When it comes to painting your home or giving one of the rooms that long overdue makeover, it can be challenging to estimate what materials you’ll need, and it can be harder to estimate the amount of paint. One of the easiest ways to calculate this is by weight, but how much does a gallon of paint weigh?
How much does a gallon of paint weigh? A gallon of paint will vary in weight due to multiple factors, including the type of paint, i.e., latex, enamel, or oil-based, as all of these have different densities. Usually, a gallon of paint weighs anywhere from 6 to 12 pounds, and a 5-gallon bucket can weigh up to 60 pounds.
This article will discuss how much a gallon of paint weighs, how paint is measured and why certain types have different weights. So keep reading! We have everything you need to know about the weight of a gallon of paint.
The Standard Measurements of Paint
Paint usually comes in a few standard sizes; most will come from the hardware store in a gallon size. However, there is usually a five-gallon alternative for those with larger jobs, such as painting a house’s exterior. Oil-based paints and enamels can come in quarter-gallon sizes.
When measuring in gallons, a few tips can help you understand the measurement. A gallon is a simple unit that determines the volume of the container that your paint occupies.
Weight and density do not affect the volume. Thus, a gallon in the liquid will always be a gallon, regardless of whether it’s paint, water, or coca cola. However, the weight of the gallon can change due to density, which is why a gallon of oil-based paint will weigh more than a gallon of water.
The word gallon always has a different meaning around the world as it refers to three other measurements, including; the imperial gallon, the U.S gallon, and the U.S. dry gallon.
A U.S. gallon is around 3.8 liters, whereas an imperial gallon, used in the United Kingdom, Canada, and around the Caribbean, is 4.5 liters. This has nothing to do with weight; instead, it measures the volume the container can hold.
However, if the container is filled with a liquid such as paint, a gallon in the U.K would typically be heavier than a U.S imperial gallon as there is a difference in the paint container’s volume.
As a gallon is simply the volume measurement, you’ll usually have to convert it to weight. However, most of the time, the manufacturers will include both a volume measurement and the paint’s weight.
The Weight of Paint
When it comes to measuring the weight of a gallon of paint, you will first have to take the measurement of the volume, which in this case is a gallon, and then figure out the density of the liquid contained within the gallon.
In the U.S, the standard measurement of weight is usually pounds. Thus, when it comes to measuring the weight of a gallon of paint, you’ll have to convert gallons to pounds and include the density of the paint. This isn’t an easy task as there’s no single formula for converting gallons to pounds, which is why the manufacturers usually give us the weight of the paint.
How Much Does a Gallon of Paint Weigh?
The paint at hardware stores is typically sold in full gallons or quarter gallons, and for those who are looking for a larger amount of paint, a five-gallon bucket is usually available. Being able to figure out the weight of your gallon will help you determine the amount needed for specific projects.
Most gallons of paint will range in weight from around 6 to 12 pounds, and some types of paint, such as enamel and latex, will usually weigh the same. Tempera paints come in half-gallon and gallon sizes, making it easy to determine their weight, whereas oil-based and acrylic paints typically come in small quarter-gallon sizes.
You may even find some paints mixed from time to time, such as acrylic and latex, in a single paint. This is typically considered the highest quality of paint, as acrylic is much better than vinyl-based paint. Vinyl is much cheaper than acrylic resin. Thus, the color of a vinyl paint may not take to your prepared surface as well as an acrylic-based paint.
When it comes down to planning how much paint you will need for a painting project, knowing the weight can help you plan out how many gallons you will need overall. The paint’s base, whether acrylic, latex, or oil-based, will also play a factor in the overall measurement.
All this information is usually listed on the paints manufacturer’s label; however, if you’re purchasing the paint online, there’s an even better chance that the specific information you’re looking for will be listed in the information section.
The Weight of 25 Popular Paints
As we have previously determined, the actual weight of the paint is determined by the density and not the volume. Thus, there are four significant types of paint, including acrylic, enamel, latex, and oil-based, all having different densities, leading to different weights.
Below we will list 25 different paints alongside their individual weight per gallon so that you can understand the difference in weight between some of the most popular paints on the market.
The Weight of Popular Latex Paints
1. Rust-Oleum Simply Home is an excellent latex paint that weighs around 10 pounds per gallon. This latex paint is a great choice and can be brushed, rolled, or sprayed to create smooth finishes on walls and ceilings.
