# What sizes to paint cans come in WRT the Metric system using countries? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 6, 2012, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sizes-to-paint-cans-come-in-wrt-the-metric-system-using-countries/633920 "2012-09-06T22:54:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sizes-to-paint-cans-come-in-wrt-the-metric-system-using-countries/633920/1 "2012-09-06T22:54:50Z")
I know this will probably be easy, but I am supervising a house remodel and am just curious. Here in the US we have 5 gallon, 1 gallon and pints as typical sizes. So Metric world, you are going to paint your living room, what size paint can are you going to buy? Thanks **CAPT** ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sizes-to-paint-cans-come-in-wrt-the-metric-system-using-countries/633920/2 "2012-09-06T22:57:21Z")
Sorry I cannot type today, I meant do instead of to in the title Mods? Thanks and sorry **Capt** ---
**Author:** ![Dervorin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Dervorin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dervorin)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sizes-to-paint-cans-come-in-wrt-the-metric-system-using-countries/633920/3 "2012-09-06T23:01:42Z")
In India, which is mostly metric, I’ve bought paint in: 1 liter tins 5 liter tins 5 kg tins (for some interior paints) 20 kg tins (ditto) I think liters and kilograms are widely used across India. I’ve only seen liters being sold in the UK. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sizes-to-paint-cans-come-in-wrt-the-metric-system-using-countries/633920/4 "2012-09-06T23:05:17Z")
> [@Dervorin](#): > > In India, which is mostly metric, I’ve bought paint in: > > 1 liter tins > 5 liter tins > 5 kg tins (for some interior paints) > 20 kg tins (ditto) > > I think liters and kilograms are widely used across India. I’ve only seen liters being sold in the UK. Paint by weight? Never would have crossed my mind. But if you are thinking about coverage it makes sense. **Capt** ---
**Author:** ![Szlater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/90ced4/32.png) [@Szlater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Szlater)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sizes-to-paint-cans-come-in-wrt-the-metric-system-using-countries/633920/5 "2012-09-06T23:09:14Z")
[B&Q sell paints in a variety of volumes.](http://www.diy.com/nav/decor/paint/interior-paint/black-grey/emulsions) From 40ml to 2.5litres. I’ve used commercial amounts in the 10litre range too. ---
**Author:** ![Kiwi\_Fruit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kiwi_fruit/32/12_2.png) [@Kiwi\_Fruit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiwi_Fruit)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sizes-to-paint-cans-come-in-wrt-the-metric-system-using-countries/633920/6 "2012-09-06T23:43:54Z")
In New Zealand, you can get 500ml, 1l, 2l, 4l, and 10l cans/buckets. When we painted our living room, we bought a 10l bucket. It was a bit more than we needed but cheaper than buying a 2l and 4l to get the amount needed. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2012, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sizes-to-paint-cans-come-in-wrt-the-metric-system-using-countries/633920/7 "2012-09-06T23:54:56Z")
In Canada, we also have gallons and quarts of paint, but they’re labelled as 3.7 L or 946 mL or somesuch. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sizes-to-paint-cans-come-in-wrt-the-metric-system-using-countries/633920/8 "2012-09-07T01:14:23Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > In Canada, we also have gallons and quarts of paint, but they’re labelled as 3.7 L or 946 mL or somesuch. Figured as much, of course we foist our outdated measurement system on our nice neighbors to the north and just say “deal with it”. 😃 **Capt** ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sizes-to-paint-cans-come-in-wrt-the-metric-system-using-countries/633920/9 "2012-09-07T04:25:12Z")
Spain: it depends on the kind of paint; something intended to paint smallish surfaces (furniture, doors) will come in cans which range between 200ml and 1l - usually it has an organic solvent; colored wall paint comes in plastic rectangular buckets holding 2-4kg (you have to check the label). White paint comes in larger sizes, up to 25kg plastic buckets. The stuff in plastick buckets is water-based latex paints. Yes, the smaller sizes are sold by volume but the larger ones by weight. Since the buckets are actually loaded by weight and density can vary quite a lot between varieties of latex paint, it’s more exact this way. ---
