+
→ Orange
Red + Yellow → Orange
Paint Mixing Calculator
Calculate base paint, hardener, and reducer quantities from the mixing information supplied by your paint manufacturer.
Tip: Bookmark this page so you can return to the calculator whenever you need it.
Use this mode when you know how much final mixture you want after all selected components are combined.
Enter the exact ratio printed on the product label or Technical Data Sheet (TDS). Example: 4:1 means 4 parts of the first component (base) to 1 part of the second component (hardener).
Quick percentages are shortcuts only—not recommendations. Use your product TDS/label.
Enter the reducer percentage specified by the manufacturer. The percentage is not a universal paint instruction. In Mix by Weight mode, use a reducer percentage by weight only when the manufacturer explicitly provides it.
Choose the liquid-volume unit you use. US fl oz means US fluid ounces, not ounces by weight. Spray-cup capacity can also be shown in mL or L.
Enter the final liquid volume you want after all selected components are combined.
Choose the basis stated by your product documentation. “Base + Hardener” applies the reducer percentage to those two components. “Final Mixture” applies it to the final target amount.
Important:
This calculator performs mathematical calculations only.
Always follow the exact mixing ratio, reducer recommendation,
application instructions, safety information, and Technical Data Sheet
(TDS) supplied by the paint manufacturer. Never use this calculator to
determine the correct ratio for an unknown product.
About PaintMix Calculator
PaintMix Calculator is a free, browser-based mixing math tool for painters, body shops, DIY users, furniture finishers, and other coating users who need to turn a manufacturer-provided mixing ratio into measurable component amounts.
The calculator does not choose a paint system, invent a ratio, or tell you which reducer to use. You provide the exact instructions from the product label or Technical Data Sheet (TDS), and the calculator performs the arithmetic for the amount you want to prepare.
That makes the tool useful when a product is specified as a ratio such as 4:1, when a reducer percentage is specified separately, when you are working from an available amount of base, or when you need to plan a batch or fill a spray cup to a chosen level.
How to Read Your Product Instructions
1. Find the ratioLook for wording such as 4:1, 2:1, or another manufacturer-defined ratio. Enter it exactly as specified.
2. Check the basisConfirm whether the ratio is by volume or by weight. Do not convert between them by guessing.
3. Check reducer instructionsIf reducer is specified, confirm its percentage and what the manufacturer says that percentage is based on.
Why This Tool Can Save Material
Ratios are proportional, so you can calculate a smaller or larger batch without changing the manufacturer's proportions. That can reduce measuring errors and help avoid mixing more material than you actually need.
Important Limits
PaintMix Calculator cannot know the correct ratio for an unknown product. It also cannot determine product compatibility, reducer speed, application conditions, induction time, pot life, or other product-specific requirements. Those details must come from the manufacturer documentation.
Simple Color Mixing Guide
Use this small visual guide only for basic color-learning. It is not a prediction of the final color of a real automotive or other coating product.
+
→ Green
Blue + Yellow → Green
+
→ Purple
Red + Blue → Purple
+
→ Pink
Red + White → Pink
+
→ Light Blue
Blue + White → Light Blue
+
→ Gray
Black + White → Gray
Important: These examples are simplified visual concepts. Real paint color results depend on the pigments, tint strength, transparency, formulation, and proportions of the actual products. Always test and follow the manufacturer's documentation.
How It Works
- Read the exact mixing ratio on your product label or TDS.
- Enter that ratio into the calculator.
- Choose what you know: final amount or available base amount.
- Add reducer only when your product documentation specifies it.
- Review the calculated quantities and verify them against the TDS.
Popular Calculators
Paint Mixing Calculator
Calculate base, hardener and reducer quantities.
Spray Cup Calculator
Calculate a target mixture from cup capacity and fill percentage.
Batch Calculator
Quickly calculate common batch sizes.
FAQ
What does a 4:1 paint ratio mean?
It means four parts of the first component to one part of the second component, according to the product documentation. In this calculator, the first component is treated as the base and the second as the hardener.
How do I calculate a 4:1 paint mixture?
Enter 4:1, then enter either the final amount you want or the amount of base paint you already have. The calculator divides the amount according to the ratio.
How do I calculate a 4:1:10% mixture?
Enter 4:1, choose the reducer percentage specified by your manufacturer, and choose the reducer basis that matches the product documentation. The calculator performs the selected mathematics; it does not decide whether 10% is appropriate for your product.
How much mixture is 75% of a 20 fl oz spray cup?
75% of 20 US fluid ounces is a 15 fl oz target final mixture.
Can I mix paint by weight?
Yes, when your manufacturer provides a weight-based ratio. A weight ratio and a volume ratio are not automatically interchangeable.
Can I use this for automotive paint?
You can use the calculator for the mathematics of a manufacturer-provided ratio. Always verify the exact product instructions and TDS before mixing.
Does a 4:1 ratio mean the same thing for every paint?
No. Mixing ratios and reducer instructions vary by product and manufacturer. The manufacturer documentation takes precedence.
Can I enter a three-part ratio such as 4:1:1?
This first release uses a two-part base-to-hardener ratio plus a separate reducer percentage. A three-part ratio such as 4:1:1 is a different mathematical model because the third number represents a ratio part, not a percentage. Do not substitute one for the other. Use the exact system described in your product's TDS.
Privacy Policy
The core calculator calculations run locally in your browser and are not sent to our server for calculation. If third-party analytics or advertising services are added, they may process information according to their own policies and applicable consent choices.
Terms of Use
PaintMix Calculator provides mathematical calculations based on values entered by the user. Manufacturer instructions, labels, TDS documents and safety information take precedence over calculator output.