A standard 4-inch traffic paint stripe applied at 15 mil wet film thickness covers about 320 linear feet per gallon. Wider lines, thicker films, and stencil work all reduce coverage. The formula is gallons equals line length in feet times line width in inches times wet mil thickness divided by 1,604. That single equation drives every traffic paint estimate from a small repaint to a 50,000 stall lot.
Key Takeaways
- One gallon of paint at 15 mil wet thickness covers 320 linear feet of a 4-inch stripe.
- Yellow stripes, fire-lane red, and stencil work consume more paint per square foot than standard white lines.
- The coverage formula is line length times line width in inches times mil thickness divided by 1,604.
- Order 10 to 15 percent extra paint for waste, line touch-ups, and stencil work.
- New asphalt absorbs the first coat; figure 1.5 times the calculated quantity for the first stripe job after pavement.
How Do You Calculate Paint Coverage?
The coverage equation is simple algebra grounded in physical thickness.
The Core Formula
Gallons needed = (line length in feet) x (line width in inches) x (wet mil thickness) / 1,604The 1,604 constant comes from converting mil thickness and inches into the cubic-inch volume of one gallon. It is rounded slightly for field use.
Worked Example
A 14,000 square foot retail lot with 95 standard 9-foot wide stalls needs:
- 95 stalls x 18 feet of stripe per stall (one full stall plus shared) = 1,710 linear feet
- 1,710 feet x 4 inches x 15 mil / 1,604 = 6.4 gallons of white paint
Add 1 gallon for handicap symbols, fire-lane stencils, and arrow markings. Round up to 8 gallons of white plus 1 gallon of yellow plus 0.5 gallon of blue for ADA stalls.
What MIL Thickness Should You Use?
Mil thickness controls coverage and durability at the same time. Thicker paint covers fewer feet per gallon but lasts longer.
| Wet Mil | Dry Mil (acrylic) | Linear Feet Per Gallon (4-inch line) | Best Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 | 5 | 400 | Light-traffic HOA repaint |
| 15 | 6-8 | 320 | Standard parking lot |
| 18 | 8 | 267 | Retail with fast turnover |
| 20 | 10 | 240 | High-wear lanes, drive-thrus |
| 25 | 12 | 192 | Heavy-truck yards |
How Does Line Width Change Coverage?
Coverage drops in direct proportion to line width.
| Line Width | Linear Feet Per Gallon at 15 Mil Wet |
|---|---|
| 4 inches (standard parking stall) | 320 |
| 6 inches (highway edge line) | 213 |
| 8 inches (truck stall) | 160 |
| 12 inches (stop bar) | 107 |
| 24 inches (crosswalk bar) | 53 |
Why Do Different Colors Have Different Coverage?
Color affects coverage indirectly through pigment volume.
- White paint uses titanium dioxide as the primary pigment. High pigment volume, full coverage at 15 mil wet.
- Yellow paint uses organic yellow pigments at lower pigment volume than white. Most spec sheets recommend 18-20 mil wet to hit equivalent hide. That cuts coverage 20 to 30 percent.
- Blue paint for ADA stalls falls between white and yellow on pigment loading. Plan for 280-300 linear feet per gallon.
- Red fire-lane paint has the heaviest pigment loading and often requires two coats. Plan 200-240 feet per gallon per coat.
A 5,000 square foot HOA lot with all-white stripes might consume 4 gallons; the same lot with yellow no-parking curbs and red fire-lane painting climbs to 7 gallons.
What About Stencils and Symbols?
Stencil work consumes paint by area, not by linear foot.
- Standard 36 by 36 inch ADA wheelchair symbol: 0.05 to 0.08 gallons per stencil at 15 mil wet.
- Fire-lane wording at 18-inch letters: 0.10 to 0.15 gallons per "FIRE LANE NO PARKING" set.
- Drive-thru directional arrows at 8 feet long: 0.06 gallons per arrow.
We restriped a 28,000 square foot Eugene shopping center in February 2026 that needed 22 ADA symbols, 8 fire-lane wordings, and 14 directional arrows. Stencils alone consumed 3 gallons of paint, which represented 22 percent of the total project.
How Much Extra Paint Should You Order?
Plan for waste. The realities of striping equipment, weather, and field conditions force every contractor to order more paint than the math says.
- Waste factor: 5 to 10 percent for lines and gun cleanup.
- Touch-ups: 5 percent for inevitable smears, drips, and missed spots.
- Stencil over-spray: 3 to 5 percent on every stencil pass.
The blanket rule is order 10 to 15 percent over the calculated quantity for an established repaint job. Order 50 percent over for a fresh asphalt first stripe because new pavement absorbs the first coat into the mat surface. The Oregon Department of Transportation's standard specifications for highway construction include guidance on first-coat consumption (see ODOT pavement marking specifications).
Cost Implications of Coverage Rate
Lot owners often ask whether thicker paint is worth the cost. The math depends on traffic count.
Industry Baseline Range
| Lot Type | Paint Spec | Repaint Cycle |
|---|---|---|
| HOA, light traffic | 12 mil wet, waterborne | 2 to 3 years |
| Office, moderate | 15 mil wet, waterborne | 18 months to 2 years |
| Retail, high turnover | 18 mil wet, fast-dry acrylic | 12 to 18 months |
| Drive-thru, fleet yard | 20 mil wet or thermoplastic | 18 months paint, 5 years thermoplastic |
Current Market Reality
Paint material costs have risen roughly 18 percent since 2023 because of titanium dioxide and acrylic resin price pressure. Coverage math now matters more to project totals than it did five years ago. A drop from 320 to 280 linear feet per gallon on a large lot adds two or three gallons to the order, which translates to $90 to $200 of extra material at 2026 pricing.
How Do You Verify Coverage in the Field?
Pull the wet film gauge across the stripe immediately behind the gun. The gauge teeth dip into the wet paint at 5, 10, 15, and 20 mil intervals. The deepest tooth that comes up wet equals the wet film thickness. If the spec calls for 15 mil and the gauge reads 12, slow the gun pass speed.
Bring this calculator to your next bid review. If a striping contractor's gallon order does not match the math within 15 percent, ask why. Get a custom quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many linear feet does one gallon of traffic paint cover? A 4-inch wide stripe at 15 mil wet film thickness covers about 320 linear feet per gallon. Wider lines and thicker films reduce coverage proportionally. A 6-inch line at the same 15 mil drops to 213 linear feet per gallon, and a 24-inch crosswalk bar drops to 53 linear feet.
What is wet mil thickness for traffic paint? Wet mil thickness measures the depth of paint while it is still liquid on the pavement, expressed in thousandths of an inch. A 15 mil wet film cures down to roughly 6 to 8 mil dry depending on solids content. Field crews verify wet mil with a wet film gauge before the paint skins over.
How do I figure paint quantity for a parking lot? Multiply line length in feet by line width in inches by wet mil thickness, then divide by 1,604. Add stencil and symbol consumption separately, then add 10 to 15 percent for waste. New asphalt absorbs the first coat, so plan 1.5 times the calculated quantity for fresh pavement.
Why does yellow paint cover less than white? Yellow pigments load at lower volume than the titanium dioxide used in white. Most spec sheets recommend 18 to 20 mil wet for yellow to hit equivalent hide, which cuts coverage 20 to 30 percent compared to white at 15 mil.
How much paint do I waste during a striping job? Plan for 10 to 15 percent waste from gun cleanup, line touch-ups, stencil over-spray, and inevitable smears. The waste factor climbs to 50 percent on first-time striping over fresh asphalt because the mat absorbs the first coat.