2. Diamon Brite is a latex paint that weighs approximately 11 pounds per gallon. This flat finish is excellent for dry walls, primed wood, masonry, and even metal.
3. Recolour Recycled Interior Paint is a professional choice and is an latex paint that produces a superb flat eggshell finish. It weighs around 8 pounds per gallon.
4. Benjamin Moore Coronado is a popular latex paint that provides an excellent eggshell finish. A gallon of this will weigh 10.61 pounds.
5. Valspar 1500 Porch and Floor is a quality latex satin enamel that can be used on concrete, floors, wood, steps, and metal. A gallon of this weighs 11.09 pounds.
6. Montage Signature is an excellent paint and highly versatile. It can be used for interior and exterior jobs and weighs 12 pounds per gallon.
7. Boomerang Eco-Friendly Interior Paint is a latex paint that provides a perfect eggshell finish on walls and ceilings. A gallon of this paint will weigh around 11.82 pounds.
8. Rust-Oleum Zinsser Mould and Mildew is an excellent product for combating the spread of mold and mildew inside the house. A gallon of this will weigh approximately 10.50 pounds.
9. Microblend Interior Paint and Primer is a quality latex paint that works great to hide any poor detailing on the wall. This low-odor paint and primer performs well anywhere indoors and has a smooth finish. This weighs around 11.50 pounds per gallon.
10. Majic Paints Flat Barn and Fence Paint is an excellent choice to give your outdoor wooden structures a facelift. This popular latex paint provides excellent coverage, UV resistance and can even be used on bricks. This product weighs 8.30 pounds per gallon.
The Weight of Popular Acrylic Paints
11. Prestige Interior Paint and Primer is a premium paint that provides excellent coverage across multiple surfaces. This acrylic latex paint is also a primer making all projects that little bit easier, and it weighs 12.00 pounds per gallon.
12. Krylon COLORmaxx is a premium acrylic latex paint that performs best when brushed on, delivering quality coverage and superior color. It can be used on wood, wicker, metal, plastic, and drywalls and weighs 9.00 pounds per gallon.
13. FixALL Skid Grip is an excellent acrylic paint that is designed to reduce water damage and make surfaces slip-resistant. This paint can be used both on interior and exterior surfaces and weighs 11.00 pounds per gallon.
14. Modern Masters Metallic Paint Collection is an acrylic paint that’s well suited to all interior surfaces, such as walls, ceilings, trim, doors, and furniture. The paint contains real metallic particles that will not fade with time and weighs 9.35 pounds per gallon.
15. Prestige Exterior Paint and Primer in One is one of the best exterior paints on the market. It’s an excellent choice for any outdoor project and always provides a premium finish. This product weighs 12.10 pounds per gallon.
16. Microblend Interior Paint and Primer is a professional paint that provides excellent coverage and a smooth finish on all interior surfaces. Its water-based acrylic resin offers an extremely durable finish that is washable and even scrubbable. This product weighs around 11.42 pounds per gallon.
The Weight of Popular Enamel-Based Paints
17. Kilz Low-Lustre Enamel Porch Paint is an excellent enamel-based paint that provides your patio and floors with a durable finish that is durable and easy to clean. This product weighs around 11.00 pounds per gallon.
18. Rust-Oleum Professional is an enamel-based paint that provides smooth and elegant finishes throughout the home. This paint will deliver a superb glossy finish on all woodwork, doors, and trim, providing these surfaces with a great protective layer. This product weighs 9.02 pounds per gallon.
19. BEHR Premium Plus is a professional quality paint that provides surfaces with a sleek enamel finish. This product is an excellent choice for anyone seeking a high-quality finish and weighs 11.57 pounds per gallon.
20. Rust-Oleum Protective Enamel Paint is an excellent product on heavily rusted metal surfaces. This enamel-based paint is mixed with oil to give it a strong and durable finish. This product weighs 10.62 pounds per gallon.
The Weight of Popular Oil-Based Paints
21. Duralux Aluminium Boat Paint is a specific oil-based paint produced to give boats and other water vehicles a long-lasting and durable finish. The paint also serves well on metal, steel, and fiberglass. This product weighs around 11.00 pounds per gallon.
