Paint Tinting Formula Calculator

Calculate relative tinting strength, adjusted colorant doses, and production batch colorant requirements from standard and sample doses.

Standard dose (mL/L)

Sample dose (mL/L)

Can volume (L)

Base fill level (%)

Production run (cans)

Colorant density (g/mL)

Tab to move between fields

Relative tinting strength (%)

107.1

Dose per can (mL)

105.8

Adjusted dose (mL/L)28

Total colorant (mL)5,292

Total colorant (kg)6.35

Tint load (%)2.8

Fits in headspace (1=yes)1

Colorant cost ($)$63.50

How to Use This Calculator

Enter base paint volume (gallons or liters) and select the target color using the color system formula.
Enter colorant type and volume (oz or mL) for each colorant in the formula.
Read the complete tinting formula with colorant ratios and total ounces per gallon.
Verify color accuracy by mixing a small test batch and comparing against a color fan or spectrophotometer.
Record the formula for consistency — repeat the same quantities for subsequent gallons of the same color.

How the result changes with Sample dose (mL/L)

Standard dose (mL/L): Reference colorant dose per liter of white base to achieve target color.
Sample dose (mL/L): Colorant dose from the current pigment batch to match the same color.
Can volume (L): Paint can volume. US gallon = 3.78 L, quart = 0.946 L.
Base fill level (%): How full the can is with base paint. Headspace available for colorant.
Production run (cans): Number of cans in the production batch.
Colorant density (g/mL): Density of the liquid colorant. Typical: 1.0–1.5 g/mL.

Relative tinting strength (%): RTS = standard dose / sample dose × 100. >100% = stronger pigment.
Adjusted dose (mL/L): Dose corrected for tinting strength variation.
Dose per can (mL): Colorant volume to add per can.
Total colorant (mL): Total colorant for the full production run.
Total colorant (kg): Colorant weight for the production run.
Tint load (%): Colorant as a percentage of total can volume.
Fits in headspace (1=yes): Whether the colorant dose fits in the can headspace.
Colorant cost ($): Estimated cost at ~$12/L reference price.

Identify Input Parameters
4 parameters
Standard dose (mL/L) = 30, Sample dose (mL/L) = 28, Can volume (L) = 3.78, Base fill level (%) = 92 = 6 input(s) provided
Calculate Relative tinting strength
Relative tinting strength = (standardDose / sampleDose) * 100
107.1 = 107.1
Calculate Dose per can
Dose per can = adjustedDosePerLiter * canVolume
105.8 = 105.8
Calculate Adjusted dose
Adjusted dose = standardDose * (100 / rts)
28 = 28
Calculate Total colorant
Total colorant = dosePerCan * numCans
5292 = 5292