When it comes to home improvement projects, it’s important to estimate how much paint you’ll need to cover a given area. A common question that arises is, “How much area will 5 litres of paint cover?” There are a few factors to consider when calculating paint coverage, including the type of surface, number of coats required, and the type/quality of paint used. Read on for a detailed look at how to estimate paint coverage for 5 litres.
Quick Answer
As a general rule of thumb, 5 litres of interior wall paint will cover approximately 35-50 sqm (375-538 sq ft) with one coat. For exterior surfaces, 5 litres will cover 20-30 sqm (215-323 sq ft). However, the actual coverage will vary depending on the porosity and texture of the surface, application method, and additional factors discussed later in this article.
What Influences Paint Coverage
When estimating how much area 5 litres of paint will cover, it’s important to consider the following factors:
Paint Type
The type of paint used will greatly influence coverage. Here are some general guidelines:
- Interior emulsion (matte) – Approx. 10-14 m2 per litre per coat
- Interior eggshell/satin – Approx. 12-16 m2 per litre per coat
- Interior semi-gloss – Approx. 14-18 m2 per litre per coat
- Exterior emulsion – Approx. 4-7 m2 per litre per coat
- Exterior gloss/satin – Approx. 6-9 m2 per litre per coat
Higher quality or premium paints often provide better coverage, while budget paints may cover less area. Check the label or speak to a paint retailer for specific coverage estimates.
Surface Type
The type of surface being painted also affects coverage. Porous surfaces like fresh plaster, unpainted drywall, and bare wood will absorb more paint, resulting in less coverage. Non-porous surfaces like existing painted walls or metals will require less paint to cover.
Surface Texture
How smooth or textured a surface is will impact absorption and coverage. Rough or textured surfaces like stucco or pebbledash will require more paint than smooth drywall or wooden surfaces.
Application Method
Using rollers, brushes, or paint sprayers can influence coverage as well. Rollers tend to provide the best coverage, followed by brushes. Paint sprayers often have more overspray and waste compared to rollers or brushes.
Number of Coats
The recommended number of paint coats will affect the total coverage area. Often 2-3 coats are advised, particularly for new or unpainted surfaces. Allow for each coat to cover less area than the previous one due to paint absorption.
Paint Film Thickness
How thick or thin the applied paint coat is directly correlates to coverage area. Thinner coats will cover more area from a given amount of paint. Thick or heavy application leads to less coverage. following the manufacturer’s advised film thickness is ideal.
Estimating Interior Paint Coverage
When painting typical interior wall and ceiling areas, here are some coverage guidelines per coat:
- Flat/matte interior wall paint – 10-14 m2 per litre
- Eggshell interior wall paint – 12-16 m2 per litre
- Semi-gloss interior wall paint – 14-18 m2 per litre
- Flat/matte ceiling paint – 12-16 m2 per litre
- Trim/door paint – 16-22 m2 per litre
Based on these estimates, here is how much area 5 litres of interior wall paint will cover with one coat:
| Paint Type | Coverage Per Litre | Total Coverage for 5 Litres |
|---|---|---|
| Flat interior wall paint | 10-14 m2 | 50-70 m2 |
| Eggshell interior wall paint | 12-16 m2 | 60-80 m2 |
| Semi-gloss interior wall paint | 14-18 m2 | 70-90 m2 |
So for most interior wall paint types, 5 litres will cover approximately 50-90 sqm with a single coat. For two coats, divide these estimates in half. Three coats, divide by three to calculate per coat coverage.
Estimating Exterior Paint Coverage
When painting outdoor surfaces like siding, stucco, or brick, here are typical coverage rates per coat:
- Exterior emulsion paint – 4-7 m2 per litre
- Exterior satin/gloss paint – 6-9 m2 per litre
- Primer coat – 6-10 m2 per litre
- Stain blocking primer – 5-8 m2 per litre
Given these figures, here is the estimated coverage area for 5 litres of exterior paint:
| Paint Type | Coverage Per Litre | Total Coverage for 5 Litres |
|---|---|---|
| Exterior emulsion paint | 4-7 m2 | 20-35 m2 |
| Exterior gloss/satin paint | 6-9 m2 | 30-45 m2 |
| Exterior primer | 6-10 m2 | 30-50 m2 |
For exterior surfaces, 5 litres of paint will cover approximately 20-50 sqm with one coat depending on the paint type. Allow for lower coverage for additional coats.
