Painting calculator: paint needed and cost
Works out the wall area and litres of paint for a room.
Calculator · Updated 15 October 2026
Enter your room size to see the wall area and how many litres of paint you need.
The calculator
Your result
Paint needed: 5.5 L
Paint needed
5.5 L
- Wall area
- 30.4 m²
- Area to paint
- 30.4 m²
- Paint needed
- 5.5 L
- Each door counts as 1.7 m² and each window as 1.5 m² of wall you don't paint.
- Coverage assumed: 12 m² per litre per coat. Check your paint tin.
How this is worked out
- Wall area = 2 × (length + width) × height, minus doors and windows.
- Add the ceiling area (length × width) if you're painting it.
- Litres = area × coats ÷ coverage per litre, rounded up to the next half litre.
- Price = area × painter's rate per m² + litres × paint cost, using the low, typical and high rates.
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Find a providerFrequently asked questions
Does the calculator include doors and windows?
Yes, if you enter their sizes. It takes them off the wall area before working out the litres. If you leave them out, the wall area will be a little larger than the area you actually paint.
How many coats do I need?
Two coats is common for a colour change, and one coat can be enough when you repaint a similar colour over sound paint. The coverage figure on the tin tells you how far a litre goes per coat.
Why does it round up to the next half litre?
Paint is sold in set tin sizes and you want to avoid running short partway through a wall. Rounding up gives you a quantity to ask about, and your supplier can suggest the nearest tin size.
Is the result a quote?
No. It shows quantities only. A painting provider will confirm the real amount after they look at the surfaces, the prep and the access.
Want real prices for your job?
Tell us the job and we'll bring the right providers together.
Find a providerUpdated 15 October 2026. An estimate is a starting point — compare quotes for the same scope.
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