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Paint Per Square Foot Formula:
The Paint Per Square Foot calculation determines how much paint is needed per square foot of surface area based on the paint's coverage rate and the number of coats required. This helps in accurately estimating paint requirements for painting projects.
The calculator uses the paint per square foot formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the inverse of coverage to find paint per square foot, then multiplies by the number of coats to get the total paint requirement per square foot.
Details: Accurate paint calculation helps prevent overbuying or underbuying paint, ensures proper project planning, and helps budget accurately for painting projects.
Tips: Enter the paint coverage rate (typically found on paint can labels) in square feet per gallon, and the number of coats needed. Both values must be positive numbers.
Q1: What is a typical paint coverage rate?
A: Most quality paints cover 250-400 square feet per gallon, but this varies by paint type and surface texture.
Q2: How many coats are usually needed?
A: Most projects require 2 coats for even coverage and durability, but this depends on surface color and paint quality.
Q3: Should I include primer in the calculation?
A: Primer should be calculated separately as it typically has different coverage rates than topcoat paint.
Q4: How does surface texture affect coverage?
A: Rough or textured surfaces require more paint than smooth surfaces - reduce the coverage rate by 10-20% for textured surfaces.
Q5: What about windows, doors, and trim?
A: Subtract these areas from your total square footage or calculate them separately as they may require different paint types.