How Many Litres of Paint Do I Need?

New decorating projects are full of tough decisions – and you’re likely thinking ‘how many litres of paint do I need?’. Buy too little, and risk uneven coverage that shows its true colours when the sun shines. Buy too much and risk over-spending.

To get the right amount of paint for your interior design project, you’ll need to make a few calculations. First up, you’ll need to calculate paint coverage per litre.

Calculating Paint Coverage Per Litre

Calculating paint coverage directly correlates with the size of the wall or ceiling you’re painting. So, while you might measure a surface in metres, you’ll measure paint in litres. Generally speaking, paint comes in litre cans, in denominations of 100ml, 250ml, 750ml, 1lt, 2.5 litres or 5 litres.

How Much Does 5l of Paint Cover?

It’s usually more economical to buy a larger tin of paint rather than multiple small ones, so if you’ve got a large surface area, go for a 5-litre tin.

You should always measure up the room you’re painting, or look at information such as the deeds to your house. This will help to give you an exact measure. If you’re just looking for ballpark figures, remember:

• Small rooms are around 2 x 2m per wall
• Medium rooms are around 4 x 2m per wall
• Skirting boards will need less than 1 litre
• Feature walls are usually 2.5 x 2m.

So, for example, a small room with four walls would need 16m² of coverage for one coat. (Remember, in most situations you will need more than one coat!) Thankfully, a Farrow & Ball 5 litre tin is very generous, with 5 litres covering up to 70m² – so a tin this size would cover two small rooms with two coats.

How Much Does 2.5 Litres of Paint Cover?

A 2.5 litre can is a common measurement for small or medium-sized rooms. As a guideline, 2.5 litres covers around 35m², which is just enough for a small room with an average of 2 x 2m walls.

How Much Does 1 Litre of Paint Cover?

If you’re not sure of which colour to choose, we highly recommend our sample pots. These offer 1 litre pots, which cover up to 14m2 in one coat. This is ideal if you’re just testing the water – you won’t need a large surface area.

How Much Paint Should I Buy?

Of course, it all comes down to the type of paint and the number of coats you’ll need. For a base figure, you should view high-quality paint products as covering:

• 35m² per 2.5 litres, with 2 coats
• 70m² per 5 litres, with 2 coats.

This can be extended for some brands such as Estate Emulsion, but always check the label if you’re not sure. You’ll also need to consider how many coats will cover your chosen surface area.

How Many Coats Do I Need?

How many coats of paint you’ll need comes down to a few factors. We’d always recommend choosing a high-quality product, otherwise you may risk painting extra coats to fill in the gaps.

Across the board, you should aim for two coats – but this can vary.

As a rule, ceilings will only need one coat – unless you’re painting over textured ceilings, or want a new colour.

Newly plastered walls will need a primer layer first, which doesn’t always need to be as high-quality as the two additional coloured layers. If you’re painting a light colour over a dark, you should consider a third coat, but again, you can use a primer.

In some cases, you may be able to risk one coat for painting over an existing colour with the same colour. But this is a judgement call. If the paint has had time to fade in the sunlight, it may still need a second coat. With the right preparation though, one coat should do.

Little Extras

Don’t forget, you’ll only be thinking, “how much paint do I need?” after you’ve discerned the best colour. You should set aside a budget for tester pots.

Likewise, you’ll also need to factor in rollers or paintbrushes, or both. Rollers are ideal for ceilings, but if you’re looking for more precision work, such as painting around a lightbulb, you’ll need a brush. The application method also affects how many coats you’ll need and how long it will take to dry, so keep all of this in mind.

Get More for Your Budget With splat

We understand that painting and decorating costs can add up, which is why it’s always best to invest in quality first. Save time applying extra coats you don’t need by choosing an environmentally friendly, quick drying paint. We’d also be happy to guide you if you have any questions about painting and decorating.,

Read more home interior tips.