22. Kilz Original Primer and Sealer is an oil-based product that seals and blocks all interior stains and odors. It helps to keep the bright white color of the home and prevents yellow stains from coming through. This product weighs 12.00 pounds per gallon.
23. Zinsser Odourless is an oil-based stain blocker that can be sprayed through miz-sized airless pumps giving it an easy application to those larger areas affected by stains and water damage. This product helps shield against yellowing and weighs 12.68 pounds per gallon.
The Weight of Popular Tempera-Based Paints
24. Sargent Art is a tempera-based paint that provides safe and bright colors which children of all ages can enjoy. This gives children a place to embrace endless creativity, and this product weighs around 8.63 pounds per gallon.
25. Handy Art is a tempera-based paint that allows one to create unique works of art that are easily blendable. This opaque color is resistant to cracks, flaking, and chipping once dry, and weighs 9.00 pounds per gallon.
A Five Gallon Bucket of Paint
Now that you know the difference in weight between some of the most popular paints on the market, you should have a fair idea in your head now of the average weight of a gallon of paint. But, for the bigger projects you have in mind for your home, you may opt for something larger, usually a 5-gallon bucket of paint.
A five-gallon paint bucket weighs a lot more than your average gallon, and when trying to determine how much of this you’ll need, it’s always good to start with weight. Typically, these larger buckets weigh anywhere from 40 to 60 pounds. However, as we know, this also depends on the type of paint and even the brand.
Breaking Down the Factors Which Determine a Paints Weight
One major factor determines the overall weight of a gallon of paint, and this is always the type. If you were to search for paint in a hardware store or even online, you would always find them divided into a few significant categories, such as latex, acrylic, enamel, and oil-based products.
The reasoning behind the difference in weight simply comes down to how manufacturers produce the paint, and this is broken down into two categories; water-based and oil-based paints. This proves the paint with its primary base; from here, pigment is added alongside a few extra ingredients, which may help the durability or priming abilities.
As a general rule of thumb, water-based paints will be slightly heavier than most oil-based paints. Water-based has become extremely popular in recent years as it is better for the environment, dries faster, and can easily wash be washed off with water.
To better understand the various types of paints, we will list them below alongside their information;
Latex Paints
Latex paints are the most popular for in-home improvements, including both interior and exterior projects. If you decide you’re going to repaint your entire home, you’ll most likely purchase a latex-based paint.
Latex paints are water-based paints, making them eco-friendly and non-toxic. Thus, ventilation isn’t too much of a worry when painting with latex paints. On average, a gallon of latex paint is approximately 11.5 pounds.
Acrylic Paints
Acrylic-based paints are relatively similar to latex-based paints in many ways, and both have acrylic resin. However, the difference is that acrylic-based paints use an acrylic polymer emulsion, leading to a higher percentage of acrylic in the paint.
As these paints are all water-based, they can be compared in weight to latex paints, typically weighing around 11 or 12 pounds per gallon. Again this all depends on the specific brand of paint and the color as well.
Enamel Paints
Enamel paints are typically used for products and surfaces requiring a glossy finish, whether a boat, car or wooden trim in the home. Enamel refers to both the finish that you get and, more often, the material contained within the paint.
When it comes to finding the specific weight of enamel paint, it can be a difficult task, as the category has a broad range of products. Enamel paints can be water or acrylic-based and oil-based, and the overall density varies depending on the manufacturer.
On average, the enamel paint used on boats and cars is typically around 11 pounds per gallon.
Oil-Based
Oil-based paints have been along for much longer than water-based paints and have been the only option for hundreds of years. The oil-based paints that are used today are made from pigments that are placed into natural linseed oil and sometimes alkyd, which is a synthetic solvent.
They have become less popular over the years due to their toxicity levels, as when applying oil-based paint, you have to keep the area adequately ventilated at all times. On average, a gallon of oil-based paint weighs between 7 and 8 pounds per gallon. However, this number can rise depending on the manufacturer.
Final Thoughts
So, now that we’ve discussed all that you need to know about the weight of various kinds of paints, you’re ready to use this as a guide the next time you decide to decorate the home, paint the barn, or give the boat a freshen-up.
Remember that while the weight of paint can be estimated when its type is considered, each brand will have a different weight, and it’s always best to check with the original manufacturer for the precise weight.
