> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.paintscout.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.paintscout.com/support/customization/pricing-and-rates/coverage-rates.md).

# Coverage Rates

A coverage rate in PaintScout defines how much surface area a paint product covers per unit, measured in sqft/gallon, lnft/gallon, or gallons/item. Setting coverage rates lets PaintScout automatically calculate material quantities on estimates.

## What is a coverage rate?

The coverage rate refers to the amount of surface area that a product can effectively cover. It's found in sqft/gallon, lnft/gallon or gallons/item.

Determining your coverage rate will allow PaintScout to automatically calculate the number of gallons needed for your work, depending on the room's dimensions and the surface's number of coats.

***

## How do coverage rates work for walls, trim, and ceilings?

When considering coverage rates for walls, trim and ceilings, it's like asking: "How many square feet or linear feet can I cover with one coat, using just one can of paint?"

You should be able to find the coverage rate for your product on the paint can or on the manufacturer's website. To calculate the amount of paint you'll need, you'll first have to calculate the square footage of the area you need to paint, and then divide this number by the paint can's coverage rate.

As an example, let's say you have a room that is 12ft x 15ft x 8ft. How many gallons of paint are needed for one coat?

| Surface    | Dimensions | Coverage Rate | Gallons |
| ---------- | ---------- | ------------- | ------- |
| Walls      | 432 sqft   | 400 sqft/gal  | 1.08    |
| Baseboards | 54 lnft    | 650 lnft/gal  | 0.17    |
| Ceilings   | 180 sqft   | 400 sqft/gal  | 0.45    |

***

## How do coverage rates work for items?

In PaintScout, the coverage rate for items such as doors, windows, etc. is measured in gallons per item.

This requires estimating how much product from a gallon of paint would be used for a single item, and so the question becomes: "How many *items* can I paint with one coat, using just one can of paint?"

Let's break it down using standard window frames as an example. With 1 can of paint, you estimate that you can paint 20 window frames (with 1 coat of paint), and so the calculation is:

**1 / 20 = 0.05 gal/item**

Once you understand your coverage rate for items, you can calculate the total number of gallons of paint needed for your project using this formula:

**# items x Coverage rate x # coats**

So, let's say you are painting 20 window frames with 2 coats, how many gallons of paint will you need?

**20 window frames x 0.05 coverage rate x 2 coats = 2 gallons of paint**

***

## How do I add coverage rates to my products in PaintScout?

1\. Click the person icon in the top right of your page and go to your **Account Settings** > **Products**.

2\. To add your coverage rates, simply create or edit the product in question.

3\. Once this dialog is open, you're able to add your **surface area coverage rate** and/or your **item-based coverage rate**:

<figure><img src="/files/qWpDezqpQmd6vbtjYa0o" alt="Screenshot showing the product edit dialog with surface area coverage rate and item-based coverage rate fields"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

***

## Important notes

* When entering your coverage rates, input them for one coat of paint. PaintScout considers the number of coats when calculating the total gallons needed on an estimate.
* The materials calculated on the work order may slightly exceed your actual requirements since it doesn't initially factor in spaces like doors and windows. This aligns with the [PCA rules of measurement](https://www.pcapainted.org/blog/pcas-industry-standards-on-estimating/).
* A helpful guideline is to order slightly less product than calculated on the work order (around 60-70%). It's always more convenient to buy additional paint if needed rather than ending up with excess!

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## Related articles

<table data-card-size="large" data-view="cards"><thead><tr><th></th><th></th><th data-hidden data-card-target data-type="content-ref"></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Production Rate Descriptions</strong></td><td>Add default descriptions for area view, substrate view, and crew notes to production rates that display on estimates and work orders.</td><td><a href="/pages/C53DhjFHmXCX58RRC8af">/pages/C53DhjFHmXCX58RRC8af</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Advanced Production Rate Options</strong></td><td>Customize production rates with advanced options like hide from customer, show coats, show price, and custom hourly rates per substrate.</td><td><a href="/pages/jGoS6JPdvYeoDsIRNNon">/pages/jGoS6JPdvYeoDsIRNNon</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Adding Products</strong></td><td>Add paint products to your library with labels, coverage rates for sqft/lnft/items, pricing per gallon, and custom unit types.</td><td><a href="/pages/GEAHL9fAMtp8RugpZoPI">/pages/GEAHL9fAMtp8RugpZoPI</a></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Assign a Product to a Rate</strong></td><td>Link default products to production rates so material calculations happen automatically when adding surfaces to estimates.</td><td><a href="/pages/HEtH89MYKcgEr7Pnz82a">/pages/HEtH89MYKcgEr7Pnz82a</a></td></tr></tbody></table>


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