A typical 2 BHK flat of 850 to 1,100 sq ft built-up area needs about 27 to 43 litres of interior emulsion for two coats on the walls, plus 18 to 30 litres of primer for one coat. Add 10 to 16 litres of emulsion if the ceilings are being painted too, and 2 to 5 litres of enamel or wood finish if doors, grills and frames are included.
The numbers at a glance
| What you are painting | Area to paint | Paint needed | A practical buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walls only | 1,870 to 2,420 sq ft | 26.5 to 42.5 L emulsion | 2 x 20 L plus 1 L tins, or 3 x 10 L + 1 x 4 L for products sold in 10 L packs |
| Ceilings | 680 to 880 sq ft | 10 to 15.5 L emulsion, usually white | 1 x 10 L + 1 x 4 L |
| Walls and ceilings together | 2,550 to 3,300 sq ft | 36.5 to 58 L emulsion | 2 to 3 x 20 L |
| Primer, one coat on sound, previously painted walls | 1,870 to 2,420 sq ft | 18 to 30 L primer | 1 x 20 L + 1 x 10 L |
| Primer, two coats on fresh or repaired walls | 1,870 to 2,420 sq ft | 36 to 60 L primer | 2 to 3 x 20 L |
| Doors, grills, window frames | varies | 2 to 5 L enamel or wood finish | 1 x 4 L, or 1 L tins per colour |
All figures include 5 percent for wastage and are rounded up to the nearest half litre. The lower end of each range is a smaller flat painted with a high-coverage emulsion; the upper end is a larger flat with a standard one.
How the figures are worked out
Paint quantity is a three-step calculation.
- Find the wall area. In an Indian flat the paintable wall area comes to about 2.2 times the built-up area once doors, windows, wardrobes and the tiled parts of the kitchen and bathrooms are left out. If you only know the carpet area, use 2.8 times carpet area. Ceilings add about 0.8 times the built-up area. A 2 BHK of 850 to 1,100 sq ft therefore has roughly 1,870 to 2,420 sq ft of wall.
- Multiply by the coats and divide by the coverage per coat. MRF data sheets state coverage per litre per coat: RUCA Luxury Emulsion covers 140 to 150 sq ft, AquaFresh Interior 130 to 150, Altura 2-in-1 Acrylic Emulsion 120 to 140 and Visa 100 to 120. Two coats are recommended for every emulsion; a dark shade over a light wall may need a third.
- Add 5 percent for wastage and round up to the pack sizes the product comes in.
Worked example. A 1,000 sq ft 2 BHK has about 2,200 sq ft of wall. Two coats at 135 sq ft per litre is 2,200 x 2 / 135 = 32.6 litres, about 34.5 litres with wastage. One coat of primer at 85 to 110 sq ft per litre, depending on the primer, is 21 to 27.5 litres.
By MRF product
| Product | Coverage per litre per coat | Emulsion needed | Finish, warranty, packs |
|---|---|---|---|
| RUCA Luxury Emulsion | 140 to 150 sq ft | 26.5 to 36.5 L | High sheen; 10-year performance warranty; 1 L, 4 L and 10 L packs |
| AquaFresh Interior, water-based polyurethane | 130 to 150 sq ft | 26.5 to 39.5 L | High sheen; 8-year warranty |
| Altura 2-in-1 Acrylic Emulsion, paint and primer in one | 120 to 140 sq ft | 28.5 to 42.5 L | Sheen; 6-year warranty; 1 L, 4 L, 10 L and 20 L packs |
| Visa Emulsion and Visa Shine | 100 to 120 sq ft | 33 to 51 L | Matt or high sheen; 4-year warranty |
Higher-coverage paints need fewer litres, which narrows the cost gap between ranges more than the per-litre price suggests. Altura 2-in-1 is a paint and primer in one: on sound, previously painted walls it can go on without a separate primer, which saves the primer litres above. Fresh or repaired walls still need primer and putty.
