Rule of thumb · DIYNº 97 / 167

Paint coverage assumes one coat on a primed wall

A litre of paint claiming 12-14 m² coverage means one thin, even coat on primed drywall — dark-to-light changes, bare plaster, or textured surfaces routinely need a second coat, doubling real consumption.

Why it works

Manufacturer coverage figures are measured under ideal lab conditions — real walls absorb unevenly and colour changes need full opacity, not just an even film, which is why buying "exactly enough" paint so often falls short.

When it fails

Bare plaster can absorb the best part of a first coat, and a strong colour change routinely needs three. Spraying is worse again through overspray. Buying to the tin's coverage figure on new plaster is how people end up a litre short of a colour that has been discontinued.

Do it exactly

Estimate with the rule, then check it against the calculator that models it properly.

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How much paint do you need for a room?

A litre of paint claiming 12-14 m² coverage means one thin, even coat on primed drywall — dark-to-light changes, bare plaster, or textured surfaces routinely need a second coat, doubling real consumption. Manufacturer coverage figures are measured under ideal lab conditions — real walls absorb unevenly and colour changes need full opacity, not just an even film, which is why buying "exactly enough" paint so often falls short.

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