounding changes displayed numbers, not the calculation. Text, fractions, matrices and CSV schedules keep their own formatting. Automatic keeps up to 12 significant digits, with money shown to cents where applicable.

Saved scenario

Save the current answer, then change an input to compare. This clears when you leave.

Formula and assumptions

Use coverage from your chosen paint and match its area unit. Subtract openings yourself; porous surfaces, texture and application method can change actual coverage.

Automatic precision shows numbers to 12 significant digits. Thousands separators such as 1,000 are accepted; use a dot for decimals.

Scratch calculator

Check another calculation

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Updated 2026-09-26

Using Paint calculator

Paint needed = paintable area × coats ÷ stated coverage per container, plus your extra allowance. Round up to whole containers.

Use coverage from your chosen paint and match its area unit. Subtract openings yourself; porous surfaces, texture and application method can change actual coverage.

Next: Drywall calculator

A worked example

With paintable area = 120, coverage per container per coat = 40, number of coats = 2, extra allowance (%) = 10, the containers to buy is 7.

Next: Tile calculator

Before you use the result

Use coverage from your chosen paint and match its area unit. Subtract openings yourself; porous surfaces, texture and application method can change actual coverage.

Example results for paintable area

These examples use Coverage per container per coat: 40; Number of coats: 2; Extra allowance (%): 10. They are reference calculations, not recommended settings.

Paintable area	Containers to buy
60	4
120	7
240	14

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