Can I calculate paintable area from a plan?

Yes. Measure internal wall perimeters and heights, add ceiling areas, and deduct windows and doors to get the net paintable area, which sets your paint volume and coats.

Will it stop me missing rooms on a big job?

Measuring each room on the plan and totalling in layers means nothing is skipped, which is easy to do when you estimate a large or complex plan by eye.

Do I need to re-measure on site?

You can quote accurately from the plan and only confirm on site once, rather than measuring every job before you can price it.

How do I work out how many litres of paint I need?

Measure the net paintable area in square metres, then divide by the spread rate of your paint and multiply by the number of coats. MetreMate totals the wall and ceiling areas, so the litres are a quick calculation from there.

How do I separate ceilings, walls, and trim for different products?

Put ceilings, walls, and trim on their own layers as you measure, so each surface totals on its own. That lets you price ceiling white, wall paint, and enamel for the trim off their own areas and lengths.

How do I measure trim and skirting for cutting-in?

Use the Perimeter and Measure tools to trace skirting, architraves, and cornice, and MetreMate returns the lineal metres. That gives you the cutting-in run to price the labour and enamel against.

Can I measure just a few rooms instead of the whole plan?

Yes. Measure only the rooms you are painting and MetreMate totals their wall and ceiling areas, so you can work out the paint to supply and quote that part of the job accurately.

MetreMate for Painters

Measure wall and ceiling areas for paint quotes

Calculate paintable areas by measuring walls and ceilings and deducting openings, straight from architectural plans.

Try MetreMate, it's free See how it works

No credit card needed. Free plan to start, works on Windows and Mac.

Under 90s to your first measurement

Why painters choose MetreMate

Painters use MetreMate to estimate a job accurately from the plans and turn wall and ceiling areas into litres and labour. Measure wall perimeters and heights, add ceilings, and deduct the openings for the net area and the right number of coats. Only painting a few rooms? Measure just those rooms to work out the paint to supply. It runs in your browser, so you can quote from the plan instead of re-measuring on site.

See how MetreMate compares

Quote in minutes, not hours

Set the scale once and measure straight off the PDF. Your first measurement takes under 90 seconds, and it's free to start.

Try MetreMate, it's free

No credit card needed

The slow way, or the smart way

What changes when painters measure in MetreMate instead of off a printout.

Without MetreMate

Estimating litres of paint from rough wall guesses
Missing rooms or surfaces on complex plans
Re-measuring on site after quoting

With MetreMate

Area tool for walls, ceilings, and selected rooms
Perimeter tool for wall runs and trims
Count tool for openings
Layers Manager to organise by room
Pencil tool for freehand mark-ups, and to add your initials or signature by hand

500+

Tradies using MetreMate

50,000+

Measurements taken

90s

Average time to measure

Everything you can measure off the plan

Set the scale once, then pull the quantities painters actually quote on.

Lengths & lineal metres

Any distance, edge, or run measured straight off the plan.

Areas in m²

Trace rooms, slabs, and zones for instant square metres.

Perimeters

Boundary and edge runs totalled for you, no maths.

Counts

Tap to count fixtures, fittings, and symbols with live totals.

Step by step

How painters use MetreMate

1
Whole job or selected rooms
Measure every room, or just the rooms you are painting, to work out how much paint to supply.
2
Ceiling area
Measure ceiling areas from floor plans for accurate paint and coverage estimates.
3
Opening deductions
Deduct windows and doors to get net paintable area and the right number of coats.

Read our how-to guides