Side-by-Side Comparison
Paint & Surface Prep
Paint Coverage vs. Paint Sheens
Comparing 2 standards across 13 specifications. 13 key differences identified.
Comparing:
Paint Coverage
Paint Sheens
One US gallon of architectural paint covers 350 to 400 square feet (32.5–37.2 m²) of smooth, primed drywall at 1.5 mil dry film thickness. One quart covers 85–100 sq ft, while rough unprimed masonry reduces coverage by 20–30% to 250 sq ft per gallon.
Architectural paint sheens standardize specular gloss reflectivity into Flat/Matte (0–5% gloss, ceilings/bedrooms), Eggshell (10–25%, living rooms), Satin (25–35%, hallways/kids rooms), Semi-Gloss (35–70%, trim/baths), and High-Gloss (70–90+%, cabinets/doors).
Specification Comparison Table
13 Parameters| Parameter / Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Governing Standards
|
PDCA Standard Estimating Guidelines / ASTM D2805 | MPI Architectural Painting Standards / ASTM D523 (Gloss at 60° and 85°) |
|
1 US Gallon Coverage (Smooth)
|
350 to 400 sq ft (32.5–37.2 m²) at 1.5 mil dry film thickness | — |
|
1 US Quart Coverage
|
85 to 100 sq ft (7.9–9.3 m²) | Small accent walls, powder rooms, furniture | — |
|
5-Gallon Commercial Pail
|
1,750 to 2,000 sq ft (162–186 m²) | Whole-house painting | — |
|
Rough / Textured Surface Loss
|
Reduces coverage to 250–300 sq ft/gal on unprimed masonry, brick, or stucco | — |
|
Standard Dry Time to Touch
|
1 to 2 hours for latex water-based paint (4–6 hours for oil-based) | — |
|
Standard Recoat Interval
|
4 hours for latex paint (24 hours for oil-based alkyd paints) | — |
|
Room Paint Formula
|
((Perimeter × Height)–Window/Door Deductions (40 sq ft avg)) ÷ 350 = Gallons per coat | — |
|
Flat / Matte Sheen
|
— | 0–5% gloss at 60° (0–10% at 85°) | Maximum surface imperfection hiding | Ceilings |
|
Eggshell Sheen
|
— | 10–25% gloss at 60° | Soft low-luster washable finish | Living rooms, adult bedrooms |
|
Satin Sheen
|
— | 25–35% gloss at 60° | Velvety durable wipeability | Family rooms, hallways, foyers |
|
Semi-Gloss Sheen
|
— | 35–70% gloss at 60° | Moisture, mildew & scrub resistance | Kitchens, baths, baseboards |
|
High-Gloss Sheen
|
— | 70–90+% gloss at 60° | Ultra-reflective glass shine | Architectural trim, cabinets, doors |