# Printing Ink Consumption Calculator

> Estimate the ink a print job uses from printed area, coverage, ink film weight per m² and quantity, with a waste allowance and optional ink cost.

Category: Manufacturing & packaging · Applies to: Worldwide · Last updated: 2026-10-29
Interactive calculator: https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/printing-ink-consumption-calculator

Ink used is the printed area times the coverage percentage times the ink film weight per square metre. The film weight depends on the process and set-up, so it is your input.

Also called: Ink usage calculator, Ink mileage calculator.

## Inputs
- Printable area per item (unit m²; default 0.5)
- Ink coverage of that area (unit %; default 30)
- Ink film weight at 100% coverage (unit g/m²; default 1.5)
- Items printed (default 10000)
- Waste allowance (wash-up, make-ready) (unit %; default 10; optional)
- Ink price per kg (default 20; optional)
- Currency

## Results
- Ink needed
- Ink on the product
- Ink per item
- Ink cost

## Formula

```
Ink per item (g) = Area × Coverage% × Film weight;  Ink (kg) = Ink per item × Quantity ÷ 1000 × (1 + Waste%)
```

Where:
- Film weight: grams of ink per m² at solid (100%) coverage

## Worked example
1. Per item = 0.5 m² × 30% × 1.5 g/m² = 0.225 g.
2. Net = 0.225 × 10,000 ÷ 1000 = 2.25 kg.
3. With 10% waste: 2.475 kg, costing 2.475 × 20 = 49.50.

**Result:** The run needs about 2.5 kg of ink, roughly 49.50 at 20 per kg.

## What the result means

Run the calculator once per colour, since each colour has its own coverage. Weigh ink before and after a job to calibrate the film weight.

## Assumptions and limits
- Coverage is the average across the printed area.
- Film weight is the main uncertainty; the result is only as good as that input.

## Questions

### How do I find coverage?

Many prepress tools report coverage per separation; otherwise estimate the share of the area that is inked.

### Does wet or dry ink weight matter?

Yes. Use the same basis as the ink you buy, usually wet ink as supplied.

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Source: GM¹X CalcVerse — https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/printing-ink-consumption-calculator