How much Resin do I need?
As a beginner Resin Artist or Crafter is essential to know much epoxy resin you need for your projects. This is because once combined Part A (Resin) with Part B (Hardener), there is a limited working time to use that mixture before it solidifies. If you mix too much and don’t have another project prepared, that resin will harden and be wasted. Or even worse, you can run out of mixed resin during a large project. So most of the time, the first question that comes to mind before getting started is: How much resin do I need?
There are several ways to calculate the amount of resin needed depending on the project you’ll be doing. For resin paintings or coating projects involving resin layers on a flat surface, the easiest way to estimate the amount needed is using a Resin Calculator like the one you’ll find below. For deep pours or casting complex objects, many artists use water to measure the internal volume of the mold to know approximately the amount of resin required.
Now that you know two easy methods to estimate your resin needs, let’s dive in to learn how you can actually do it.
How to calculate how much resin you need?
Let’s begin with projects like coating a countertop, making ocean art paintings, geode art pieces, or just covering a photo on flat surfaces like canvas or wooden panels. Since most resins for art self-level at about 1/8” or 0.125 inches, 4 oz of epoxy resin (2 oz Resin mixed with 2 oz Hardener) should cover approximately 1 square foot.
However, you can calculate the amount of resin needed for your specific project’s size at any time by using the Resin Calculator we have put together for your convenience below.
Epoxy Resin Calculator
Just enter the length and width of a rectangular or square canvas or pouring surface. For the layer’s height, you can use 0.125 inches, as that’s the average settling point for art resins.
Layer Thickness conversion for your reference
1/8″ =0.125 in.
1/4″ = 0.25 in.
3/8″ = 0.375 in.
1/2″ = 0.50 in.
5/8″ = 0.625 in.
3/4″ = 0.75 in.
7/8″ = 0.875 in.
1″ = 1.00 in.
TIP: Assuming the mixing ratio of your epoxy resin is 1:1, just divide the total amount of Resin needed by 2, and you’ll know how much Resin (Part A) and Hardener (Part B) you need to mix for your project. Please follow the manufacturer's instructions if you are using a different type of resin that’s not a 1:1 mixing ratio.
How to know how much resin to use for molds?
If you are casting a resin pyramid or a more complex object using a deep silicone mold, it can be challenging to calculate how much resin you need to fill it. An easy trick that crafters recommend is to fill your mold with water first and then pour the water into a measuring spoon or cup. This will equal the total amount of resin you’ll need to mix.
TIP: When measuring Epoxy Resin for a casting project, it’s always better to have a little extra than not enough. While the water method is pretty accurate, the viscosity levels of water and epoxy are different, so count on mixing up more resin when using this approach.
Check out the how-to video above by @resinista, a talented Resin Artist from the MEYSPRING Community on Instagram.
Final Thoughts
As discussed in this article, estimating the amount of resin needed for your creative project is crucial to success when experimenting with this medium. Since it is an expensive material and you must use it once Part A and Part B are combined, correctly estimating how much resin will be needed is always recommended to prevent waste or mishaps.
The good news is you can use a couple of easy methods. You can use our Epoxy Calculator above for projects needing thin resin layers on flat surfaces. For intricate projects involving deep molds, you can use water to estimate how many fluid ounces of Resin you need to fill the mold. Then mix that amount of resin or a little extra, just in case.
We hope you find this article helpful and the Epoxy Calculator makes your life easier regarding Epoxy Resin estimations. If you would like to learn how to make resin coasters for beginners, check out this article. You can also review our comprehensive Beginner’s Guide to Resin Art.
2 comments
Thank you for all Information , This is all new to me and your articles are extremely helpful!
Thank you so much – I am trying to work out how much i need for a 50cm round deep table.