Stain Coverage Calculator

Work out stain coverage instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Stain Coverage Calculator

Stain per coat is the area divided by the stated coverage per litre, multiplied by the number of coats, then rounded up to whole tins. Bare and end-grain timber can absorb twice the stated rate on the first coat, so quoted coverage figures are best treated as the second coat value.

Formula

Volume needed

litres = area / coverage per litre x coats

Worked example

With the default values below, Stain Coverage Calculator returns Stain needed of 2.000. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Area to stainminimum 0.01 m2: 12 m2
Coverage per litreminimum 0.01 m2/L: 12 m2/L
Number of coatsminimum 1: 2
Tin sizeminimum 0.01 L: 1 L

Results

Stain needed: 2.000 L
Stain per coat: 1.000 L
Tins to buy: 2
Stain left over: 0.000 L

Step by step

1Values used
2Volume needed
3Stain needed= 2.000 L
4Stain per coat= 1.000 L
5Tins to buy= 2
6Stain left over= 0.000 L

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax, fees or charges or compounding frequency into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 3 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the Stain Coverage figure worked out?

litres = area / coverage per litre x coats. Stain per coat is the area divided by the stated coverage per litre, multiplied by the number of coats, then rounded up to whole tins.

Why does this matter?

Bare and end-grain timber can absorb twice the stated rate on the first coat, so quoted coverage figures are best treated as the second coat value.

What do I need to enter?

Enter area to stain, coverage per litre, number of coats, tin size. The defaults shown are a realistic worked example — swap in your own figures to get a result you can use.