Example 1
- 39.6 m²
- 12 m²/L × 2 coats
- pack 2.5 L
6.6 L · 3 packs
A simple one-room scenario - quick sense-check before you buy paint for a standard job.
Paint calculator
Type the area to paint and coverage from the can in m² per liter. The calculator divides area by coverage, multiplies by coats, and rounds cans up. A 39.6 m² room at 12 m²/L and two coats is 6.6 L, three 2.5 L packs. A 12 m² ceiling at 14 m²/L and one coat is about 0.86 L. Enter area in ft² and the coverage printed on a US can (sq ft per gallon). The header converts those numbers. Examples below stay metric so you can check the same 6.6 L on the default card.
Quick shopping estimate: liters from area, coverage, coats, and surface type, then round up to full packs. Still need square footage? Start with wall area. Floors? Floor area. Building a wall? Brick requirement. Article: how much paint you need.
Results
Area to paint, Coverage, Number of coats and Openings to skip. The result shows up here.
How the results are calculated
The paint calculator counts liters and cans. The formula is (area minus openings) divided by coverage, times coats, times a surface factor. Packs round up: liters divided by pack size, then the next whole can. Coverage is m² per liter from the label, not liters per meter.
A 39.6 m² room at 12 m²/L and two coats is 6.6 L. With a 2.5 L can that is 3 packs, because 6.6 / 2.5 rounds up. A thirsty surface of 40 m² at 10 m²/L, two coats, and factor 1.15 is 9.2 L, four cans. Walls 50 m² minus 8 m² openings at 8 m²/L and one coat give 5.25 L. A 12 m² ceiling at 14 m²/L is about 0.86 L for one coat.
Type area to paint, coverage, and the number of coats. Openings, surface type, pack size, and price are optional. Empty openings deduct nothing. A comma and a period are the same, so 39.6 can be 39,6.
Wall area comes from the wall page: a 4 by 3 m room at 2.6 m high is 36.4 m² with no openings. Plaster before paint lives on plaster requirement. Concrete and mortar are other cards.
Cans round up. 2.1 cans means three, not two. A second coat multiplies liters in a straight line: 10 m²/L and two coats is 0.20 L per m², so 50 m² is 10 L on a normal surface. A thirsty plaster factor 1.15 lifts the same 40 m² at 10 m²/L to 9.2 L.
Type 39.6, 12, and 2, set a 2.5 L pack, and match 6.6 L and 3 packs. Then 12 and 14 with one coat: about 0.86 L for the ceiling.
How to use this calculator
- Type the area to paint in m², for example 39.6 from the walls or 12 from a ceiling.
- Enter coverage from the can in m² per liter and the number of coats. Two coats double the liters.
- Optionally deduct openings, pick a surface, and type pack size, for example 2.5 L.
- Click Calculate. 39.6 m², 12 m²/L, and two coats give 6.6 L, three 2.5 L cans.
- Wall square meters belong on wall area. This page stays with liters of paint.
Paint for 39.6 m² at 12 m²/L
Area divided by coverage, times coats. A 39.6 m² room at 12 m²/L and two coats is 6.6 L, three 2.5 L packs.
- m²
- Area to paint. 39.6 m² at 12 m²/L and 2 coats is 6.6 L. A 12 m² ceiling at 14 m²/L and one coat is the next card.
- m²/L
- Coverage from the can. 12 m²/L on 39.6 m² and two coats is 6.6 L. 10 m²/L on 40 m² at factor 1.15 is 9.2 L.
Usage examples
Example 2
- 40 m² @ 10 m²/L × 2
- surface factor 1.15
9.2 L · 4 packs
With an absorbent surface, the extra factor adds up fast - worth checking before you order cans.
Example 3
- 50 − 8 m²
- 8 m²/L × 1 coat
5.25 L
Skipping openings you won't paint keeps the buy closer to reality, especially with bigger glazed areas.
Example 4
- 12 m2
- 14 m2/L × 1 coat
≈ 0.86 L
A 12 m2 ceiling at 14 m2/L is about 0.86 L for one coat.
Example 5
- 80 m2
- 8 m2/L × 2 coats
20 L
An 80 m2 facade at 8 m2/L and two coats is 20 L, with no openings.
Example 6
- 22 − 3 m2
- 11 m2/L × 2 coats
3.45 L
After subtracting a 3 m2 door, two coats at 11 m2/L give 3.45 L.
Example 7
- 8 m2
- 10 m2/L × 3 coats
2.4 L
Eight square meters and three coats at 10 m2/L is 2.4 L, one 2.5 L can.
Example 8
- 60 m2
- 6 m2/L × 1 coat × 1.25
12.5 L
A thirsty surface +25% on 60 m2 at 6 m2/L is 12.5 L, not 10 L from the can label.
Related calculators
Frequently asked questions
How much paint at 39.6 m², 12 m²/L, and two coats?
6.6 L. With a 2.5 L can that is 3 packs, because 6.6 / 2.5 rounds up.
How much paint at 40 m², 10 m²/L, and two coats?
8 L on a normal surface. With factor 1.15 (thirsty) you get 9.2 L, which is 4 cans of 2.5 L.
How much paint for a 12 m² ceiling at 14 m²/L and one coat?
About 0.86 L. A second coat would double that to about 1.71 L.
What is coverage on the can?
Square meters per liter from the label. 12 m²/L at one coat is about 0.083 L per m².
Should I deduct windows before buying?
Yes, in the openings field. 50 minus 8 m² at 8 m²/L and one coat is 5.25 L, not 6.25 L from 50.
How do I get liters per m² with two coats?
1 divided by coverage, times coats. At 10 m²/L and two coats that is 0.20 L/m², so 50 m² is 10 L.
Where do I get 39.6 m² of walls?
On wall area: 4 by 3 m at 2.6 m high is 36.4 m² with no openings. Plaster is a separate card.
Can I buy 2 cans when the result is 2.1?
Round up. Leftover on the roller and touch-ups at a radiator eat a fraction of a can.
Is 12 m²/L the same as 12 liters per meter?
It is meters per liter. 12 m²/L means one liter covers 12 m² in one coat, not 12 liters per meter.
How many 2.5 L cans for 9.2 L?
Four cans. 9.2 / 2.5 = 3.68, and the calculator rounds up because a fraction of a can is still a can.
Knowledge sources
Volume and waste come from the sizes you type. Below are volume and NIST SI units.
Page updated in 2026.