How Many Coats of Paint Do I Need On A Wall or Ceiling? 

It turns out 19% of Brits redecorate their homes just for the enjoyment of it. Whether it’s a feature wall or a full room revamp, many of us are asking ourselves “how many coats of paint will I need?”. Of course, like any home interior project, it depends on a number of factors, but this doesn’t have to curtail the fun. If you hit the nail on the head with the right number of litres, the rest is a piece of cake.

In this post, we’ll cover…

• Key considerations
  • Surface
  • Preparation
• How many coats of paint for a ceiling?
• How many coats of paint on a wall
  • Painting over an existing coat
  • Topping up colour
  • Feature walls
  • Exterior walls
  • Two-toned walls
• How long should I wait between coats?
• What if I run out of paint?
• What to do with leftover paint
• TLDR: general rules of thumb for painting walls and ceilings

Before you get your brushes to the ready: some considerations

You may not be recreating the Sistine Chapel, but without the correct application, you could risk patchy areas and an unprofessional finish. Before you start calculating how many coats of paint you’ll need, ask yourself some questions.

What Kind of Surface Am I Painting?

Generally, you’ll be painting one of four specific scenarios:

• A newly plastered wall or ceiling
• A previously painted wall or ceiling
• Changing the colour entirely – for example, bright to dark or dark to light
• Topping up an existing wall or ceiling.

How should you prepare your Surfaces?

Surface preparation is key to making your paint last. To get your surface ready for painting, we always recommend that you make sure it’s clean, dry, and free of any grease, mould, or algae. You should also fill or seal any large or noticeable imperfections.

If that last bit feels annoyingly familiar, we recommend getting your hands on some high-quality sealant. Hippo Sealit will seal the deal for small imperfections, whilst Zinsser Gardz is the ideal solution for problem surfaces such as damaged and bubbly drywall. And great news! Both are water-based, so a healthier alternative to traditional sealing products.

Painting Fresh Plaster?

If you’re painting a newly plastered wall or ceiling, you’ll need to seal the plaster first. Seal your plaster by applying a stabilising primer or a mist coat. A mist coat is a dilution of either your topcoat or Primer & Undercoat diluted with 20% water. Then, you can apply at least two coats of your topcoat – make sure it’s a high-quality product, such as our Farrow & Ball Collection.

How Many Coats of Paint for a Ceiling?

With a previously painted ceiling, you’ll need one coat for similar colours, or two coats if you’re changing colour or want a high-quality finish. This being said, only opting for one coat can be a little risky –it only really works with white on low ceilings. Ideally, you’ll want two or more as this produces the best results.

One more thing: textured ceilings may also need additional paint – around 1.5 times what you’d usually buy.

How Many Coats of Paint on a Wall?

Newly plastered walls need sealing in the same way as your ceiling or drywalls: they should have a stabilising primer layer first, before they’re applied with at least two coats of paint.

A previously painted wall should also have at least two coats, without the primer layer first. If you’re repainting over an existing colour, it’s all about what your old and new colours are as we’ll see…

What if I’m Painting Over an Existing Coat of Paint?

This is where it gets interesting. If you’re turning a gothic midnight theme into a bright and airy spring colour palette, chances are, you’re going to have to be generous with your paint. In this case, you will need at least three or even four coats – or a knowledgeable professional’s help!

To save on cost, you can use a primer as the first or even second coat before waiting to apply the topcoat. These quick-drying designer paints are ideal for those second and third coats as they provide a superior silky smooth finish that will last for years.

Check out some of our favourite brands below – they boast the best eco-credentials on the market!

What if I’m Topping Up an Existing Colour?

It might be tempting to paint over with one coat here – particularly if you’re using the same shade. But remember, the old paint may have become faded in the natural daylight. Likewise, there are probably scratches and scuff marks that can only be covered by two coats. However, with the right preparation, it’s usually possible to use just one coat.

What if I’m painting a feature wall?

