Paint Calculator

Primer is necessary when painting new drywall, unfinished wood, bare plaster, or when transitioning from a dark to a light color. It seals porous surfaces so the topcoat adheres properly without getting absorbed.

Rough, porous, or textured surfaces (like stucco or brick) absorb more paint. A textured wall requires 10% to 15% more paint, while new, unprimed walls can increase usage by up to 20%.

Interior paint is designed to resist scuffs and stains and is easy to wash. Exterior paint contains special resins and UV inhibitors to resist cracking, peeling, fading, and moisture growth.

Textured walls have more surface area due to peaks and valleys. This calculator automatically adds 12% to the final paint quantity estimate for textured surface selections.

Total cost is the sum of materials (paint, primer, brushes, rollers, tape, drop cloths) plus labor charges (usually calculated per square foot, per day, or as a flat project fee).

Trim and baseboards are calculated by measuring the linear length in feet or meters, multiplying by the trim width (usually 0.5 feet or 0.15 meters), and applying the standard paint formula.

A standard single door is about 21 sq.ft. (2 sq.m) per side, and a standard window is about 15 sq.ft. (1.4 sq.m). Multiplying by the count gives the total area to add or subtract.

Common finishes include Matte/Flat (no sheen, hides flaws), Eggshell (soft sheen, easy cleaning), Satin (versatile, durable), Semi-Gloss (high durability, moisture-resistant), and Gloss (reflective, easy to scrub).

Standard latex paint dry time is 1 to 2 hours for touch, but it requires 4 hours before recoating. Oil-based paints require 6 to 8 hours dry time and 24 hours for recoating.

Common errors include forgetting to subtract doors and windows, ignoring surface texture, not planning for two coats, and purchasing single small cans instead of bulk size combinations.

Save money by buying larger paint cans (e.g. 10L or 20L instead of multiple 1L cans), prepping surfaces properly with primer first, and taking care of brushes to reuse them.

Professional painters charge based on wall area (typically ₹10 to ₹35 per sq.ft. in India, or $1.50 to $3.50 in the US), plus prep work and scaffolding costs.

Standard paint can sizes include 500ml, 1L, 2L, 4L, 10L, and 20L. This calculator optimizes these combinations to minimize excess paint.

A paint calculator prevents buying too much paint (which creates hazardous waste) or too little paint (which leads to color mismatches on mid-job refills).

Yes. Light colors over dark walls, or bright accent colors (like reds and yellows), have weaker coverage pigments and may require 3 or more coats.

We recommend adding a 10% waste buffer to your calculations to account for roller absorption, spills, and future touch-ups.