Paint Calculator NZ
Use this free paint calculator to work out exactly how many litres of paint you need for your project in New Zealand.
How to use this paint calculator
Select Interior or Exterior. Enter your room or house dimensions in metres. The standard NZ ceiling height is 2.4m for most homes — change it if yours is different. Enter the number of doors and windows to get an accurate net area. Tick include ceiling if you want ceiling paint calculated too. Select your paint type and hit calculate. Results appear instantly.
How do I calculate how much paint I will need?
Work out your total wall area by multiplying the perimeter of the room by the ceiling height. Perimeter is length plus width multiplied by two. Subtract 1.8m² for each door and 1.2m² for each standard window. Divide by your paint's coverage rate in m² per litre. Multiply by the number of coats. Add 15% for waste and touch-ups. Our calculator does all of this automatically.
How do I calculate how many litres of paint I need?
The formula is: net area divided by coverage rate multiplied by number of coats. For example a 4m by 5m room with 2.4m ceilings has 43.2m² of wall area. Minus one door (1.8m²) and two windows (2.4m²) equals 39m² net. At 12m² per litre for two coats that's 6.5 litres. Add 15% buffer and you need 7.5 litres — buy two 4 litre tins.
NZ paint coverage rates by brand
Resene and Dulux interior paints typically cover 10 to 14m² per litre depending on the product. Budget paints cover 10m² per litre. Premium products like Dulux Wash and Wear and Resene SpaceCote cover up to 14m² per litre. Exterior paints cover less — typically 6 to 10m² per litre — because rough or porous surfaces absorb more paint. Always check the data sheet on your specific tin as coverage varies by product.
What area will 2.5 litres of paint cover?
At 12m² per litre, 2.5 litres covers approximately 30m² with one coat. That is enough for the walls of a small bedroom with one coat. For two coats you could cover around 15m². Coverage varies with paint type and surface porosity — rough or unpainted surfaces absorb significantly more paint than previously painted surfaces.
What do painters charge per hour in NZ?
Professional painters in NZ typically charge $45 to $75 per hour for residential work. A full interior repaint of a standard three-bedroom home usually costs $3,000 to $8,000 in materials and labour combined. Exterior painting costs more due to preparation, height access and weather factors — expect $5,000 to $15,000 for a full exterior on a standard NZ house.
NZ paint tin sizes guide
Paint in NZ is sold in four standard tin sizes — 1 litre, 2 litre, 4 litre and 10 litre. For small jobs under 5 litres, buy 1L or 2L tins. For medium rooms buy two 4L tins rather than a 10L — easier to handle and store. For large jobs or full house repaints, 10L tins are the most cost-effective. Our calculator automatically shows you the best tin combination to minimise waste.
Related tools:
Roofing Calculator NZ
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate how much paint I need for a room?
Multiply room perimeter by ceiling height to get wall area. Subtract doors and windows. Divide by coverage rate and multiply by coats. Add 15% waste buffer.
What paint tin sizes are available in NZ?
1 litre, 2 litre, 4 litre and 10 litre. Available at Mitre 10, Bunnings, Guthrie Bowron and Resene ColorShops.
How much does paint cost in NZ?
Budget interior paint runs $15 to $25 per litre. Mid-range Dulux and Resene costs $30 to $50 per litre. Premium low-VOC paints run $60 to $90 per litre. Exterior paints typically cost $40 to $70 per litre.
How many coats of paint do I need?
Most jobs need two coats. New surfaces, dark colours, or painting light over dark may need three. Touch-ups over the same colour can be done with one coat.