Paint Coverage/Consumption Calculation

Paint coverage
is determined by both the "Transfer
Efficiency" o f the spray equipment and the "Solids
Content by V
olume" of the paint.


Transfer efficiency is affected by paint "bounce
work piece and "over spray". There may be
back" from the

significant opportunity
to reduce your paint costs by
improving the
transfer efficiency of your equipment.
Transfer Efficiency
also varies w ith subjective issues

such as the painter or the way he adjusts the spray

equipment. Air movement or wind can also negatively
efficiency.
impact transfer

Paint Coverage can also be strongly influenced by the

texture and porosity of the substrate. Theoretical coverage
assumes a reasonably smooth non-porous surface. Anything
else requires either more paint or a sealer and only
experience can determine the correct amount.

Adding solvent to paint decreases the volume solids.
Therefore, higher w et film builds would be required to
achieve the same dry film thickness.

Lastly, some paints and colors do not hide as well as
others. Increased film build and even additional coats of
paint may be required to achieve the true colour on a
repeatable basis.

Tristar Coatings for the most part, uses an "in-house grind" of
powdered pigment in its formulations rather than adding a
colorant to a bulk produced tint base. In certain conditions,
this can reduce paint consumption by as much as 50 % plus.

ontent by Volume is the volume of the
Solids C
nonvolatile p ortion of a coating composition divided by
the total volume
of the liquid coating, expressed as a
percent. Paint with 35 % volume solids will shrink due

primarily to the volatile solvents evaporating to a dry film
to 35% of the wet film build.
build equating





Determining Quantity of Paint Required



The following
2 charts outline the Transfer
Establish the Transfer Efficiency of Application Method

Efficiency for various types of equipment and the
Practical Coverage = Theoretical Coverage X Transfer
Theoretical Coverage (sq.ft. per US gallon) of a paint for
Efficiency

various dry mil thickness at various solids content by


volume.
B) Calculate paint required


Determine the area
A) Calculate practical sq. ft. coverage per US
Quantity required = (Area/Practical Coverage)+ 10 % for
gallon/liter.
contingency..

The Theoretical
Coverage table shows the coverage per

gallon at various
total film builds (DFT). Alternatively,
Useful conversion factors
most paint manufacturers will provide the Theoretical

3.785 litres
= 1 US Gallon

Coverage at 1 mil DFT. That coverage must be divided by

2.54
c
entimeters

=

1
I
nch

the desired total d ry film thickness to be applied to obtain
coverage at the desired mil thickness. For
the theoretical
0.3048 meters
= 1 Foot
rough and/or porous surfaces, the Theoretical Coverage

must be reduced
accordingly.

Tran sfer Efficiency

Typical Transfer Efficiency of Equipment

Conventional

Air Assisted

Airless

HVLP

Roller
Brush

Electrostatic

50-70%
50-60%
40-60%
60-85%
95% plus


Sq. Ft. Coverage per US Gallon
To determine
estimated volumes required multiply theoretical sq. ft. coverage by transfer efficiency of sprayequipment.
20-40%

Theoretical Coverage
Theoretical Coverage Sq.Ft/US Gallon
Thickness
in Mils
(Dry)
0.25
0.5
0.75
1
1.25
1.5
1.75
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
6
7
8
9
10