It’s difficult to answer this without saying “how long is a piece of string?” It all depends on the width and height of the surface of your wall, so grab your tape measure and get calculating. It’s very simple: multiply width by height, then subtract the area of any windows and doors.  Et voila – a rough estimation of how much paint you’ll need on your feature wall.

With this, you can check against your tin for the number of coats required. Generally speaking, a 1-litre tin will cover a 2.5m wall.

What if I’m painting exterior walls?

When it comes to surfaces exposed to the whims of the elements, erring on the side of caution will never hurt you. In fact, it’s always better to be safer than sorry. After all, you need your exterior walls to endure wind, hail, pollution, birds… and the list goes on. Here, you’ll have to be extra careful about picking a quality masonry paint and making sure you go for at least two layers of the stuff.

What about two-toned walls?

Two-toned walls are an exciting way to add visual intrigue to a room and make it look bigger – but how much paint is required for the job? This is a tricky beast to master and, as you might expect, it all hinges on the proportions of each colour.

Working out the number of coats requires you to mark out the dividing lines and work out the areas for each colour. If you’re doing a simple half-and-half job, you’ll need half the amount of paint for both colours you’d use for the full wall. But anything else calls for you to get out your trusty tape measure.

How many coats of paint on new plaster?

So how many coats of paint do you need on new plaster? Well, the answer is usually three. As we mentioned way above, new plaster technically requires three coats of paint. This includes the ‘mist coat’ you apply before the two regular coats of paint. If you’re aiming for a particularly deep shade or drastic change, you may need further coats for the sharp, pigmented finish you’re looking for.

How Long Should I Wait Between Coats of Paint?

How long you should wait between coats depends on the previous coat. Most paints require a 1 to 2 hour wait, while recoats need 2 to 4 hours. Drying speeds are mostly affected by room temperatures so factor that in, and always remember to check the back of the tin.

If your paint is oil-based, then you should wait up to 24 hours…before going back to buy a water-based solution. (You can paint over oil-based paint with a water-based alternative with a bit of prep btw!) All of our products are environmentally friendly and quick drying, allowing you to paint a second coat in just four hours – so there’s no excuse to make the greener choice!

What Will Happen if I Don’t Use Enough Paint?

It might be tempting to give everything a quick going over with one coat, but the effects will start to show as the paint dries. This is because paint shrinks, exposing gaps in the first coat – so you should always use two coats where you can. Unless it’s an existing colour or a one coat system, it’s always best to add a second coat.

What Will Happen to Paint That Is Unused?

Your paint will last for up to three years as long as you store it correctly. This means you should not expose it to air, so make sure it’s sealed. If you’ve only got a small amount, dispose of it the eco-friendly way i.e., take it to a recycling centre or use it on small pieces of furniture.

General Rules of Thumb for Painting Interior Walls and Ceilings

As a general rule, high-quality paint is always worth the investment: choosing a poor-quality paint will only result in the need for more coats – and likely an upgrade to a better product. This costs you money and has an environmental impact. You’ll actually spend less by choosing a quality product from the start.

A secondary coat of paint will help to even out any areas you may have missed. This is where you can truly distinguish between good and not-so-good paint, too. Lower pigment-level paint will show gaps in coverage as it begins to dry – a second coat will help, but you cannot substitute high-quality products!

Follow these guidelines for every kind of paint job:

• Two coats for ceilings if it’s the same colour, but more if it’s textured material or a different colour
• Two coats plus one extra coat of primer for newly plastered walls or drywalls
• One coat, if you’re painting over an existing wall colour, should be enough – with the right preparation
• If in doubt, two coats – or indeed, three!

Get started!

We’ve run out of time – although we could nerd out about paint compositions for hours… If there’s anything you should take away from this guide to how many coats of paint you’ll need to paint ceilings and walls, it’s that high-quality paint = high-quality results.

Luckily high-quality paints are our niche, so don’t skimp out on a second-rate option when you could browse our full roster of high-performing paints.

Visit our blog for more painting ideas.