How to Use the Paint Coverage Calculator
Starting a new canvas without a clear idea of how much paint you'll need often means buying too little and mixing an inconsistent second batch mid-painting, or buying too much and wasting it. This calculator takes your canvas size, paint type (oil or acrylic), and technique (thin or thick) and estimates how much paint you'll need for a single even coat, in fluid ounces.
Acrylic is thinner and dries faster than oil, so it generally covers the same area with less paint, while oil's higher viscosity means each brushstroke lays down more pigment. Thin techniques like washes and glazing stretch your paint further, while a thick, impasto-style application can use close to 2-3 times as much paint over the same area.
The result is an approximation based on a single flat color coat, so plan for more if you're mixing multiple colors or building up several layers. For large background areas especially, buying 10-20% more than the estimate helps you avoid running out mid-painting and having to mix a slightly different shade to finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
The estimate assumes one even coat over the full canvas. Using many separate colors or building up multiple layers will push your total usage above the calculated amount.
A thick, impasto-style application typically uses close to 2-3 times more paint than a thin wash. If you're covering a large area with heavy texture, buy extra to be safe.