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Paint Coverage Calculator

Find how much paint you need from the area to cover, your paint's coverage rate, and the number of coats — in metric (m²/L) or imperial (ft²/gal) units.

Paint needed (liters)
4.65

How it works

This multiplies the area by the number of coats to get total area covered, then divides by the paint's coverage rate — the figure printed on the can, such as '8-10 m² per liter' or '350-400 sq ft per gallon' — to find how much paint that requires: paint needed = (area × coats) ÷ coverage rate.

The Metric/Imperial toggle keeps the area and coverage-rate fields in matching units (m² with m²/L, or ft² with ft²/gal), so the division always cancels out to a plain liters or gallons figure with no extra conversion step needed — just enter both numbers exactly as your can and room measurements give them to you.

Coverage rates vary a lot by paint type, surface texture, and application method, which is exactly why this calculator asks for your paint's own rate rather than assuming one — check the label or product page for the number that applies to your specific paint.

FAQ

Should I round up to whole cans?

This calculator reports the exact volume of paint the math requires, not a number of cans — can sizes vary by brand and region (some are sold in 1 L increments, others in quarts or specific gallon sizes), so rounding up to your specific product's container size is a step only you can do accurately.

Why does the coverage rate need its own unit toggle, separate from the area?

Coverage rate is itself a compound unit — area per volume — so switching the area from m² to ft² without also switching the rate from m²/L to ft²/gal would silently break the division. Toggling both together keeps the units consistent no matter which system you're working in.

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