How do you calculate percent solids in a coating?

Divide the solids weight by the total mixed weight and multiply by 100. In the example, 8 lb of solids in 250 lb of coating gives 3.2% solids by weight.

What is a good percent solids for a coating?

It depends on the product. High-solids industrial paints run 60 to 80% by weight, while some waterborne or dip coatings are much lower. Compare your measured value to the formulation's target rather than a universal number.

Weight solids vs volume solids — what's the difference?

Weight solids is the mass fraction of non-volatiles; volume solids is the volume fraction. Volume solids drives dry film thickness, so it is the number to use for coverage and DFT math.

Why did my solids come out lower than target?

Usually over-thinning or a diluted mix. In the example the result is 3.2% against a target, leaving a gap of 1.8 points, which points to too much carrier relative to solids.

Does higher solids always mean better coverage?

Generally yes for film build per gallon, but very high solids can be harder to atomize and may need more control at the gun. Coverage also depends on transfer efficiency and application technique.

How does percent solids affect material cost?

Higher solids puts more cured film on the part per unit of coating, so you spend less material to reach a given DFT. Low solids means you are paying to spray and evaporate carrier.

Finishing calculator

Coating Solids Calculator

Coating solids is the fraction of a paint or powder that remains on the part after solvents and carriers evaporate, expressed as a percentage. Coating chemists, finishing line supervisors, and estimators use it to predict film build, coverage, and material cost per part. Higher solids means more film per gallon and less VOC, which is why formulators push solids up. This tool divides the solids weight by the total mixed weight to give the percent solids and shows how far you sit from your target.

What this calculator does

Calculate coating solids or volatile share from solids amount and total mixed coating.
Use this calculator for practical powder coating or surface finishing planning, quoting, troubleshooting, or line setup.
It computes percent solids by dividing the solids weight by the total mixed coating weight, then reports the gap in points to your target solids.

Formula used

Coverage loss = wasted coating or powder ÷ total coating used
Gap to target = target loss - coverage loss

Inputs explained

Solids volume:
Total mixed coating:
Target solids:

How to use the result

Use it when checking a mixed batch, comparing coatings, or estimating how much cured film a given quantity of wet coating will deliver.
This is a weight-based solids figure; film build depends on volume solids, which differs from weight solids when pigment density is high, so use volume solids for thickness predictions.

Current U.S. benchmarks

Industrial electricity averages 8.66 cents per kWh across the U.S. (EIA, Apr 2026), up 5.5% from a year earlier. Energy-intensive steps carry this directly into unit cost.
The producer price index for industrial chemicals stands at 344.336 (BLS, May 2026), up 16.1% from a year earlier. Quotes priced off last quarter's material cost miss this move.
The U.S. has 14,543 chemical manufacturing establishments employing about 911,245 workers (Census County Business Patterns, 2023).

Common questions

How do you calculate percent solids in a coating? Divide the solids weight by the total mixed weight and multiply by 100. In the example, 8 lb of solids in 250 lb of coating gives 3.2% solids by weight.
What is a good percent solids for a coating? It depends on the product. High-solids industrial paints run 60 to 80% by weight, while some waterborne or dip coatings are much lower. Compare your measured value to the formulation's target rather than a universal number.
Weight solids vs volume solids — what's the difference? Weight solids is the mass fraction of non-volatiles; volume solids is the volume fraction. Volume solids drives dry film thickness, so it is the number to use for coverage and DFT math.
Why did my solids come out lower than target? Usually over-thinning or a diluted mix. In the example the result is 3.2% against a target, leaving a gap of 1.8 points, which points to too much carrier relative to solids.
Does higher solids always mean better coverage? Generally yes for film build per gallon, but very high solids can be harder to atomize and may need more control at the gun. Coverage also depends on transfer efficiency and application technique.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.