Effect Paint Consumption: How Many m² Does It Cover? Table by Product

Short answer: Effect paint consumption varies widely from product to product: according to the technical data on silkcoat.com, the coverage of Silkcoat effect paints ranges from 1-1.5 m² for thick-textured products such as Travertino and Betoncoat to 12-18 m² for thin-coat products such as Cracos. In this article we have gathered the consumption, packaging, number of coats and drying time of Silkcoat's 17 effect paints in a single table, and we explain with examples how to calculate the quantity you need.

What is effect paint consumption?

Effect paint consumption is the value that shows how many square metres of wall a unit of effect paint (1 litre or 1 kilogram) can cover, or how many grams of product go onto 1 m² of wall. Silkcoat product pages give this value in two ways: m²/lt or m²/kg (the area one unit covers) and g/m² (the amount of product per square metre). The higher the first value, the less product you use; the higher the second value, the more product goes onto each square metre.

With effect paints, consumption varies over a much wider range than with ordinary flat emulsion paints. The reason is that effect paints are applied with different techniques: products that create a marble or travertine look are laid on in thick coats with a trowel, while metallic and pearlescent products are applied in thinner coats. So there is no single answer to the question "how many m² does effect paint cover?"; the right answer is in the technical data of the product you choose.

How many m² do Silkcoat effect paints cover?

The table below shows the consumption, packaging, coat and drying values of Silkcoat effect paints, based on the 17 product pages on silkcoat.com. Every figure in the table is taken from the technical data section of the product pages; no value that is not clearly stated on a page has been added to the table.

Product	Consumption (m²)	Consumption (g/m²)	Packaging	Coats / topcoat	Full drying
Marmarito	4.5-5.5 m²/kg	250-300	12 Kg, 4 Kg	2 coats, at least 4 hours between coats	24 hours
Marmarino Plus	4.5-5.5 m²/kg	250-300	12 Kg, 4 Kg	2 coats, at least 4 hours between coats	24 hours
Travertino	1-1.5 m²/lt	1500-2500	25 Kg, 15 Kg	2 coats + Arteco topcoat	1 day (hard dry)
Betoncoat	1-1.5 m²/kg	1500-2500	15 Lt, 7.5 Lt, 2.5 Lt	Multi-stage, Arteco topcoat	1 day
Pearl	2-3 m²/kg (single coat)	—	10 Kg, 3 Kg, 1 Kg	Single coat	24 hours
Pearly	2-3 m²/kg (single coat)	—	10 Kg, 3 Kg, 1 Kg	Single coat	24 hours
Palace	3-4 m²/lt	250-350	10 Kg, 3 Kg	Silkomatt topcoat	24 hours
Cashmere	3.5-4 m²/lt	250-350	10 Kg, 3 Kg	2 coats + Silkomatt topcoat	24 hours
Velvetto	3.5-4 m²/lt	250-350	10 Kg, 3 Kg	2 coats, 4-6 hours between coats	24 hours
Velvetto Soft	3.5-4 m²/lt	250-350	10 Kg, 3 Kg	Silkomatt topcoat	24 hours
Decortivo	4-5 m²/lt	200-250	10 Kg, 3 Kg, 1 Kg	Single coat	5-6 hours
Arteco	5-7 m²/kg	70-110	10 Kg, 3 Kg, 1 Kg	2 coats, at least 2 hours between coats	24 hours (hard dry)
Magico	6-8 m²/lt	125-170	10 Kg, 3 Kg, 1 Kg	—	24 hours
Metalico	6-8 m²/lt	250-350	10 Kg, 3 Kg	2 coats, at least 2 hours between coats	24 hours
Metalico Soft	10-16 m²/lt	180-250	10 Kg, 3 Kg	2 coats + Silkomatt topcoat	24 hours
Cracos	12-18 m²/lt	70-110	3 Kg, 1 Kg	Cracos + Silkobase topcoat	6 hours
Viabella	Not clearly legible on the page	—	1 Lt, 0.5 Lt, 0.25 Lt	2 coats, at least 2 hours between coats	24 hours

Cells marked "—" in the table mean that the value is not given separately on the product page. Because the consumption line for Viabella is not legible on its product page, we have not added a figure to the table; you can ask us for the current consumption value of Viabella. For Marmarito and Marmarino Plus, the page gives both an m²/kg and a g/m² value; we have listed both in the table exactly as they appear on the page.

Which effect paints use less, and which use more?

