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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.

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