Dulux Paint Coverage by Tin Size
Last reviewed: 27 September 2026
Dulux publishes coverage as "up to X m² per litre" for each product, and it ranges from 14 m²/L for wall emulsion up to 16 m²/L for quick-dry woodwork paint. Here's every major Dulux product's published rate, converted into the actual area you'll get from a 0.75L, 2.5L or 5L tin.
How Much Does 0.75L of Paint Cover?
A 0.75L (750ml) tin covers around 12 m² with one coat, or roughly 6 m² with two coats, for Dulux Quick Dry Satinwood, Quick Dry Gloss or Weathershield Quick Dry Undercoat (all published at up to 16 m²/L). 0.75L isn't a standard size for Matt or Silk wall emulsion, which starts at 2.5L - if you've searched for this while painting a door, window frame or skirting board, you're almost certainly holding the right product already.
How Much Does 2.5L of Paint Cover?
A 2.5L tin of Dulux Matt or Silk emulsion covers around 35 m² with one coat, or roughly 17.5 m² with two coats, based on Dulux's published 14 m²/L rate. Using our calculator's real-world basis of 12 m²/L instead, two coats covers around 15 m² - enough for one average wall; for a full room you'll normally need a 5L tin.
How Much Does 5L of Paint Cover?
A 5L tin of Dulux Matt or Silk emulsion covers around 70 m² with one coat, or roughly 35 m² with two coats, based on Dulux's published rate. Using our calculator's real-world basis of 12 m²/L, two coats covers around 30 m² - enough for a standard bedroom, but tight for a larger living room (30-35 m² of wall area), which usually needs a 5L plus a small top-up.
Coverage rate by product
| Product | Used for | Tin sizes sold | Published coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dulux Quick Dry Satinwood | Interior woodwork | 750ml, 1.25L, 2.5L | Up to 16 m²/L |
| Dulux Quick Dry Gloss | Interior woodwork | 750ml, 2.5L | Up to 16 m²/L |
| Dulux Weathershield Quick Dry Undercoat | Exterior woodwork | 750ml, 2.5L | Up to 16 m²/L |
| Dulux Weathershield All Weather Protection Smooth Masonry | Exterior walls | 250ml, 2.5L, 5L, 7.5L, 10L | Up to 15 m²/L |
| Dulux Matt | Interior walls & ceilings | 2.5L, 3L, 5L, 6L, 7L, 7.5L, 10L | Up to 14 m²/L |
| Dulux Silk | Interior walls & ceilings | 2.5L, 3L, 5L, 6L, 7.5L, 10L | Up to 14 m²/L |
Source: Dulux's published technical data sheets at dulux.co.uk, checked August 2026. This is independent reference data, not an official Dulux calculator - always confirm against the tin or data sheet for the batch you buy.
Area covered by tin size
Taking each product's published rate and applying it to the common UK tin sizes:
| Product | 0.75L (1 coat / 2 coats) | 2.5L (1 coat / 2 coats) | 5L (1 coat / 2 coats) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dulux Quick Dry Satinwood | 12 m² / 6 m² | 40 m² / 20 m² | - |
| Dulux Quick Dry Gloss | 12 m² / 6 m² | 40 m² / 20 m² | - |
| Dulux Weathershield Quick Dry Undercoat | 12 m² / 6 m² | 40 m² / 20 m² | - |
| Dulux Weathershield All Weather Protection Smooth Masonry | - | 37.5 m² / 18.8 m² | 75 m² / 37.5 m² |
| Dulux Matt | - | 35 m² / 17.5 m² | 70 m² / 35 m² |
| Dulux Silk | - | 35 m² / 17.5 m² | 70 m² / 35 m² |
Not every product is sold in every size listed - see the sizes column in the table above. Figures shown here are calculated from the published m²/L rate for comparison.
Work out exactly what you need
Enter your room or wall dimensions, surface type and number of coats to get an exact tin count in UK sizes.
Open the Paint Calculator →Frequently Asked Questions
How many square metres does a 0.75L tin of paint cover?
Around 12 m² with one coat for Dulux Quick Dry Satinwood, Quick Dry Gloss or Weathershield Quick Dry Undercoat (all published at up to 16 m²/L), or around 10.5 m² for Dulux Matt or Silk emulsion (14 m²/L). See the 0.75L column in the table above for every product.
Will one 0.75L tin be enough for a door?
For a standard UK internal door and frame (around 4-5 m² combined), one 750ml tin of satinwood or gloss is usually enough for two coats, with a little left for touch-ups.
How many square metres does a 2.5L tin of paint cover?
For Dulux Matt or Silk wall emulsion, a 2.5L tin covers around 35 m² with one coat or 17.5 m² with the recommended two coats, based on Dulux's published rate of up to 14 m² per litre.
Is 2.5L enough for one wall or a whole room?
2.5L, with two coats, is usually enough for one average wall (around 15 m² of wall area) at our calculator's real-world basis of 12 m²/L. For a full standard UK room (around 30-35 m² of wall area), you'll normally need a 5L tin. Use the paint calculator for an exact figure based on your room's dimensions.
How many square metres does a 5L tin of paint cover?
For Dulux Matt or Silk wall emulsion, a 5L tin covers around 70 m² with one coat or 35 m² with the recommended two coats, based on Dulux's published rate of up to 14 m² per litre.
Is 5L enough to paint a room?
Usually yes for a standard bedroom (up to about 28-30 m² of wall area) at two coats, using our calculator's real-world basis of 12 m²/L. A larger living room (around 33 m²) is tight for a single 5L tin and usually needs a small top-up. See the paint calculator's room-size table for typical figures by room.
Is it cheaper to buy 5L instead of two 2.5L tins?
Almost always. Paint is typically priced with a volume discount, so a single 5L tin usually works out cheaper per litre than two 2.5L tins of the same product. Buy 5L if you know you need more than 2.5L worth.
Why does Dulux coverage vary by product?
Coverage depends on the paint's formulation - solid content, sheen level and how the resin spreads. Quick-dry satinwood and gloss are formulated to spread further per litre than emulsion, so they cover up to 16 m² per litre against emulsion's 14 m² per litre.
Are these figures for one coat or two?
The m²/L figures Dulux publishes are per coat. Dulux recommends two coats for every product in this table, so halve the one-coat figure for a realistic total tin coverage.
Do other brands cover the same as Dulux?
Roughly, but not exactly. Most UK trade emulsion brands cover in the 10-15 m² per litre range. Always check the tin or technical data sheet for the specific product you're using rather than assuming Dulux's figures apply.