How much ink does a calligraphy project use?

A typical A4 page of calligraphy with a 2 mm nib uses about 0.5-1 ml of ink including waste. A wedding invitation set of 100 envelopes might use 15-25 ml. The amount varies significantly with nib width and writing density.

Why add 40% for waste?

Ink is lost when loading the nib, dripping during writing, remaining in the nib after cleaning, and drying on the palette or mixing surface. Broad nibs waste more proportionally than fine nibs. 40% is a practical allowance.

How long does a 30ml bottle of ink last?

A 30 ml bottle of calligraphy ink typically lasts several months of regular practice. For professional work, expect 30 ml to cover roughly 20,000-40,000 characters depending on nib width.

Does ink type affect consumption?

Yes — thick inks like sumi ink are ground to different consistencies and lay down different film thicknesses. Walnut ink is slightly thicker than standard. Iron gall ink flows thinner. This calculator adjusts for ink type.

Should I mix a specific amount for a project?

For consistent colour across a project, mix all the ink you need at once — especially for diluted or mixed colours. This calculator helps you determine the right amount to mix.

ArtCalcs

Ink Volume Calculator — How Much Calligraphy Ink

Estimate how much ink you need for a calligraphy project based on text length.

Character Count

Letters, spaces, punctuation

Nib Width

X-Height

Ink Type

How We Calculate This

How Ink Volume Calculation Works

Ink volume = Total ink area x Film thickness

Each character is estimated at 3.5 strokes averaging 1.2x the x-height in length. Total stroke length multiplied by nib width gives the ink area. This is multiplied by the ink film thickness (0.008-0.015 mm depending on ink type) and a 40% waste factor is added.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Always verify quantities before purchasing materials.