How Much Paint Do I Need For a Room?
Last reviewed: 9 September 2026
Most standard UK rooms need one 5L tin of emulsion for two coats on the walls. That covers around 35 m², which fits a typical bedroom or living room once you subtract the door and windows. Bigger rooms, open-plan spaces, or dark-to-light colour changes usually need a 5L tin plus a 2.5L top-up.
Paint needed by room size
| Room | Wall area | Typical paint needed |
|---|---|---|
| Small bedroom / box room (2.5m x 2.5m) | ~20 m² | One 2.5L + one 0.75L, or one 5L with plenty left |
| Standard bedroom (3.5m x 3m) | ~28 m² | One 5L tin |
| Standard living room (4m x 3.5m) | ~33 m² | One 5L tin, some left for touch-ups |
| Large living room / open plan (6m x 4m) | ~44 m² | One 5L + one 2.5L tin |
Based on two coats at 14 m² per litre, Dulux's published coverage rate for Matt and Silk emulsion, with a standard door and one window subtracted. Ceiling paint is not included.
Why "how many litres per room" isn't a fixed number
Wall area is the main driver, but three things move the answer a lot: how many coats you need (1 for a same-colour refresh, 2-3 for a big colour change), whether you're doing the ceiling too, and how much you subtract for doors and windows. A 4m × 3m room with a 2.4m ceiling has roughly 33.6 m² of wall area before subtracting openings - see our 5L coverage guide for how that translates into tins, or the full Dulux coverage table if you're using a different product type.
Enter your own room dimensions
Our calculator handles multiple rooms, coats, ceilings, and window/door subtractions to give you an exact tin count.
Open the Paint Calculator →Frequently Asked Questions
How much paint does an average UK room need?
For two coats of emulsion on the walls of a standard bedroom or living room, one 5L tin is usually enough. Larger rooms, or rooms with a strong colour change, may need a 5L plus a 2.5L top-up.
Does the ceiling need separate paint?
You can use the same emulsion on walls and ceiling, but budget extra litres for it - a typical room ceiling adds around 10-12 m² of area, roughly 1.5-2L for two coats.
Do windows and doors reduce how much paint I need?
Yes. A standard door and frame removes roughly 3-4 m² of wall area, and a window removes 1-2 m². For a small room, that can be enough to drop you from needing a 5L tin to a 2.5L tin, so it's worth subtracting them before buying.