Liquid porcelain: how much resin you need
Liquid porcelain (porcelanato líquido) is the name used across Latin America for self-leveling epoxy resin flooring: a seamless surface with a mirror-gloss finish. Here is how much resin it uses per square meter, the usual thicknesses and how to calculate a full room.
Liquid porcelain cost per m² (material only)
| Thickness | Mix per m² | Material cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 mm (mirror finish) | 1.7 kg | $15-26 |
| 2 mm | 2.2 kg | $20-35 |
| 3 mm (standard floor) | 3.3 kg | $30-53 |
| Seal coat (porous base) | 0.3 kg | $3-5 |
What liquid porcelain is
It is a self-leveling epoxy resin system poured over the existing floor (ceramic, smoothed concrete, traditional porcelain tile) that cures into a continuous 2-3 mm surface with no joints or grout lines. You will also see it called a metallic epoxy floor, a 3D floor or simply an epoxy resin floor: it is the same system and it is calculated the same way. It supports 3D designs, metallic pigments or solid colors, and has a high-gloss finish. Unlike ceramic tile, it is not cut and glued: it is calculated and poured.
How much it uses per square meter
The rule is the same as for any self-leveling epoxy: 1.1-1.2 kg of mix per m² for every millimeter of thickness. At the usual 2-3 mm of liquid porcelain, that is 2.2-3.3 kg/m². On porous surfaces (concrete, screed) add a prior seal coat of about 0.3 kg/m², which prevents bubbles and stops the floor from absorbing the finish resin.
How to calculate a full room
Measure the length and width of the room and multiply to get the m². Multiply by the kg/m² of your chosen thickness, add the seal coat if the base is porous, and add a 10% waste margin. In large rooms, the pour is done in continuous sections within a single session so no visible joint lines are left.
How much liquid porcelain costs per m²
The cost has two parts: material and labor. For material, at the usual 2-3 mm you use 2.2-3.3 kg of mix per m²; multiply those kilos by your resin price per kilo (typically 8-15 €/kg, about 9-16 USD depending on brand and country) and you get the real cost: between 18 and 50 € per m² in resin alone. The prior seal coat adds ~0.3 kg/m². Professional labor varies a lot by country and often matches or exceeds the material cost. The reliable way to budget is to calculate the exact kilos for your room first and multiply by your local price.
Example: 20 m² room
- Surface
- 20 m²
- Thickness
- 3 mm
- Finish coat
- ≈ 66 kg
- Seal coat
- ≈ 6 kg
- Total (+10%)
- ≈ 79 kg
Note: The calculator does this with the real density of your resin and splits the pour if more than one coat is needed.
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Calculate my floorFrequently asked questions
How much liquid porcelain do you need per m²?
Count 1.1-1.2 kg of mix per m² for every millimeter of thickness: at the usual 2-3 mm that is 2.2-3.3 kg/m². On a porous base, add a prior seal coat of ~0.3 kg/m².
How much does liquid porcelain cost per m²?
In material alone, between 18 and 50 € per m² (about 20-55 USD): multiply the 2.2-3.3 kg/m² of your chosen thickness by your resin price per kilo. Add the prior seal coat and, if you are not applying it yourself, labor, which varies by country.
Can it be applied over the existing floor?
Yes, that is its most common use: it is poured over ceramic, porcelain tile or smoothed concrete, as long as it is clean, level and sealed. Avoid loose or damp surfaces.
Which resin is used for liquid porcelain?
A thin-layer self-leveling epoxy (coating) for the 2-3 mm finish. If the floor needs deep fills or thick leveling, that base is done with a resin that allows more thickness per layer.
How long does a resin floor take to cure?
You can walk on it carefully after 24-48 h, and full cure (final hardness and chemical resistance) takes about 7 days, depending on the product and room temperature.