Paint calculator: how many tins per m²
Area, the coverage from the label and the number of coats give whole packs of paint, plaster or primer, plus the waste in percent.
Your figures
Result
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Building material catalogue — 48 materials in the catalogue
How we calculate it
What you enter
- Area (m²)
- Coverage (m²/pack)
- Number of coats
- Openings (m²)
What to watch out for
The coverage on the label (m²/l or m²/pack) assumes a smooth, primed surface. Absorbent plaster uses more. Only deduct openings if you are genuinely not painting them.
Formula
net = Area − Openings
area to cover = net × Number of coats
packs = ⌈ area to cover ÷ Coverage ⌉
actual waste = (packs × Coverage − area to cover) ÷ (packs × Coverage) × 100%The site's engine is a 1:1 port of the Android app's code.
Frequently asked questions
How much paint do you need per m²?
As much as the coverage on the label says, usually given in m² per litre or per pack. The calculator divides the area by that coverage, multiplies by the number of coats and rounds up to whole packs.
Should you subtract windows and doors?
Only if you are genuinely not painting them. The opening area is entered separately and is taken off the surface before it is turned into packs.
Other calculators
Guides that use this calculator
The same formula in the app LiczMat for Android uses the same engine offline — with the material catalogue and results saved into a project. Download