**Author:** ![FuzzyOgre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@FuzzyOgre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuzzyOgre)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sizes-to-paint-cans-come-in-wrt-the-metric-system-using-countries/633920/10 "2012-09-07T05:52:35Z")
> [@Capt\_Kirk](#): > > Figured as much, of course we foist our outdated measurement system on our nice neighbors to the north and just say “deal with it”. 😃 > > **Capt** The real joke is on your guys, as your system was standardized off metric long ago. The best evidence for that is in bolt sizes. You might find that really old wrenches dont fit modern nuts. Wikipedia is probably safe in this regard: > **[Yard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yard#Definition_of_the_yard_in_terms_of_the_metre)** > > The yard (symbol: yd) is an English unit of length in both the British imperial and US customary systems of measurement equalling 3 feet or 36 inches. Since 1959 it has been by international agreement standardized as exactly 0.9144 meter. A distance of 1,760 yards is equal to 1 mile. > The theoretical US survey yard is very slightly longer. > [@](#): > > In 1959, the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa agreed to adopt the international yard of exactly 0.9144 metre. In the UK, the provisions of the treaty were ratified by the Weights and Measures Act of 1963. The Imperial Standard Yard of 1855 was renamed the United Kingdom Primary Standard Yard and retained its official status as the national prototype yard.[45] You use aliases of convenience, that is all. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sizes-to-paint-cans-come-in-wrt-the-metric-system-using-countries/633920/11 "2012-09-07T06:41:06Z")
Lots of different sizes, but most common 1, 3 and 10 liters. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sizes-to-paint-cans-come-in-wrt-the-metric-system-using-countries/633920/12 "2012-09-07T07:39:18Z")
500 ml and 1l, 5l, 20l litres are common, 10l less so. I’d say the 5L tin is the most common for household buying, depending on what paint it is. You also get small testers and the like, those come in 50ml and 250 ml sizes. Never bought paint by the kilo. ---
**Author:** ![grama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@grama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grama)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sizes-to-paint-cans-come-in-wrt-the-metric-system-using-countries/633920/13 "2012-09-07T10:30:35Z")
Here in Chile we are metric all tje way, but for some reason, the standard paint bucket comes in gallons (don’t remember how many) ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sizes-to-paint-cans-come-in-wrt-the-metric-system-using-countries/633920/14 "2012-09-07T12:01:11Z")
In the UK, a standard tin of paint, such as emulsion paint you’d use for your living room wall, is 2.5 litres. White paint, which tends to be used on big commercial areas, often comes in big 5 litre tins. Gloss and satin paints for trims such as skirting boards often also comes in a 1 litre size. ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sizes-to-paint-cans-come-in-wrt-the-metric-system-using-countries/633920/15 "2012-09-07T14:44:06Z")
Here in Oz, it is much like NZ. 250ml, 500ml, 1 litre, 2 litre, 4 litre, 10 litre, and 15 litre. Actual availability of a given size can be a bit limited. The 2 litre can used to be rare, and often a 4 litre can cost little more than double that of a one litre can. It is interesting how the sizes try to fit a doubling pattern, but didn’t quite manage it. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sizes-to-paint-cans-come-in-wrt-the-metric-system-using-countries/633920/16 "2012-09-07T15:25:03Z")
> [@FuzzyOgre](#): > > The real joke is on your guys, as your system was standardized off metric long ago. > > The best evidence for that is in bolt sizes. You might find that really old wrenches dont fit modern nuts. > > Wikipedia is probably safe in this regard: > > [Yard - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yard#Definition_of_the_yard_in_terms_of_the_metre) > You use aliases of convenience, that is all. 😛 Oh don’t I know it. I was in primary school when it was decided that the US would get on board with the rest of the world and go metric, learned the system and its easy conversions between weight, volume etc. Then a certain President came along and quashed all that, Thanks. My tool box contains SAE, Metric and a small stash of letter sizes, to do the same job I have to have twice the tools, Thanks again. I used to have a Ford Crown Victoria, assembled in Quebec, some bolts SAE some Metric kind of a crapshoot and a lot of fun And of course there is the Mars probe that crashed because someone forgot to convert feet to meters but that is a thread all its own Cheers **Capt** ---
