Free calculator
How much car paint do I need?
Pick the damage and the paint type. We list exactly what to buy, what it costs, and what a SMART repairer or bodyshop would charge instead.
1. What are you fixing?
2. How big is it?
3. What kind of paint?
Do it yourself
£19–26
- Touch-up pen mixed to your paint code£12–16
- Clear lacquer pen£7–10
Time: 30 minutes, plus drying between coats
Pay a pro
£60–120
Mobile chip repair
- Metallics need lacquer over the colour, or the repair looks dull.
Typical UK prices, September 2026. Estimates only — local prices and the damage itself vary.
First, get your paint code
Every paint is mixed to a code. Enter your registration or VIN — free, no sign-up.
How we estimate
| Assumption | Value |
|---|---|
| 400 ml aerosol, solid colour, full coverage | 0.5 m² |
| 400 ml aerosol, metallic (more coats) | 0.4 m² |
| 400 ml lacquer, two coats | 0.6 m² |
| Front bumper, typical area | 1 m² |
| Rear bumper, typical area | 1 m² |
| Bonnet, typical area | 1.4 m² |
| Door, typical area | 0.9 m² |
| Front wing, typical area | 0.6 m² |
| Rear quarter panel, typical area | 0.9 m² |
| Boot lid / tailgate, typical area | 1.1 m² |
| Roof, typical area | 1.8 m² |
Real panels vary with the car. Buy one can more than the minimum for bigger jobs — running out halfway through a coat is worse than a spare can.
Paint calculator — questions
How much paint do I need for a bumper?
About 2 aerosols of colour for a solid paint (3 for a metallic) and 2 of lacquer, plus primer where it’s bare.
How much paint do I need for a door?
About 2 aerosols of colour for a solid paint (3 for a metallic) and 2 of lacquer.
How much paint does a whole car need?
Around 3–4 litres of colour and a similar amount of lacquer through a spray gun for an average car. Aerosols aren’t practical for a full respray.
How many chips will one touch-up pen do?
Dozens. A 12 ml pen easily covers 30–40 small stone chips; you’ll usually run out of patience before paint.
Is DIY cheaper than SMART repair?
Nearly always in money — a scuff costs £41–64 in materials against £100–250 for SMART. A technician’s blend is invisible, though; a first DIY spray job often isn’t.