Nail Polish Quantity Calculator
Plan how many bottles of nail polish a salon needs from client volume, product used per service and a wastage allowance.
How it works
Total ml = clients/week × weeks × ml per service × (1 + wastage%) · Bottles = ⌈total ml ÷ bottle size⌉
A full manicure uses several coats — a base, two colour layers and a top coat — which together consume a few millilitres per client. Multiply the per-service amount by your weekly client count and the weeks you are stocking for, add a wastage margin for spills and thickened bottles, then divide by bottle size and round up. This sizes an order for a single popular colour; spread the total across your palette by demand.
Worked example
50 manicures a week at 4 ml each is 200 ml weekly. Over 4 weeks that is 800 ml; add 10% wastage to reach 880 ml. At 15 ml a bottle you need about 59 bottles across all shades for the month.
Frequently asked questions
How much polish does one manicure use?
A standard manicure uses roughly 3–5 ml once you count base coat, two colour coats and a top coat. Longer nails, French tips and nail art use more, so adjust the per-service figure to your typical service.
Should I order one colour or spread the total?
This total is the combined volume; in practice you split it across your shade range by how often each is requested. Keep more of your best-selling neutrals and reds and fewer of niche colours.
Why add a wastage percentage?
Bottles thicken and get discarded before they are empty, brushes drag polish out, and spills happen. A 10–15% allowance keeps you from running short mid-month.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.