How much finish to buy, from your surfaces, finish type, and coat count.
Dimensions in inches. Add a row per surface (count both faces separately if you finish both).
Coverage defaults to a typical manufacturer rating — match it to your can.
Every finish spreads a different distance: wiping varnish goes much further per quart than brushed polyurethane, and end grain drinks finish roughly twice as fast as face grain. Enter your project's surfaces, pick a finish, set the coat count, and the calculator estimates total quantity with a waste allowance — so a Saturday glue-up doesn't stall on Sunday for lack of half a pint.
Get the finish right the first time
Members get the full finishing workshop library, printable schedule charts, and a community that will look at your blotchy test board before you commit.
Manufacturers rate brushed polyurethane at roughly 100–125 sq ft per quart per coat. Real-world coverage runs lower on raw or open-grained wood, which is why the calculator adds a waste factor.
Two to three coats is typical for brushed film finishes; wipe-on finishes commonly need four to six thinner coats for the same build.
The calculator adds a waste factor for absorption, rag loss, and scuff-sanding. For raw, open-grained woods like oak, budget the higher end.