An average living room of 3.5 by 4.5 metres requires 5.6 litres of paint for two coats, or one 5 litre tin plus one 1 litre tin. Small rooms need 4.7 litres; large rooms need 7 litres.
The amount of paint you need depends on your wall area and how many coats you’re applying. Most living rooms in the UK measure between 3 by 3.5 metres and 4.2 by 5.5 metres. The standard coverage rate is 12 square metres per litre. Wall height also affects the calculation-the figures here assume standard 2.4 metre ceilings. If your walls are higher or lower, or if you’re painting a feature wall only, you’ll need to adjust accordingly. Use our calculator to enter your exact measurements and get a precise figure for your space.
| Room | Wall area | Paint for 2 coats | Tin to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small living room (3 x 3.5 m) | 28.2 m2 | 4.7 litres | 5 L |
| Average living room (3.5 x 4.5 m) | 33.9 m2 | 5.6 litres | 5 L + 1 L |
| Large living room (4.2 x 5.5 m) | 42.1 m2 | 7 litres | 5 L + 2 x 1 L |
How the number is worked out
Wall area is the perimeter times the 2.4 m ceiling, minus one door and the windows. Matt emulsion covers about 12 m2 per litre for one coat, so two coats over that area gives the litres in the table. Buy the next tin size up: paint left over is cheaper than a second trip and a slightly different batch.
Ceilings are counted separately, because the area is the floor area rather than the perimeter, and most people use a different paint for them. Skirting, architrave and doors are separate again: they take eggshell or gloss, which covers further per litre but needs an undercoat if the wood is bare.
What changes the number
Bare plaster drinks the first coat, so add a mist coat of watered-down emulsion before you start counting. A dark colour going over a pale one usually needs three coats rather than two, and a strong red or deep blue can need four. Textured or heavily filled walls swallow noticeably more than smooth plaster. Rollers with a long pile hold more paint and spread it thicker, which is why two people painting the same room from the same tin can end up with different amounts left over.
Work out your own
The table covers the usual cases. For your exact measurements, the paint calculator does the same arithmetic in the browser and gives you a size to shop for.
Related guides
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- Earthy Living Room Ideas for a Warmer Neutral Palette
Common questions
What if my living room is an awkward shape?
Measure the length and width of each wall separately, then add them together to get total wall area. Multiply by your wall height to find the square metres. Our calculator accepts any dimensions, not just rectangular rooms, so you can account for alcoves, angles and recesses.
Should I buy more paint than the calculator suggests?
Yes, buy one extra litre. Paint coverage varies slightly depending on wall texture, colour and primer. Having spare paint lets you touch up marks later without needing to match the shade again, which becomes difficult once a tin is partially used.
Do I need to calculate ceiling and woodwork separately?
Yes. Ceilings use a different coverage rate and usually need only one coat. Woodwork like skirting boards, doors and window frames should be measured separately from walls. Add these amounts to your wall paint total.
How many coats of paint do I actually need?
Two coats is standard for most room updates, especially if you’re changing colour significantly. One coat rarely gives even coverage, particularly over darker or brighter previous colours. Some premium paints claim one-coat coverage, but two coats remain the safest approach.
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