According to silkcoat.com values, the highest consumption is found with Travertino and Betoncoat (1500-2500 g/m²) and the lowest with Arteco and Cracos (70-110 g/m²). Dividing the products into three groups by consumption makes budget and material planning easier:

Group	Products	Consumption range (silkcoat.com)	Texture type
High consumption	Travertino, Betoncoat	1-1.5 m² (1500-2500 g/m²)	Thick, trowel-applied texture
Medium consumption	Marmarito, Marmarino Plus, Pearl, Pearly, Palace, Cashmere, Velvetto, Velvetto Soft, Decortivo	2-5.5 m²	Marble, pearl, velvet and granular looks
Low consumption	Arteco, Magico, Metalico, Metalico Soft, Cracos	5-18 m²	Thin-coat, metallic or topcoat products

Thick-textured products use more material per square metre because they recreate the look of real materials such as travertine or concrete. Metallic and thin-coat products, on the other hand, cover a larger area with the same amount. For applying marble-look products, see our article how to apply marble effect paint; for metallic products, see our Metalico Soft guide.

How do you calculate how much effect paint you need?

The amount of effect paint you need is found by dividing the area to be painted by the product's coverage value and taking the number of coats into account. Using the values on Silkcoat product pages, the calculation works like this:

1. Measure the area: Multiply the width of the wall by its height and subtract door and window openings.
2. Find the product's value: Take the product's m²/lt, m²/kg or g/m² value from the table above.
3. Do the calculation: If you are using the g/m² value, multiply the area by it; if you are using the m²/kg or m²/lt value, divide the area by it.
4. Check the number of coats: Allow extra for the coat sequence given on the product page and for the topcoat product (Silkomatt, Arteco or Silkobase).
5. Choose the packaging: Pick the combination of packs that covers the quantity you calculated, and make sure you buy from the same batch number.

Example: if Velvetto is used on a 20 m² feature wall, the silkcoat.com value of 250-350 g/m² means you need roughly 5-7 kg of product, which a single 10 Kg tub covers. If Travertino is used on the same 20 m² wall, the value of 1500-2500 g/m² means you need roughly 30-50 kg of product, so you should plan for two 25 Kg tubs. These calculations are approximate; actual consumption depends on the substrate and the application technique.

What affects effect paint consumption?

Effect paint consumption is mainly affected by the condition of the substrate, the application tool, the coat thickness and the applicator's technique. Silkcoat product pages give consumption values as a range; the following factors decide whether you end up closer to the lower or the upper end of that range:

• Substrate absorbency: An unprimed or absorbent substrate soaks up the product and increases consumption. That is why surface preparation and priming matter.
• Surface roughness: An uneven, cracked or rough surface needs more product. The surface should first be levelled with filler.
• Application tool: A spatula, glass trowel, plastic trowel and brush each leave a coat of different thickness; using the tool specified on the product page keeps consumption within the range.
• Number of coats: For products applied in two coats, the second coat must also be included in the calculation. The topcoat product (Silkomatt, Arteco, Silkobase) is a separate material.
• Thinning: Most Silkcoat effect paints are ready to use. For products whose page states a thinning ratio (for example, a maximum of 10% for Metalico), that ratio should not be exceeded.
• Applicator experience: Effect paints are a technical application; an experienced applicator spreads the material more evenly.

For the meaning of texture and application terms, take a look at our effect paint terms glossary.

Do similar-looking products have different consumption?

Yes: some products that create a similar look have the same consumption, while others differ. According to silkcoat.com values, Pearl and Pearly have the same single-coat consumption (2-3 m²/kg), and Velvetto and Velvetto Soft also have the same consumption (3.5-4 m²/lt). Between Metalico and Metalico Soft, however, there is a clear difference:

Comparison	Product 1	Product 2
Pearl / Pearly	Pearl: 2-3 m²/kg	Pearly: 2-3 m²/kg
Velvetto / Velvetto Soft	Velvetto: 3.5-4 m²/lt	Velvetto Soft: 3.5-4 m²/lt
Metalico / Metalico Soft	Metalico: 6-8 m²/lt	Metalico Soft: 10-16 m²/lt
Marmarito / Marmarino Plus	Marmarito: 4.5-5.5 m²/kg	Marmarino Plus: 4.5-5.5 m²/kg

Between products with the same consumption, the choice comes down to the look and the topcoat system. We explain the difference between Pearl and Pearly in our article on pearl-effect wall paint, and the texture of Velvetto in our velvet effect paint guide.

Conclusion

• Effect paint consumption shows the area an effect paint covers per 1 litre or 1 kilogram, or the amount of product needed per 1 m².
• According to silkcoat.com values, the coverage of Silkcoat effect paints ranges from 1-1.5 m² for Travertino and Betoncoat to 12-18 m² for Cracos.
• The quantity you need is calculated by combining the area, the product's coverage value, the number of coats and the topcoat product.
• Proper surface preparation, the right application tool and following the instructions on the product page keep consumption within the range. To work out the right product and quantity for your project together, you can get in touch with us; you can browse all products on the effect paints page.