Paint Palette Calculator — Quantities for Art Projects
Calculate paint quantities for a painting project based on canvas size, medium and style.
How We Calculate This
Calculation Method
- Total paint = Canvas area × Coverage rate × Style multiplier × Sessions
- Each primary = Total paint × 20%
- White = Total paint × 35% (oils/acrylics) or 5% (watercolour)
- Medium = Total paint × Medium-to-paint ratio (oil 30%, acrylic 20%, watercolour 50%)
- Cost = Estimated tube count × £5 per 60ml tube (student grade)
Coverage rates are thin single-coat figures per session: acrylic 0.012 ml/cm² (≈8.3 m²/L), oil 0.015 ml/cm² (≈6.7 m²/L), watercolour 0.005 ml/cm². These sit in the ~250-400 sq ft/gallon single-coat band quoted by GOLDEN/Just Paint. Each planned session adds roughly one thin coat, so heavy opaque or impasto work — captured here by the style multiplier and a higher session count — naturally raises the total. Treat the result as a planning estimate, not an exact shopping list.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Last updated: March 2026
All calculations are estimates. Always verify quantities before purchasing materials.