FOR GROWN-UP PAINTERS
Paint by numbers for adults.
Adult paint by numbers kits are pre-printed canvases divided into numbered sections, each matched to a pot of ready-mixed acrylic paint. No drawing, no colour mixing, no experience needed. Kits start at £21.99 and take anywhere from five to forty hours depending on the design you pick.
The difference between an adult kit and a children's one is section size and colour count. Ours run to 24, 36 or 48 colours across five canvas sizes, which is what lets a finished piece hold up on a wall rather than looking like a colouring book.
Start at the right level
The single biggest factor in whether you enjoy your first kit. Times are for a 40x50cm canvas.
Easy — 5 to 10 hours
Large, clearly defined sections and a simplified palette. Bold subjects like sunflowers, sunsets and single animals. Finishable across two or three evenings, and very forgiving of a wobbly hand.
Intermediate — 10 to 20 hours
More sections, more tonal steps, more satisfying. Landscapes with real depth, florals with layered petals. The level most people settle at once they have finished one kit.
Advanced — 25 hours and up
Small sections, wide palettes, architecture and reflections. Genuinely demanding, and best taken on with a 48-colour set. Not a first kit.
How the three levels compare
All figures are for a 40x50cm canvas, painted at a relaxed pace.
| Level | Easy | Intermediate | Advanced |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time to finish | 5-10 hours | 10-20 hours | 25+ hours |
| Section size | Large | Medium | Small |
| Suggested colours | 24 | 36 | 48 |
| Needs a steady hand | No | Some | Yes |
| Good first kit | Yes | If you are patient | No |
THE HONEST ANSWER
Is it actually relaxing?
For most people, yes, and the reason is structure. You are not deciding anything. The next decision is always made for you, which is what lets your attention settle.
One caveat worth stating: pick a level above your patience and it stops being relaxing very quickly. Frustration usually comes from choosing a 48-colour architectural scene as a first kit, not from the hobby itself.
We looked at what the research actually says in are paint by numbers good for anxiety and do creative hobbies reduce stress.
Pre-printed linen-blend canvas
Numbered and ready to paint, in your chosen size and format.
Pre-mixed acrylic paints
24, 36 or 48 pots, colour-matched to the design. No mixing.
Brushes, guide and gift box
Three brushes, a reference sheet, a getting-started guide, and a branded box.
Common questions
Yes. Every region on the canvas is numbered and every paint pot carries the matching number, so no drawing or colour-mixing skill is required. Start with an easy 30x40cm kit, which most adults finish in 5-10 hours.
Pre-designed kits start at £21.99 and custom kits made from your own photo start at £25.99. Price rises with canvas size and framing option. Shipping is free worldwide with no minimum order.
Custom kits come in nine sizes: 20x30cm, 30x40cm, 30x50cm, 40x40cm, 40x50cm, 40x60cm, 50x50cm, 50x60cm and 60x80cm. For a first kit, 30x40cm or 40x50cm gives enough space for detail without becoming a months-long project.
No. The kit includes the canvas, all the pre-mixed acrylic paints, three brushes, a reference sheet and instructions. You only need a jar of water, some kitchen roll and a flat, well-lit surface.
Let the mistake dry completely, then paint the correct colour straight over it. Acrylic is opaque and the linen-blend canvas takes several layers without buckling or bleeding through.
Yes, and larger canvases work well for this. A 50x60cm design gives two people room to work on different areas at the same time without knocking elbows or resting on each other's wet paint.
They should not if you paint properly. The numbers are printed faintly, and a full coat of acrylic covers them. Pale colours sometimes need a second coat once the first has dried.
Choose the DIY frame or pre-framed option at checkout and it is handled for you. If you ordered a rolled canvas, standard sizes such as 30x40cm and 40x50cm fit off-the-shelf frames from most high-street and online retailers.
Pre-designed kits dispatch within 3-5 working days. Custom kits take 3 to 5 working days to produce after your photo is approved. Delivery is then 5-7 working days to the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Europe, or 10-14 working days elsewhere.
Pre-designed kits are covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee if returned unopened in their original packaging. Custom kits are made to your photo so cannot be returned once shipped, which is why we send a design preview for approval before printing.
Where to next?
A few places worth a look.
Make it from your own photo
Custom kits from £25.99, built from a photograph you upload after checkout.
How to frame it
UK frame sizes that actually fit a metric canvas, and roughly what they cost.
Running a group session
Choosing kits for a care setting or a group, with a session plan you can print.
