Furniture refinishing calculator
Refinishing furniture takes less paint than people expect — a quart usually does a dresser, a pint does a chair. Tally the pieces below for an exact estimate. Use semi-gloss or satin for durability; chalk paint for distressed / matte finishes.
Estimates round up to the nearest quart and are based on Kompozit's published coverage. Buy slightly more for touch-ups and color changes.
Per-piece areas
- Chair: ~10 sq ft (legs, seat, back, all sides)
- Side / end table: ~14 sq ft
- Dining / coffee table: ~30 sq ft
- Dresser / nightstand: ~25 sq ft (top, sides, drawer fronts)
- Bookcase: ~40 sq ft (interior shelves + outside)
- Bedframe: ~50 sq ft
Chalk vs. acrylic vs. milk
Chalk paint sticks to almost anything without primer, dries to a matte finish, and is the easiest to distress with sandpaper. Downside: it must be sealed with wax or polyacrylic for durability. Acrylic semi-gloss is more durable straight out of the can but needs proper sanding and bonding primer on glossy surfaces. Milk paint is finicky but produces beautiful period-correct finishes for antique pieces.
Sand or skip?
Chalk paint can skip the sanding step (the manufacturer\'s big sales pitch). Acrylic cannot — sand to scuff the existing finish, prime, then paint. Skipping prep is the most common reason DIY furniture paint chips off in months.