Other home sizes
| Home | Typical built-up area | Walls only | Walls and ceilings | Primer, one coat on the walls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 BHK | 500 to 700 sq ft | 15.5 to 27 L | 21.5 to 37 L | 10.5 to 19.5 L |
| 2 BHK | 850 to 1,100 sq ft | 26.5 to 42.5 L | 36.5 to 58 L | 18 to 30 L |
| 3 BHK | 1,200 to 1,650 sq ft | 37 to 64 L | 50.5 to 87.5 L | 25.5 to 45 L |
| 4 BHK | 1,800 to 2,500 sq ft | 55.5 to 96.5 L | 76 to 132 L | 38 to 68 L |
| Any flat, per 1,000 sq ft built-up | 1,000 sq ft | 31 to 38.5 L | 42.5 to 53 L | 21 to 27.5 L |
Independent houses add the exterior: about 1.3 times the built-up area in exterior wall, painted with an exterior emulsion that covers 55 to 75 sq ft per litre per coat. A 2,000 sq ft house has roughly 2,600 sq ft of exterior wall and needs about 73 to 84 litres of AquaFresh Exterior for two coats. Our guide to paint for monsoon and coastal homes covers the exterior system.
What changes the answer
- Fresh plaster or repaired walls need two coats of primer with putty between them, and new plaster must cure for 30 days before painting. Budget the higher primer figure.
- Dark or bright shades over light walls often need a third coat. Add half as much again for those rooms.
- Textured or porous walls absorb more, so coverage drops towards the lower end of the data-sheet range.
- Carpet versus built-up area. Builders quote built-up or super built-up area. If you were told carpet area, the wall area is about 2.8 times that figure, not 2.2.
- Ceilings are often left alone if they are clean, which takes 10 to 16 litres off a 2 BHK.
- Doors, windows, grills and frames take an enamel or wood finish, not emulsion: usually 2 to 5 litres for a flat.
What to buy for a typical 2 BHK
- Primer: 20 to 30 litres of AquaFresh PU Wall Primer or Altura 2-in-1 Primer for one coat on sound walls. Double it for fresh walls.
- Wall paint: 30 to 40 litres of the chosen emulsion, as 20 L or 10 L packs plus one or two 1 L tins per shade for touch-ups.
- Ceiling paint: 10 to 16 litres of the same emulsion in white, if ceilings are included.
- Putty and crack filler as the painter finds necessary after inspecting the walls.
- Enamel or wood finish: 2 to 5 litres for doors, grills and frames.
Buy each shade from one batch where you can, keep a sealed 1 L tin of each for touch-ups, and have the dealer check the quantities against the measured walls. MRF does not publish prices; multiply the litres above by your dealer’s rate to get the material cost.
Frequently asked questions
How many litres of paint are needed for 1,000 sq ft?
For a 1,000 sq ft flat: 31 to 38.5 litres of emulsion for two coats on the walls, 42.5 to 53 litres if ceilings are included, plus 21 to 27.5 litres of primer for one coat.
Do I need primer on already painted walls?
One coat of primer on sound, previously painted walls gives the topcoat an even base and better coverage. Fresh, patched or chalky walls need two coats with putty between them. Altura 2-in-1 Acrylic Emulsion is a paint and primer in one and can skip separate primer on most sound surfaces.
How many coats of emulsion are needed?
Two coats for every MRF emulsion, applied 3 to 5 hours apart. Dark shades over a light wall may need a third.
How do I estimate from carpet area?
Multiply carpet area by 2.8 for the paintable wall area and by 1.0 for the ceilings. A flat with 750 sq ft of carpet area has about 2,100 sq ft of wall.
How much will the paint cost?
MRF does not publish prices; authorised dealers quote them. Multiply the litres above by your dealer’s per-litre rate for primer and emulsion. Painters usually quote labour per square foot of wall separately.
How long does painting a 2 BHK take?
Usually three to five days for a painter’s team on previously painted walls: a day for cleaning, sanding and primer, two coats of emulsion 3 to 5 hours apart with light sanding between, and a final day for doors and touch-ups. Fresh plaster adds the 30-day curing wait before work starts.
Sources
- RUCA Luxury Emulsion technical data sheet
- AquaFresh Interior technical data sheet
- Altura 2-in-1 Acrylic Emulsion technical data sheet
- Visa Emulsion technical data sheet
- AquaFresh PU Wall Primer technical data sheet
Next step: find an MRF dealer near you, order a free shade sample, or get connected to a painter.
