How Much Does 5 Gallons Of Paint Weigh? – Detailed Guide

Although it seems like knowing how much 5 gallons of paint weighs is not important, but it is important when it comes to painting on the item or surface that you have to keep in mind the overall weight limit. This normally happens with painting on the surface of the ship and boat.

Well, not only this but knowing about the weight of the paint is another important thing when you are purchasing lots of gallons from the hardware store and placing them on your car. They should be under the weight load capacity of your car, otherwise, there are high chances of damage.

Keeping in mind the importance of knowing the weight of the paint, I am going to elaborate on the details about how much 5 gallons of paint weigh and what are the key factors that affect the weight of the paint in the description below. You can read the details attentively, so you are aware of how much the gallon of paint actually weighs.

How Much Does 5 Gallons Of Paint Weigh?

The actual weight of 5 gallons of paint lies somewhere around 56.4 pounds but it depends upon what type of paint you are weighing.

Different types of paints come with different weights, so let us now start with what type of paint weighs how much, so next time you purchase the paint you are aware of what weight of the paint you have got. We will first start with converting gallons into lbs. and then will focus on the factors affecting paint weight.

Conversion Of Gallons Into Pounds

The conversion of gallons into pounds usually depends upon the consistency of the liquid and its density. Different liquids are different from each other in density, consistency, weight, and somehow temperature. For example, the weight of 1 gallon of water would be different from one gallon of milk and one gallon of honey. Let us now look at how we can convert gallons into pounds.

To perform this action the first thing that you have to do is check out and keep in mind the ratio of the density of the substrate in comparison with the density of the water. There are companies constructing paints, the manufacturers of which, most of the time, print the gravity of the paint on the data sheet that you can find in the physical properties sections, pasted on the bucket of the paint.

Look for the gravity number of the paint and multiply it by the numerical digit, 8.35. and the answer you will get would be the weight of the paint in pounds.

Factors Affecting The Weight Of The Paint

There are two basic types of paint: oil-based paint and water-based paint. The construction of each painting is done with a combination of pigment and liquid. Certain other products are added for other purposes such as priming, quality, and durability. What products are added varies from paint to paint?

It has been noticed that water-based paints are comparatively heavier than oil-based paints. Moreover, since there are so many types of paints such as latex, acrylic, enamel, and oil-based, we are going to describe all four of these terms individually and their relevance with the weight of paint and how they differ from each other. We will look into this:

• Acrylic
• Latex
• Enamel
• Oil-based

Acrylic

Acrylic paints are the most commonly used paint types that are popular in leather, nail polishes, and arts and crafts. The acrylic paints are water-based in construction and have acrylic resin and polymer emulsions in them. Acrylic paint is most of the time water-based in construction, it is similar to latex paint in its weight.

Although there are many differences based on brand and color among different acrylic paints, the general observation says that the standard gallon of acrylic paint is about 12 pounds in total. This means 5 gallons of acrylic paint would be somewhere around 60 lbs. You can also read a detailed guide on using acrylic paint on metal.

Latex

Latex paints are known for being one of the best-recommended paints for painting your home. They are comparatively better than acrylic paints and are ideal for heavier and more extensive projects. This is a water-based paint that dries quickly and is very easy to apply making it less complicated and less tiring for you.

Moreover, latex paints are more environmentally friendly in their construction, making them reliable for most painting projects. There are some differences based on companies and brands of latex paint but the general calculation says that standard gallons of latex paint weigh around 11 pounds in total. This means the five gallons of latex paint weigh around 55 pounds in total.

Enamel

Enamel paints are different types of paints used most commonly on ships and boats because enamel paint dry up quickly. These enamel paints are known for being thick in their consistency and providing a glossy and hard finish to the substance you are painting on. These paints are also known for being resistant to water. If you’re using enamel paint then you can also read how to thin enamel paint for sprayer.

Furthermore, because of being water resistant in construction, these enamel paints are ideal for outdoor painting, vehicle painting, railings, grills, and specifically furniture to make them waterproof. Because of the chemical composition of the enamel paint, we cannot specify the weight of the paint per gallon. Because it depends on whether the enamel paint is oil-based or water-based or is acrylic.

Moreover, it also depends on the company manufacturing the enamel and what are the other materials that are used in its construction. Well, still our researchers have estimated the average value around 11-13 pounds per gallon, depending upon the chemical construction material used and the company the paint belongs to. This means 5 gallons of enamel paint would be somewhere around 55 to 65 pounds.

Oil Based

Oil-based paints are the widest in variety and are known since the oldest times. They are made with the use of linseed oil or synthetic alkyd. Although the product is the most reliable and has been in use for ages, there is one major drawback that makes it less trustworthy and that is, it is not environmentally friendly. Instead, it harms the environment due to the presence of VOCs in it.

Keep in mind, when using oil-based paints that you have to paint in an open area, to avoid congestion and suffocation due to their chemical composition. These products are hardest to clean and demand extra support in the form of mineral spirits and paint thinners.

After proper research, we can say that a gallon of oil-based paint comes with around 7 pounds of total weight. This means 5 gallons of oil-based paint would be around 35 pounds in total.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the four different types of paints used?

Latex paint, acrylic paints, enamel paints, and oil-based paints are the four different types of paints that are used nowadays. All four of these are different from each other and come with different properties. Acrylic paints are most of the time used in arts, crafts, and nail polishes. Latex paints are ideal for outdoor projects because they dry up quickly and are environmentally friendly. Enamel paints are known for being water resistant, making them ideal for furniture, outdoor and vehicle painting, and railings. The oil-based paints are the oldest type of paint, used worldwide for ages.

Does a gallon of paint weigh the same when it is dried and wet?

No, it does not. The standard gallon of paint weighs slightly more than the gallon that has been dried up. And this is because most of the substances present in the paints evaporate during the drying process. The paint that has remained behind is comparatively less in pounds than the whole gallon of liquid paint.

What type of paint is the heaviest among all types of paints used?

Enamel paints are said to be the heaviest of all other types of paints because we are not sure whether the paint is acrylic, oil-based, or water-based. These enamel paints vary from around 55 pounds to 65 pounds per 5 gallons. We cannot specify the weight of the paint because of course the paint differs based on its chemical composition and other substances used in its manufacturing.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, you have now understood how much 5 gallons of paint weigh. We cannot specify the accurate value because different types of weight are different from each other. Moreover, the weight of the paint depends upon multiple factors including its chemical composition and the products used in it.

Above mentioned article tells you about the weight of the four different types of paints and how much they would be in 5 gallons. Read the details so you are aware of the exact weight of the paint.