How much paint do I need?
Working out how much paint you need isn’t always easy. That’s why we’ve created a handy, built-in paint calculator that’s simple to use:
- Pick the paint colour you love the most (easier said than done, we know) and click ‘buy now’ on the product page. You’ll then be asked to choose a finish and a quantity.
- When you’re asked to choose your quantity, look for the paintbrush icon asking ‘How much paint do I need?’ and click on it. Then, our paint calculator will work out a recommendation for you.
- Double check your space. Our paint coverage calculator is a helpful starting point but it can only calculate paint needed for walls, it doesn’t take windows, doors or alcoves into account. So, we recommend you also check with your decorator, look at our coverage table below or email customerservices@farrow-ball.com for more detailed advice before ordering.
Coverage information
If you’d like to work out how much paint is needed to paint a wall or specific space, the table below lists the maximum coverage of our paint finishes. Simply calculate the area of the surface you’re painting - remember to account for windows, alcoves etc – and then use the table to find out the amount of paint needed.
The figures below are dependent on one coat. However, coverage, and so the number of coats you need to do, depends on thickness of application, the condition of the surface you’re painting and whether you’re making a dramatic change - Hague Blue to Wimborne White for example. For the best finish and unrivalled depth of colour, we recommend one coat of Primer & Undercoat followed by two coats of topcoat.
Paint Finishes
Estate Emulsion
Sizes:
100ml, 2.5 litres, 5 litres
Max. coverage per coat *:
70m² per 5 litres
Recommended coats **:
2
Drying time ***:
Dry in 2 hours / recoat 2 hours
Modern Emulsion
Sizes:
2.5 litres, 5 litres
Max. coverage per coat *:
60m² per 5 litres
Recommended coats **:
2
Drying time ***:
Dry in 2 hours / recoat 4 hours
Estate Eggshell
Sizes:
750ml, 2.5 litres, 5 litres
Max. coverage per coat *:
60m² per 5 litres
Recommended coats **:
2
Drying time ***:
Dry in 2 hours / recoat 4 hours
Modern Eggshell
Sizes:
750ml, 2.5 litres, 5 litres
Max. coverage per coat *:
60m² per 5 litres
Recommended coats **:
2
Drying time ***:
Dry in 2 hours / recoat 4 hours
Full Gloss
Sizes:
750ml, 2.5 litres
Max. coverage per coat *:
30m² per 2.5 litres
Recommended coats **:
2
Drying time ***:
Dry in 2 hours / recoat 4 hours
Dead Flat®
Sizes:
750ml, 2.5 litres, 5 litres
Max. coverage per coat *:
60m² per 5 litres
Recommended coats **:
2
Drying time ***:
Dry in 2 hours / recoat 4 hours
Exterior Masonry
Sizes:
5 litres
Max. coverage per coat *:
40m² per 5 litres
Recommended coats **:
2
Drying time ***:
Dry in 2 hours / recoat 4 hours
Exterior Eggshell
Sizes:
750ml, 2.5 litres
Max. coverage per coat *:
32m² per 2.5 litres
Recommended coats **:
2
Drying time ***:
Dry in 2 hours / recoat 4 hours
Casein Distemper
Sizes:
2.5 litres, 5 litres
Max. coverage per coat *:
65m² per 5 litres
Recommended coats **:
2
Drying time ***:
Dry in 2 hours / recoat 4 hours
Soft Distemper
Sizes:
5 litres
Max. coverage per coat *:
65m² per 5 litres
Recommended coats **:
2
Drying time ***:
Dry in 2 hours
Limewash
Sizes:
5 litres
Max. coverage per coat *:
Varies on conditions
Recommended coats **:
4
Drying time ***:
Dry in 3 hours / recoat 12 hours
| Finish | Sizes | Maximum coverage per coat* |
Recommended coats** |
Drying time*** |
