How do I compare paint prices properly?

Convert to price per litre first, then to price per square metre using the coverage figure on the tin. A cheaper paint needing an extra coat costs more and takes longer.

Is own-brand paint any good?

Frequently very good — much of it comes from the same plants as branded paint. Compare coverage per litre rather than assuming the brand tells you about the quality.

Why can I only get some colours at one shop?

Mixed-to-order colours depend on that retailer’s mixing system, so they cannot be price-compared at all. Ready-mixed standard colours stay competitive across shops.

Cheapest place to buy paint in the UK

The cheap tin is frequently the expensive paint.

Updated 25 September 2026 · 1 min read

Compare per litre, then per coat

Paint is sold in tin sizes that do not line up between brands or shops, which makes headline prices close to meaningless. The first correction is price per litre. The second, and larger, is coverage — how many square metres a litre actually covers, and how many coats the surface will need.

A cheaper paint needing three coats is more expensive than a dearer one needing two, and it costs you an extra day as well.

Colour mixing changes where you can buy

A mixed-to-order colour can only be bought where that mixing system exists, which removes price comparison entirely. Ready-mixed standard colours are comparable across shops; bespoke ones are not.

If the exact shade is not essential, staying within ready-mixed ranges keeps the market competitive and the price down.

What actually drives the price

Coverage per litre. The number that matters and the one nobody reads.
Finish. Matt, eggshell, satin and gloss are priced differently and are not interchangeable.
Trade versus retail versions of the same brand, which differ in price, tin size and sometimes in quality — usually in the trade version’s favour.
Own-brand. Frequently made in the same plants as branded paint and priced well below it.

Before you buy

Measure the area, including how many coats the surface realistically needs.
Convert every option to price per litre.
Then convert to price per square metre using the stated coverage.
Check the trade version of the same product.
Check B&Q, Wickes and Screwfix as well as the general retailers.