CoatQuota is an independent site that works out how much paint a job takes, coat by coat.
It exists because the coverage figure on a paint tin is measured on smooth sealed board, and almost nobody paints smooth sealed board — so the number that matters is the one for the wall actually in front of you.
Where the numbers come from
- published spread rates by surface type rather than by brand
- the roughly 15% increase in spread rate on coats after the first, once the surface is sealed
Every page states the source and the assumptions behind its figures, because a number without its assumptions is not much use. Where a spread rate is a manufacturer claim rather than a measured result, the page marks it as a claim.
The wall sets the spread rate
Spread rate is a property of the surface, not the paint. The "400 square feet per gallon" on a tin is measured on smooth primed drywall; stucco can halve it. Comparing products on the label figure compares them on a wall you do not have.
What this site does not do
We do not cover lead paint, and we do not give removal or encapsulation guidance. Housing built before 1978 is an EPA RRP matter and belongs with a certified contractor.
Who runs it
One person, decorating on weekends and doing this in between. There is no editorial team. The thing that should earn your trust is that every spread rate names the surface it applies to and the datasheet it came from.
The coverage maths runs as code across every room, surface and coat count on the site, which means an error in a constant is wrong in hundreds of places and gets caught. When a figure is wrong it is corrected, and the change is noted.
How it is paid for
CoatQuota is free to read and funded by display advertising. No sponsorships and no affiliate links; no paint brand has any say in what these pages say about its coverage.
Getting in touch
Corrections and questions go to [email protected]. Corrections are more useful than anything else — see the editorial policy for how they are handled.