Calculate exactly how much paint you need for any room based on dimensions.
How many litres of paint do you need?
This free calculator gives you instant, accurate results with no signup required. Use it to make smarter, more informed financial and life decisions.
Always double-check important financial decisions with a qualified professional. This calculator provides estimates for guidance purposes. Results may vary based on your specific circumstances.
Buying too little paint means an inconvenient mid-job store run with possible color-batch mismatches; buying too much wastes money on unused cans. Getting the calculation right the first time avoids both problems.
Coverage varies significantly by paint type and surface texture — standard paint typically covers 10-12 m² per litre on smooth walls, but textured surfaces, dark color changes, or porous new drywall can reduce that to 8-9 m² per litre, requiring more product than the can label suggests.
Two coats is the standard recommendation for most jobs, especially when changing colors significantly or painting new drywall — the first coat is rarely fully opaque, and skipping the second coat is the most common reason for uneven, patchy-looking results.
Use the calculator above with your room dimensions and number of coats to get an accurate litre estimate, then round up to the nearest full tin — buying slightly extra from the same batch ensures consistent color if touch-ups are needed later, since paint batches can vary slightly between purchases.