CoatQuota is an independent site that works out how much paint a job takes, coat by coat.
It exists because the answers to these questions are mostly published somewhere already — in code tables, manufacturer datasheets and industry standards — and almost none of it is available in a form you can actually use while standing in a merchant's yard.
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 constant is a convention rather than a measurement, we say so.
Spread rate is a property of the surface, not the paint…
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, working on this alongside other things. There is no editorial team and we are not going to invent one — what should earn your trust is that every figure on the site names the standard it came from, so you can check it yourself.
Calculations are written as code and tested against every combination they can produce, rather than typed into a page by hand. When we get something wrong we correct it and leave a note.
How it is paid for
CoatQuota is free to read and funded by display advertising. There are no sponsored placements and no affiliate links on the site; nothing here changes based on who sells the product.
Getting in touch
Corrections and questions go to [email protected]. Corrections are the most useful thing you can send — see the editorial policy for how we handle them.