# Farrow & Ball Modern Emulsion

Emulsion paint · Farrow & Ball

Farrow & Ball Modern Emulsion covers up to 12 m² a litre and takes 2 coats, by Farrow & Ball's own figures.
Source: Farrow & Ball, Farrow & Ball Modern Emulsion product advice sheet, read 11 October 2026.

What it is for, in the maker's words: “A durable and versatile matt finish, Modern Emulsion is washable and contains preservatives to protect it against mould, making it especially suited to bathrooms and kitchens as well as busy areas” (Farrow & Ball Modern Emulsion product advice sheet, read 11 October 2026).

The walls of a 3 × 4 m room, 2.4 m high, need 5.641 L: 1 × 5 L + 1 × 2.5 L to buy. At 10 m² a litre, BuildBatch's generic example for a wall that is not the maker's best case, the same room needs 6.77 L: 1 × 5 L + 1 × 2.5 L.

## Coverage

Farrow & Ball states up to 12 m² a litre. The maker's words: “Coverage Rate (m2/l per coat): Up to 12”.
- Bare, rough or absorbent surfaces: A maker's coverage is their best case, on a smooth sealed surface: bare, rough or absorbent walls take more.
- A strong change of colour: Farrow & Ball says: “Darker/stronger colours may require additional coats”. Each extra coat is the paint of one coat again.
- Waste and touch-ups: The room table adds 10% for what stays in the tray and on the roller and for touching up: BuildBatch's generic example, not the maker's. The tin-by-tin figures add nothing.
- The ceiling and the woodwork: Neither is in these figures. Each is a separate paint and a separate line on a list.

## Coats

Farrow & Ball gives 2 coats for Farrow & Ball Modern Emulsion, in these words: “Darker/stronger colours may require additional coats”.

## Tin sizes

| Tin | One coat | 2 coats |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 L | up to 30 m² | up to 15 m² |
| 5 L | up to 60 m² | up to 30 m² |

Arithmetic on the maker's figure: the litres in the tin times the coverage per litre, with nothing added for waste.

## How many tins for a room

| Room | In feet | Walls to paint | Paint needed | Tins to buy | At 10 m² a litre |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.5 × 3 m | 8.2 × 9.8 ft | 23.57 m² | 4.321 L | 1 × 5 L | 1 × 5 L + 1 × 2.5 L |
| 3 × 3 m | 9.8 × 9.8 ft | 25.97 m² | 4.761 L | 1 × 5 L | 1 × 5 L + 1 × 2.5 L |
| 3 × 4 m | 9.8 × 13.1 ft | 30.77 m² | 5.641 L | 1 × 5 L + 1 × 2.5 L | 1 × 5 L + 1 × 2.5 L |
| 4 × 4 m | 13.1 × 13.1 ft | 35.57 m² | 6.521 L | 1 × 5 L + 1 × 2.5 L | 2 × 5 L |
| 4 × 5 m | 13.1 × 16.4 ft | 40.37 m² | 7.401 L | 1 × 5 L + 1 × 2.5 L | 2 × 5 L |

Each room is 2.4 m high with one internal door and one window of 1.2 × 1.1 m taken off; 2 coats; 10% extra for waste, BuildBatch's generic example. Worked out by the planner when the site was built.

Start a list for a 3 × 4 m room with this paint's figures: https://buildbatch.co.uk/start/#v=1&job=paint&walls=paint&ceiling=none&trim=none&units=m&length=4&width=3&height=2.4&door=0.762x1.981&window=1.2x1.1&surface=sound&subfloor=unsure&ground=unsure&fitting=unsure&wallpaint=custom&wallpaint.coats=2&wallpaint.coverage=12&wallpaint.extra=10&wallpaint.tins=2.5,5&wallpaint.examples=extra&end=21

## Where to buy it

The page has the shops' own searches for it, and any link there that is paid for is marked Ad: https://buildbatch.co.uk/products/farrow-and-ball-modern-emulsion/#where-to-buy. BuildBatch sells nothing and compares no prices.

## Questions

**How much does a litre of Farrow & Ball Modern Emulsion cover?** Farrow & Ball states up to 12 m² a litre for Farrow & Ball Modern Emulsion (Farrow & Ball Modern Emulsion product advice sheet, read 11 October 2026). A maker's coverage is their best case, on a smooth sealed surface.

**How much does a 5 litre tin of Farrow & Ball Modern Emulsion cover?** At the maker's figure a 5 L tin covers up to 60 m² in one coat, or up to 30 m² in 2 coats. That is the litres times the coverage per litre, with nothing added for waste.

**How many coats does Farrow & Ball Modern Emulsion need?** Farrow & Ball gives 2 coats for Farrow & Ball Modern Emulsion, in these words: “Darker/stronger colours may require additional coats”.

**How many tins of Farrow & Ball Modern Emulsion for a 3 × 4 m room?** The walls of a 3 × 4 m room, 2.4 m high, need 5.641 L: 1 × 5 L + 1 × 2.5 L to buy. At 10 m² a litre, BuildBatch's generic example for a wall that is not the maker's best case, the same room needs 6.77 L: 1 × 5 L + 1 × 2.5 L. The room is 2.4 m high with one door and one window taken off, 2 coats, with 10% extra for waste.

**What is Farrow & Ball Modern Emulsion for?** Farrow & Ball says: “A durable and versatile matt finish, Modern Emulsion is washable and contains preservatives to protect it against mould, making it especially suited to bathrooms and kitchens as well as busy areas” (Farrow & Ball Modern Emulsion product advice sheet, read 11 October 2026).

**What tin sizes does Farrow & Ball Modern Emulsion come in?** The catalogue lists 2.5 L and 5 L. A shop may not stock every size.

## Where the figures come from

- Farrow & Ball, Farrow & Ball Modern Emulsion product advice sheet (https://www.farrow-ball.com/media/wysiwyg/Product-Advice-Sheets/Paint-primers/GBMEM.pdf): coverage, coats and what it is for, read 11 October 2026.

Written with AI tools; not yet checked by a tradesperson. Follow the tin's own instructions.

The page: https://buildbatch.co.uk/products/farrow-and-ball-modern-emulsion/