| Estate Emulsion | 100ml, 2.5 litres, 5 litres | 70m² per 5 litres | 2 | Dry in 2 hours / recoat 2 hours |
| Modern Emulsion | 2.5 litres, 5 litres | 60m² per 5 litres | 2 | Dry in 2 hours / recoat 4 hours |
| Estate Eggshell | 750ml, 2.5 litres, 5 litres | 60m² per 5 litres | 2 | Dry in 2 hours / recoat 4 hours |
| Modern Eggshell | 750ml, 2.5 litres, 5 litres | 60m² per 5 litres | 2 | Dry in 2 hours / recoat 4 hours |
| Full Gloss | 750ml, 2.5 litres | 30m² per 2.5 litres | 2 | Dry in 2 hours / recoat 4 hours |
| Dead Flat® | 750ml, 2.5 litres, 5 litres | 60m² per 5 litres | 2 | Dry in 2 hours / recoat 4 hours |
| Exterior Masonry | 5 litres | 40m² per 5 litres | 2 | Dry in 2 hours / recoat 4 hours |
| Exterior Eggshell | 750ml, 2.5 litres | 32m² per 2.5 litres | 2 | Dry in 2 hours / recoat 4 hours |
| Casein Distemper | 2.5 litres, 5 litres | 65m² per 5 litres | 2 | Dry in 2 hours / recoat 4 hours |
| Soft Distemper | 5 litres | 65m² per 5 litres | 2 | Dry in 2 hours |
| Limewash | 5 litres | Varies on conditions | 4 | Dry in 3 hours / recoat 12 hours |
| Exterior Wood Primer & Undercoat | 750ml, 2.5 litres | 32m² per 2.5 litres | 1 | Dry in 2 hours / recoat 4 hours |
| Interior Wood Primer & Undercoat | 750ml, 2.5 litres, 5 litres | 60m² per 5 litres | 1 | Dry in 2 hours / recoat 4 hours |
| Wall & Ceiling Primer & Undercoat | 2.5 litres, 5 litres | 60m² per 5 litres | 1 | Dry in 2 hours / recoat 4 hours |
| Wood Knot & Resin Blocking Primer | 750ml, 2.5 litres | 32m² per 2.5 litres | 1 | Dry in 2 hours / recoat 4 hours |
| Wood Floor Primer & Undercoat | 750ml, 2.5 litres | 32m² per 2.5 litres | 1 | Dry in 2 hours / recoat 4 hours |
| Metal Primer & Undercoat | 750ml | 9m² per 750ml | 2 | Dry in 2 hours / recoat 4 hours |
| Masonry & Plaster Stabilising Primer | 5 litres | 100m² per 5 litres | 1 | Dry in 2 hours / recoat 4 hours |
Primers and Undercoats
Wall & Ceiling Primer & Undercoat
Sizes:
2.5 litres, 5 litres
Max. coverage per coat *:
60m² per 5 litres
Recommended coats **:
1
Drying time ***:
Dry in 2 hours / recoat 4 hours
Exterior Wood Primer & Undercoat
Sizes:
750ml, 2.5 litres
Max. coverage per coat *:
32m² per 2.5 litres
Recommended coats **:
1
Drying time ***:
Dry in 2 hours / recoat 4 hours
Interior Wood Primer & Undercoat
Sizes:
750ml, 2.5 litres, 5 litres
Max. coverage per coat *:
60m² per 5 litres
Recommended coats **:
1
Drying time ***:
Dry in 2 hours / recoat 4 hours
Wood Knot & Resin Blocking Primer
Sizes:
750ml, 2.5 litres
Max. coverage per coat *:
32m² per 2.5 litres
Recommended coats **:
1
Drying time ***:
Dry in 2 hours / recoat 4 hours
Wood Floor Primer & Undercoat
Sizes:
750ml, 2.5 litres
Max. coverage per coat *:
32m² per 2.5 litres
Recommended coats **:
1
Drying time ***:
Dry in 2 hours / recoat 4 hours
Metal Primer & Undercoat
Sizes:
750ml
Max. coverage per coat *:
9m² per 750ml
Recommended coats **:
2
Drying time ***:
Dry in 2 hours / recoat 4 hours
Masonry & Plaster Stabilising Primer
Sizes:
5 litres
Max. coverage per coat *:
100m² per 5 litres
Recommended coats **:
1
Drying time ***:
Dry in 2 hours / recoat 4 hours
*Figures are based on one coat. However, we recommend following the Farrow & Ball system of one coat of Primer & Undercoat followed by two coats of your required paint finish.
**Additional coats may be required depending on surface and topcoat colour.
*** The drying and recoat times provided are based on applying paint in normal conditions. Drying times may be longer in cooler and/or higher humidity environments. Darker colours may take longer to dry.