How much Paint is Needed for 400 Square Feet?

On smooth, properly prepared walls, 1 litre of paint covers approximately 100 square feet with each coat. So, how much paint is needed for 400 square feet? 

1. For an area of 400 sq ft, you will require 4 litres of paint for a single coat. As most interiors need two layers, anticipate a total of 8 litres of paint.

2. The texture of the wall has a direct impact on the amount of paint needed. Uneven, textured, or unsealed walls take in more paint, limiting coverage to approximately 80 sq ft per litre. 

3. In those situations, painting 400 sq ft might need 10 litres for two coats rather than 8. Always check walls prior to purchasing paint.

4. Various surfaces soak up paint in distinct ways. Smooth plaster or drywall provides better coverage (100 to 120 sq ft per litre), whereas concrete or porous surfaces use more paint. Using a primer enhances coverage and appearance.

5. Humidity and poor ventilation slow drying time and may increase paint usage due to uneven coats. Ensure good airflow for consistent results.

For accurate calculation, always account for the number of coats, wall texture, and surface type before purchasing paint.

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Hi there. I got my 2 BHK house painted recently. The total paintable area of my home was around 400 sq. ft. So, I can tell you how much paint do I need for 400 sq ft. The amount of paint you’ll need depends on the paint’s coverage per litre, wall condition, number of coats, type of paint and the paint brand. Here, I am considering that your total paintable area is 400 sq. ft. So, based on that, under perfect conditions, you’ll need around 3 litres of paint, keeping the coverage area of paint to be 130 sq. ft. per litre. However, there is another way to see the situation. I’ll tell you about that below.

How Much to Paint 400 Square Feet?

Now, considering that 400 sq. ft. is not the total paintable area but the area of your house, you’ll need to figure out the total paintable area using a formula.

For each room you want to paint, apply the following formula:

Total square footage of each wall = height (in feet) x width (in feet).

Then, you need to see the areas that you don’t wish to paint, like windows, doors, etc. If you wish to paint the ceiling, you’ll have to add its dimensions. 

The formula for the total paintable area comes down to the following:

Total Area to be Painted: (Area of 4 walls) + (Area of ceiling) - (Area of windows and doors)

You can use this formula for each room to find the total area. You can then add the areas of each room to get the final area painted. 

Paint types and brands affect the coverage area. So, check the packaging for the coverage area of your paint and then apply the following formula:

Total Paint Needed in Litres  = Total Area to be Painted/Coverage Area per Litre

This is all about how much paint do I need for 400 sq ft. I hope it helps.