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Paint calculator

Work out how many litres a room needs from its wall area, the number of coats and the paint’s spread rate — with doors and windows taken off.

The room
Wall dimensions, openings and the paint spread rate.
Paint required
7.4 L
44.6 m² of wall over 2 coats at 12 m²/L. Round up to the next tin size.
Wall area (less openings)44.6 m²
Total over 2 coats89.2 m²
Paint needed7.4 L

Bare plasterboard, render or dark colours often need a sealer/undercoat plus extra topcoat, so allow more. Buy a little over rather than run out mid-wall.

traqR keeps your paint and material quantities on the job card so estimates flow into the quote and the shopping list.

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How it works

1

Work out the wall area

Add up the wall area — perimeter times height — then subtract the doors and windows you won’t paint.

2

Multiply by the coats

Two coats doubles the area to be covered. Bare or strongly coloured surfaces may need an undercoat plus two topcoats.

3

Divide by the spread rate

The paint tin’s coverage (m² per litre) turns the total area into litres. Always round up to the next tin size.

Frequently asked questions

How much paint do I need for a room?

Work out the wall area (perimeter × height, less doors and windows), multiply by the number of coats, then divide by the paint’s spread rate. A typical 5 × 4 m room at 2.7 m high has about 45 m² of wall, needing roughly 7.5 litres for two coats at 12 m²/L.

What is spread rate or coverage?

It’s how far a litre of paint goes, printed on the tin as square metres per litre — usually 10–16 m²/L. Rough, porous or textured surfaces use more paint (lower coverage), and the first coat on bare material always soaks in more.

How many coats should I allow?

Two topcoats is standard for a good, even finish. Painting over bare plasterboard, patched areas or a very different colour usually also needs a sealer or undercoat first, so budget for the extra product.

Should I round up?

Yes. Buy to the next tin size rather than the exact litres. Running out mid-wall risks a visible join, and a slightly different batch may not match — a little spare paint is also handy for touch-ups later.

This calculator estimates wall paint for a rectangular room and is a general guide. Actual quantities vary with surface type, porosity, colour change, application method and the specific product. Check the tin’s coverage and allow extra for undercoats and touch-ups.

Estimates that become quotes

traqR keeps paint and material quantities on the job card so estimates flow into the quote and shopping list. Try it free for 14 days.

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