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Industrial Paint Calculator

400 sq ft · each tile ≈ 50 sf
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2-4 gallons

400 sf × 2 coats; coverage 200-400 sf/gallon (Industrial/DTM coating).

  • Coverage is a range by design: 200-400 sf/gallon (DTM PDS class at spec DFT: verify the product sheet; labeled band).
  • 2 coats assumed; openings are not deducted (pro P10-style measurement, conservative). Color changes and porous surfaces land you at the low end of coverage.
  • Whole-unit round-up: partial cans/bags aren't sold.

Why This One Is Different

Before you order gallons of primer or topcoat for a steel tank, rack, or piece of equipment, know this: industrial and direct-to-metal coatings are priced by dry film thickness, not by a single square-feet-per-gallon number, and that's exactly where generic paint calculators mislead you. This calculator works from the DTM product-data-sheet class, which runs roughly 200-400 sq ft per gallon, but that figure only holds at the mils of dry film the manufacturer specified: spray a thicker coat for corrosion protection and your real coverage drops well below 200 sf/gal on the same can. Wet-film thickness, percent solids by volume, and application method shift the number further, so the one non-negotiable step is checking your product's own data sheet for its stated dry film thickness before you order, not trusting a generic band.

Where the Numbers Come From

  • Coverage isn't a flat number, it only holds at one thickness: industrial/DTM coating coverage runs roughly 200-400 sq ft per gallon at the manufacturer's specified dry film thickness (DFT), and the range collapses if you apply a thicker film than the PDS assumes. Source: DTM PDS class (coverage.ts engine convention)
  • Coverage figures are always tied to a stated dry film thickness in mils; wet-film thickness and percent-solids-by-volume determine how much wet paint is needed to hit that dry target, and both vary by product. Source: coverage.ts engine convention
  • This calculator does not substitute for the specific product's data sheet. DTM coatings span primers, topcoats, and single-coat systems with different DFT targets, and only the manufacturer's PDS states the correct one for your product. Source: coverage.ts engine convention
  • That range translates into a real gallon difference on a typical job: 1,000 sq ft of steel at one coat and the midpoint of the band (300 sf/gal) needs 3.33 gallons, rounding up to 4; at the conservative low end (200 sf/gal) the same area needs 5 gallons. Source: worked example, coverage.ts formula

More Questions

Is DTM paint the same as regular paint coverage?

No, DTM (direct-to-metal) coatings are formulated and specified differently than wall paint, often with a narrower, thickness-dependent coverage range. Always check the specific product's data sheet rather than assuming a generic band.

Related Calculators

Formulas, waste factors, and cost models on this page follow the sourced conventions on our methodology page. Estimates only; verify with your supplier and local code.