Estimate how much paint you need for a room, wall, or ceiling using our simple UK paint calculator. Enter your room dimensions, number of coats, and paint coverage to get a quick estimate in litres.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do dark or bold colours need extra paint? Yes - darker, more saturated colours often need a third coat for full, even coverage.
Do I need special paint for ceilings? No. Standard matt emulsion works well, though some brands sell combined wall-and-ceiling formulas for convenience.
Should I always buy a bit extra? Yes - adding a 10% buffer covers spillage, touch-ups and small measurement errors.
Use the calculator above to get an instant, accurate estimate for your own room.
How much paint do you actually need?
Most standard UK emulsion paints cover between 10 and 12 square metres per litre, though premium and one-coat formulas can reach up to 16 square metres per litre. Textured or porous walls often need 20-30% more paint on the first coat, so always check the coverage rate on your tin before buying.
To work out how much paint to buy, measure your total wall perimeter and ceiling height, then subtract the area of any doors and windows. Multiply the result by your paint's coverage rate and by the number of coats you plan to apply - usually two for a solid, even finish. Freshly plastered walls need an extra mist coat, so budget for three coats in total rather than two.
Ceilings are simpler: just multiply the room's length by its width to get the area, then divide by the coverage rate as above.