**Author:** ![brad\_d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@brad\_d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brad_d)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sizes-to-paint-cans-come-in-wrt-the-metric-system-using-countries/633920/17 "2012-09-07T16:23:40Z")
Socket sets are easily found in both English and metric sizes in the US, but the wrench-to-socket connector (described as the _drive_) is always specified in English units IME. The most commonly available sizes one finds down at Sears for home DIY’ing are 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2". So you’ll find a [10mm socket with 3/8" drive](http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-10mm-easy-to-read-socket-12-pt/p-00934641000P?vName=Hand+Tools&cName=Ratchets+%26+Sockets&sName=Sockets&prdNo=14&blockNo=14&blockType=L14), for example. This makes sense, of course: It would be silly to require different wrenches for metric and English sockets. How about in other markets where English-unit tools & fasteners are rare or non-existent?[ul] [li]English drive sizes, just like here?[/li][li]The same physical drive sizes as we find in the USA, but marketed using their metric conversions? (e.g., 3/8" sold as 9.5mm)[/li][li]Round-numbers-in-metric drives that would be incompatible with a typical socket set bought in the US?[/li][li]Something else?[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sizes-to-paint-cans-come-in-wrt-the-metric-system-using-countries/633920/18 "2012-09-07T16:35:59Z")
> [@brad\_d](#): > > Socket sets are easily found in both English and metric sizes in the US, but the wrench-to-socket connector (described as the _drive_) is always specified in English units IME. The most commonly available sizes one finds down at Sears for home DIY’ing are 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2". So you’ll find a [10mm socket with 3/8" drive](http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-10mm-easy-to-read-socket-12-pt/p-00934641000P?vName=Hand+Tools&cName=Ratchets+%26+Sockets&sName=Sockets&prdNo=14&blockNo=14&blockType=L14), for example. > > This makes sense, of course: It would be silly to require different wrenches for metric and English sockets. > > How about in other markets where English-unit tools & fasteners are rare or non-existent?[ul] > [li]English drive sizes, just like here?[/li][li]The same physical drive sizes as we find in the USA, but marketed using their metric conversions? (e.g., 3/8" sold as 9.5mm)[/li][li]Round-numbers-in-metric drives that would be incompatible with a typical socket set bought in the US?[/li][li]Something else?[/li][/ul] Oddly enough, I just checked on the B&O link above and they sell 1/2 inch drive socket sets, have no idea about the rest of the world ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2012, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sizes-to-paint-cans-come-in-wrt-the-metric-system-using-countries/633920/19 "2012-09-07T23:32:42Z")
> [@brad\_d](#): > > Socket sets are easily found in both English and metric sizes in the US, but the wrench-to-socket connector (described as the _drive_) is always specified in English units IME. The most commonly available sizes one finds down at Sears for home DIY’ing are 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2". So you’ll find a [10mm socket with 3/8" drive](http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-10mm-easy-to-read-socket-12-pt/p-00934641000P?vName=Hand+Tools&cName=Ratchets+%26+Sockets&sName=Sockets&prdNo=14&blockNo=14&blockType=L14), for example. > > This makes sense, of course: It would be silly to require different wrenches for metric and English sockets. > > How about in other markets where English-unit tools & fasteners are rare or non-existent?[ul] > [li]English drive sizes, just like here?[/li][li]The same physical drive sizes as we find in the USA, but marketed using their metric conversions? (e.g., 3/8" sold as 9.5mm)[/li][li]Round-numbers-in-metric drives that would be incompatible with a typical socket set bought in the US?[/li][li]Something else?[/li][/ul] I checked one Norwegian chain of cheap hardware store. Their website has English drive sizes for all their socket sets and wrenches, and metric sizes for the sockets themselves. ---
**Author:** ![FuzzyOgre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@FuzzyOgre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuzzyOgre)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2012, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sizes-to-paint-cans-come-in-wrt-the-metric-system-using-countries/633920/20 "2012-09-08T04:09:11Z")
> [@Capt\_Kirk](#): > > Oh don’t I know it. I was in primary school when it was decided that the US would get on board with the rest of the world and go metric, learned the system and its easy conversions between weight, volume etc. Then a certain President came along and quashed all that, Thanks. > > My tool box contains SAE, Metric and a small stash of letter sizes, to do the same job I have to have twice the tools, Thanks again. I used to have a Ford Crown Victoria, assembled in Quebec, some bolts SAE some Metric kind of a crapshoot and a lot of fun > > And of course there is the Mars probe that crashed because someone forgot to convert feet to meters but that is a thread all its own > > Cheers > > **Capt** Oh I know that. I was poking fun at you based on the fact that the yard is standardized to the meter, and thus, the other units must be as well. Perhaps You need to put reeding on the ends of your yard sticks, similar to coins, because someone has been shaving them short. 😛 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-sizes-to-paint-cans-come-in-wrt-the-metric-system-using-countries/633920.md?page=2)