The Parking Lot Striping Paint Calculator estimates how many linear feet of lines a parking lot needs and how much traffic paint it takes to stripe them. Enter the number of stalls and rows, stall line length, any other lines (lane markings, crosswalks), line width and the wet film thickness in mils.
Parking Lot Striping Paint Calculator
Linear feet of stall lines and gallons of traffic paint for striping a parking lot, from stall count, line width and film thickness.
You get total line length, gallons of paint, 5-gallon pails and how many feet of line one gallon paints at your width and thickness.
Formula
Line length = (stalls + rows) × stall line length + other lines
Paint = line length × line width × wet film thickness
Feet per gallon = 231 in³ ÷ (line width in × mils × 0.001 in × 12 in/ft)
Each row needs one more line than it has stalls, which is why the row count is added.
How the Calculation Works
Step 1: Count stall lines: stalls plus one closing line per row.
Step 2: Multiply by line length and add other markings.
Step 3: Paint volume = length × width × wet film thickness.
Variables Explained
| Input | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Rows of stalls | Separate runs of stalls side by side |
| Stall line length | Length of each stall line |
| Line width | Width of the painted stripe |
| Wet film thickness | Applied thickness in mils — follow the paint’s specification and any local requirements |
Example Calculation
Given: 40 stalls in 2 rows, 18 ft stall lines, 200 ft of other lines, 4 in wide at 15 mils wet
- Line length = (40 + 2) × 18 + 200 = 956 ft
- Coverage = 231 ÷ (4 × 0.015 × 12) ≈ 320.8 ft per gallon
- Paint = 956 ÷ 320.8 ≈ 2.98 gal → 1 five-gallon pail
Line Coverage Reference (15 mils wet)
| Line width | Feet per gallon |
|---|---|
| 4 in | ≈ 321 |
| 6 in | ≈ 214 |
| 12 in | ≈ 107 |
Material Estimation Notes
- Symbols, arrows, accessible stall markings and curbs need extra paint — add their area or length.
- Restriping over old lines and rough asphalt can take more paint.
- Stall dimensions and accessible parking layout are set by local codes and ADA requirements.
Related: Parking Ratio Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much paint do I need to stripe a parking lot?
Total line length ÷ feet per gallon for your line width and thickness.
How many feet does a gallon of traffic paint cover?
About 320 ft of 4 in line at 15 mils wet, in theory.
How do I calculate linear feet of striping?
(Stalls + rows) × stall line length, plus lanes and crosswalks.
What is wet film thickness?
The thickness of paint as applied, before it dries, measured in mils (thousandths of an inch).
How many stalls can one pail stripe?
At 4 in × 15 mils, 5 gallons paints about 1,600 ft of line — roughly 89 stall lines of 18 ft.
