Paint Calculator
Calculate exactly how many litres of paint you need for any room or house. Accounts for doors, windows, number of coats, and paint coverage rate.
Quick Calculator Get a fast estimate
m
m
m
Each door ≈ 1.9m²
Each window ≈ 1.2m²
Paint Required
8,6 litres
Paintable Wall Area
38,9 m²
5-litre Tins Needed
2 tins (5L)
Coats
2
Coverage Rate
10 m²/litre
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How to Use This Calculator
Enter room dimensions and ceiling height, specify doors and windows, number of coats, and your paint coverage rate. The calculator adds 10% for waste and gives total litres plus tins to buy.
Paint Coverage Formula
Wall Area = 2 × (Length + Width) × Height − Openings
Litres = Wall Area × Coats ÷ Coverage (m²/L)
Litres with Waste = Litres × 1.10
SA paint coverage: Economy/textured 8 m²/L, standard acrylic 10 m²/L, premium 12 m²/L.
Need more detail?
Extended Calculator More options, charts, and scenario comparison
m
m
m
#
#
#
Paint Required
10.3 litres
Paintable Area
61.6 m²
Coats
2
Estimated Cost
R 667
Room Floor Plan
Brand Comparison for 61.6 m² (2 coats)
| Brand | Litres | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Plascon (PVA) | 10.3 L | R 667 |
| Dulux (PVA) | 11.2 L | R 784 |
| Prominent (PVA) | 12.3 L | R 554 |
| Crown (PVA) | 12.3 L | R 616 |
| Plascon Ext. | 12.3 L | R 986 |
Example Calculation
Master Bedroom — 4m × 4m × 2.4m
Wall area = 2 × (4 + 4) × 2.4 − 4.3m² openings = 34.1 m²
2 coats at 10 m²/L = 6.82L × 1.10 waste = 7.5 litres
Buy 2 × 5-litre tins (10 litres — enough with some left over)
SA Paint Brand Comparison (5L, 2025)
| Brand / Range | Coverage | Price (5L) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plascon Budget PVA | 8 m²/L | R120–R180 | Economy interior |
| Plascon Velvaglo | 10 m²/L | R280–R380 | Interior premium |
| Dulux Pentalite | 10 m²/L | R260–R360 | Interior premium |
| Prominent Paints Ultra | 10 m²/L | R240–R340 | Interior premium |
| Plascon Micatex | 8 m²/L | R350–R480 | Exterior textured |
| Dulux Weathershield | 10 m²/L | R350–R460 | Exterior smooth |
Need full precision?
Professional Calculator Complete parameters, sensitivity analysis, and detailed breakdown
Paint Settings
Rooms
| Room | L×W×H | D/W | Ceil | Trim | Area m² | Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ×× | / | 83.4 | R 1 209 | ||||
| ×× | / | 60.5 | R 919 | ||||
| ×× | / | 43.0 | R 545 |
Total Paint Cost (all rooms)
R 2 673
Wall Paint
21.4 L
Ceiling Paint
9.8 L
Primer
23.4 L
Total Paintable Area
186.9 m²
Brand Cost Comparison
| Brand | Litres Needed | Tins (20L) | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plascon PVA (20L) | 31.2 L | 2 | R 1 390 |
| Dulux PVA (20L) | 31.2 L | 2 | R 1 500 |
| Prominent (20L) | 31.2 L | 2 | R 1 040 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Repainting over a similar colour: 1–2 coats. Dramatic colour change: 3 coats. Bare unpainted walls: 1 primer + 2 finish coats. Premium paints sometimes cover in one coat, but two always gives better depth and durability.
Popular SA brands include Plascon (market leader), Dulux, Prominent Paints, and Crown. Plascon Velvaglo and Dulux Pentalite are widely used for interior walls. For exterior, Plascon Micatex and Dulux Weathershield are well-regarded.
This calculator calculates wall area only. To add the ceiling: add Length × Width to your painted area. Ceilings are typically painted with flat white ceiling paint (12–16 m²/L) and usually need only one coat unless heavily stained.
Economy interior paint: R80–R150 per 5L. Mid-range acrylic: R200–R350/5L. Premium paint: R400–R600/5L. Exterior paint typically costs more. Buying 20L containers is more economical per litre for large projects.