How Many Litres of Paint for a Room? Free Calculator
Not sure how many litres to buy? Our free calculator gives you an exact figure based on your room dimensions — no guesswork needed.
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How Many Litres of Paint Do I Need for a Room?
The number of litres depends on your room size, ceiling height, coverage rate, and number of coats. As a quick guide: a standard bedroom (3.6m × 3.6m, 2.4m ceiling) needs approximately 6–7 litres for two coats of interior paint. A larger living room (5m × 4m, 2.7m ceiling) needs 9–10 litres.
For a precise figure, use our calculator above. Measure each wall separately (width × height), add the areas together, subtract doors and windows, then divide by coverage rate and multiply by coats.
Litres of Paint by Room Size
| Room Dimensions | Ceiling Height | Wall Area | Litres (2 coats @ 10 m²/L) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3m × 3m | 2.4m | ~28 m² | ~5.6 L |
| 3.6m × 3.6m | 2.4m | ~35 m² | ~7 L |
| 4m × 3.5m | 2.4m | ~36 m² | ~7.2 L |
| 4m × 4m | 2.4m | ~38 m² | ~7.6 L |
| 4.5m × 4m | 2.4m | ~41 m² | ~8.2 L |
| 5m × 4m | 2.7m | ~48 m² | ~9.6 L |
| 6m × 5m | 2.7m | ~59 m² | ~11.8 L |
How to Measure Your Room for Paint
Measuring Walls
Use a tape measure for each wall. Measure width at floor level and height from floor to ceiling. For most rooms, width × height per wall × 4 walls gives total area.
Deducting Doors and Windows
A standard door is approximately 0.9m × 2m = 1.8 m². A standard window is about 1.2m × 1.2m = 1.44 m². Subtract these from your total for a more accurate figure.
Ceiling Area
If painting the ceiling, add room length × width to your calculation. Calculate ceiling paint separately as it uses a different product (usually flat white).
Tips to Get the Right Amount
Always add 10% buffer to your calculated litres for edges and touch-ups
Consider buying one extra small tin (1L) to keep for touch-ups after the job
If painting walls AND ceiling, calculate each separately as different products
Don't round down — always round up to the nearest available tin size
Write the colour code on the lid of your leftover paint tin for future reference
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