Coverage

• One quart of paint will cover about 100 to 125 square feet. On an average-sized car (for example a Ford Taurus) the combined size of the hood and both fenders will be about 60 to 70 square feet. This means the paint will definitely cover both the hood and fender at least once. How much paint you will actually need, however, depends on the size of your own car and the way you choose to paint it.
  
  

Using a Sprayer

• If you choose to paint your car using spraying equipment, you will require more paint.
  
  This is because it is harder to get all of the paint onto the exterior of the car without some of it inevitably spraying elsewhere. However, using spraying equipment to paint your car will result in a more even, more professional look.
  
  

Rollers

• You may also use simple rollers to paint your car. This requires less paint, but you will need to repeatedly sand the areas you have already painted to achieve an even look and feel.