% Volume Solids
10%
641
320
214
161
128
106
92
80
64
53
46
40
36

15%
962
481
320
240
192
161
137
120
96
80
68
60
53

20%
1282
641
428
320
256
214
183
161
128
106
92
80
72

25%
1602
801
534
401
320
267
229
200
161
134
115
100
89

30%
1923
962
641
481
384
320
275
240
192
161
137
120
106

35%
2243
1121
748
561
448
374
320
280
224
187
160
140
125

40%
2564
1282
854
641
512
428
366
320
256
214
183
160
142

45%
2884
1442
962
721
577
481
412
360
288
240
205
180
161

50%
3205
1602
1068
801
641
534
458
401
320
267
229
200
178

55%
3525
1763
1175
881
705
587
504
441
352
294
251
220
196

60%
3845
1923
1282
962
770
641
550
481
384
320
275
240
214

65%
4166
2083
1389
1042
834
695
596
521
416
347
297
260
231

70%
4487
2243
1494
1121
898
748
641
561
448
374
320
280
250

80%
5127
2564
1709
1282
1026
854
733
641
512
428
366
320
285

90%
5769
2884
1923
1442
1154
962
824
721
577
481
412
360
320

100%
6409
3205
2136
1602
1282
1068
916
801
641
534
458
400
356

32
27
22
20
17

48
40
34
30
27
24

64
53
46
40
36
32

80
67
57
50
45
40

96
80
68
60
53
48

112
93
80
70
62
57

128
106
92
80
72
64

144
120
103
90
80
72

161
134
115
101
89
81

176
147
126
111
98
88

192
161
137
121
106
97

208
174
149
131
116
104

224
187
160
141
125
112

256
214
183
161
142
128

288
240
205
181
161
145

320
267
229
200
178
161

60%
94.5
47.3
31.5
23.6
18.9
15.8
13.5
11.8
9.4
7.9
6.7
5.9
5.3
4.7
3.9
3.4
3
2.6
2.4

65%
102
51.2
34.1
25.6
20.5
17.1
14.6
12.8
10.2
8.5
7.3
6.4
5.7
5.1
4.3
3.7
3.2
2.8
2.6

70%
110
55.1
36.8
27.6
22.1
18.4
15.8
13.8
11
9.2
7.9
6.9
6.1
5.5
4.6
3.9
3.5
3.1
2.8

80%
126
63
42
31.5
25.2
21
18
15.8
12.6
10.5
9
7.9
7
6.3
5.3
4.5
3.9
3.5
3.2

90%
142
70.9
47.3
35.5
28.4
23.6
20.3
17.7
174.2
11.8
10.1
8.9
7.9
7.1
5.9
5.1
4.4
3.9
3.6

100%
158
78.8
52.5
39.4
31.5
26.3
22.5
19.7
15.7
13.1
11.2
9.8
8.8
7.9
6.6
5.6
4.9
4.4
3.9

WET FILM THICKNESS = DRY FILM THICKNESS X 100

% Volume Solids

Theoretical Coverage Sq.Meter/Litre

Thickness
in Mils
(Dry)
0.25
0.5
0.75
1
1.25
1.5
1.75
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
6
7
8
9
10

% Volume Solids
10%
15.8
7.9
5.3
3.9
3.2
2.6
2.3
2
1.6
1.3
1.1
1
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.4

15%
23.6
11.8
7.9
5.9
4.7
3.9
3.4
3
2.4
2
1.7
1.5
1.3
1.2
1
0.8
0.7
0.7
0.6

20%
31.5
15.8
10.5
7.9
6.3
5.3
4.5
3.9
3.1
2.6
2.2
2
1.8
1.6
1.3
1.1
1
0.9
0.8

25%
39.4
19.7
13.1
9.8
7.9
6.6
5.6
4.9
3.9
3.3
2.8
2.5
2.2
2
1.6
1.4
1.2
1.1
1

30%
47.3
23.4
15.8
11.8
9.5
7.9
6.8
5.9
4.7
3.9
3.4
3
2.6
2.4
2
1.7
1.5
1.3
1.2

35%
55.1
27.6
18.4
13.8
11
9.2
7.9
6.9
5.5
4.6
3.9
3.4
3.1
2.8
2.3
2
1.7
1.5
1.4

40%
63
31.5
21
15.8
12.6
10.5
9
7.9
6.3
5.3
4.5
3.9
3.5
3.1
2.6
2.2
2
1.8
1.6

45%
70.9
35.5
23.6
17.7
14.2
11.8
10.1
8.9
7.1
5.9
5.1
4.4
3.9
3.5
3
2.5
2.2
2
1.8

50%
78.8
39.4
26.3
19.7
15.8
13.1
11.3
9.8
7.9
6.6
5.6
4.9
4.4
3.9
3.3
2.8
2.5
2.2
2

55%
86.7
43.3
28.9
21.7
17.3
14.4
12.4
10.8
8.7
7.2
6.2
5.4
4.8
4.3
3.6
3.1
2.7
2.4
2.2