Coverage Estimates By Room
To make paint estimates more practical, here is how much wall space 5 litres will cover for common room dimensions:
Bedroom
For a medium bedroom with dimensions of 3m x 4m and a 2.4m high ceiling, the total wall area (excluding windows and doors) is approximately 41 sqm. With flat emulsion paint, 5 litres would cover 50-70 sqm with one coat. So you would have more than enough paint to cover this room with a single coat.
Living Room
For a typical living room measuring 4m x 5m, with a 2.4m ceiling, the total wall space is roughly 62 sqm. Five litres of eggshell or satin paint would provide 60-80 sqm coverage per coat. So you may need slightly more than 5 litres for one coat, but it would likely get the job done.
Hallway
For a standard 2m wide hallway that’s 5m long with 2.4m ceilings, the total wall area is approximately 33 sqm. Five litres of interior paint would easily cover this in one coat.
Exterior Siding
For a small bungalow with exterior dimensions of 7m x 6m and 2.4m high walls, the exterior siding area is roughly 100 sqm. Five litres of exterior paint would cover 30-50 sqm with one coat. So you would need at least 10-15 litres to paint the full exterior with one coat.
Paint Coverage Estimator
To make it easy to estimate how much wall or surface area 5 litres of paint will cover, you can use the following paint calculator:
| Inputs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Total wall area: | _____ sqm | |
| Paint type: | ||
| Number of coats: | ____ coats |
To use:
- Measure and input the total wall/surface area to be painted in square metres
- Select the type of paint you will be using
- Input the number of coats required
The calculator will estimate the area 5 litres of your selected paint type will cover based on your inputs. This provides an easy way to determine if 5 litres will be sufficient for your painting project.
Factors that Reduce Paint Coverage
While the above estimates provide a helpful guide, certain factors can reduce the actual coverage achieved in practice:
- Surface imperfections – Cracks, holes, and damages in walls and surfaces require extra paint to fill and cover properly.
- Extra surface area – Trim, corners, windows and doors add to the total area needing painted.
- Waste – Paint drips, spills, or accidents during the painting process can waste paint.
- Overlapping paint – Cutting in edges and overlapping painted areas uses more paint.
- Dark colours – Darker paint colours often require an extra coat for proper coverage.
To account for these factors, it’s always a good idea to add an extra 10-20% more paint than your initial area calculations. This provides a buffer to ensure you purchase enough paint to complete your project.
Tips for Maximizing Paint Coverage
Here are some useful tips to get the maximum coverage from your 5 litres of paint:
- Use high quality rollers and brushes designed for optimal paint pickup and release.
- Plan your painting strategy to minimize cut-ins and overlaps.
- Maintain a consistent wet edge as you paint.
- Apply paint in thin, even coats following manufacturer’s recommendations.
- Pour paint into roller trays instead of directly from the can to prevent drips and spills.
- Use painter’s tape for clean edges and to reduce touch ups.
- Seal surfaces with primer or sealer beforehand if needed.
- Fill any cracks or holes properly so paint fully covers.
Proper prep work, priming, and application technique will help ensure you get the most coverage from your 5 litres of paint.
Conclusion
Estimating paint coverage involves more than just calculating area. The quality of paint, type of surface, application method and other factors also impact how far 5 litres of paint will go. For interior walls, 5 litres typically covers 50-90 sqm per coat. For exterior surfaces, coverage ranges from 20-50 sqm depending on the paint. Use 10-20% extra paint on top of estimates to allow for imperfections, waste, and other margin of error factors. Follow the preparation and application tips provided to maximize coverage from your 5 litre can of paint.
