10 litres: area covered by coverage and coats
Use the coverage printed on your tin. 12 m² per litre is typical for emulsion.
| Coverage on the tin | 1 coat | 2 coats | 3 coats |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 m² per litre | 100 m² | 50 m² | 33.3 m² |
| 12 m² per litre | 120 m² | 60 m² | 40 m² |
| 13 m² per litre | 130 m² | 65 m² | 43.3 m² |
| 14 m² per litre | 140 m² | 70 m² | 46.7 m² |
Ten litres: walls and ceiling together
Ten litres covers 120 m² in one coat at 12 m² per litre and 60 m² in two, which is 25 m of wall under a 2.4 m ceiling. It is the tin for doing a whole room in one colour, or the walls of two small rooms.
Two coats on the walls and the ceiling of a 4 × 4 m room take 8.6 litres, inside one tin. A 4 × 5 m room needs 10.02 litres for both, a shade more than the tin holds, so there use it for the walls (6.7 litres) and buy the ceiling paint separately.
Stir a tin this size well and pour what you need into a paint kettle or a scuttle, so the rest stays clean with the lid on.
How many 10 litre tins for a room
Two coats at 12 m² per litre, 2.4 m ceiling, one door and one window. "Tins to buy" is the mix of 10, 5, 2.5 and 1 litre tins that the paint calculator gives for that room, and the walls and ceiling columns use the same paint on both. The last column is the count if you buy the wall paint in 10 litre tins only.
| Room | Walls | Tins to buy for the walls | Walls + ceiling | Tins to buy for both | 10 L tins alone (walls) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 × 3 m | 4.28 L | 1 × 5 L | 5.78 L | 1 × 5 L + 1 × 1 L | 1 |
| 3 × 4 m | 5.08 L | 1 × 5 L + 1 × 1 L | 7.08 L | 1 × 5 L + 1 × 2.5 L | 1 |
| 4 × 4 m | 5.88 L | 1 × 5 L + 1 × 1 L | 8.55 L | 1 × 10 L | 1 |
| 4 × 5 m | 6.68 L | 1 × 5 L + 1 × 2.5 L | 10.02 L | 1 × 10 L + 1 × 1 L | 1 |
| 5 × 5 m | 7.48 L | 1 × 5 L + 1 × 2.5 L | 11.65 L | 1 × 10 L + 1 × 2.5 L | 1 |
| 5 × 6 m | 8.28 L | 1 × 5 L + 1 × 2.5 L + 1 × 1 L | 13.28 L | 1 × 10 L + 1 × 2.5 L + 1 × 1 L | 1 |
| 6 × 6 m | 9.08 L | 1 × 10 L | 15.08 L | 1 × 10 L + 1 × 5 L + 1 × 1 L | 1 |
| 6 × 8 m | 10.68 L | 1 × 10 L + 1 × 1 L | 18.68 L | 2 × 10 L | 2 |
Worked example
10 × 12 m² per litre = 120 m² in one coat. Two coats halve it: 120 ÷ 2 = 60 m². Divide by the 2.4 m ceiling height for the length of wall: 60 ÷ 2.4 = 25 m.
Other tin sizes
| Size | One coat | Two coats | Wall run, two coats (2.4 m high) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 ml tester | 0.36 m² | 0.18 m² | a test patch |
| 1 litre | 12 m² | 6 m² | 2.5 m |
| 2 litres | 24 m² | 12 m² | 5 m |
| 2.5 litres | 30 m² | 15 m² | 6.25 m |
| 5 litres | 60 m² | 30 m² | 12.5 m |
| 10 litres | 120 m² | 60 m² | 25 m |
For your own room use the paint calculator, which gives the litres and the tins to buy. The tin coverage chart puts 1, 2.5, 5 and 10 litre tins side by side at each coverage.
Want to change anything else? The calculator above is the full Paint Calculator (UK, litres): edit any number and the results update instantly.
Tools & materials for this project
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Frequently asked questions
How much does 10l of paint cover?
About 120 m² in one coat at the typical 12 m² per litre, or 60 m² with two coats. On rough walls or dark colours, at 10 m² per litre, it is 100 m² in one coat.
Is 10 litres of paint enough for a room?
For two coats on the walls, yes up to about a 6 × 6 m room with a 2.4 m ceiling (9.1 litres). A 6 × 8 m room takes 10.7 litres.
How much wall does 10 litres of paint cover with two coats?
60 m², which is a run of wall 25 m long under a 2.4 m ceiling, before taking off doors and windows.
Related sizes and guides
Estimates only. Results assume standard materials and simple shapes. Supplier products vary, and the final call on quantity, structure and safety is yours. Check the Building Regulations and your supplier's guidance before ordering.