Premium Paint vs. Trade Paint: What’s Worth Your Money?
When planning a build or renovation, choosing paint might seem like a small decision—but the price gap between premium brands (Farrow & Ball, Little Greene) and trade paints (Dulux Trade, Crown Trade) can be huge. So, is premium paint worth it, or is trade paint just as good?
Here’s the straight-talking breakdown.
What’s the Difference?
| Feature | Premium Paint (e.g., Farrow & Ball) | Trade Paint (e.g., Dulux Trade) |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage | Often needs more coats | Better coverage per litre |
| Durability | Prone to scuffs, less wipeable | Tougher, better for high-traffic areas |
| Finish Quality | Richer, deeper colours | Good finish but less depth |
| Ease of Application | Can drag, requires careful application | Smoother, faster to work with |
| Cost | £80+ for 5L | £40-60 for 5L |
| Colour Choice | Unique, highly pigmented shades | Standardised colour ranges |
| Availability | Smaller tins, fewer stockists | Readily available in bulk |
The Case for Premium Paints
✅ Deeper, richer colours – Natural pigments give a softer, chalkier look that changes in different light.
✅ Exclusive colour palettes – Farrow & Ball and Little Greene offer more subtle, muted shades than standard paint ranges.
✅ Eco-friendly & low VOC – Less harmful fumes, better for indoor air quality.
✅ Luxury appeal – Some buyers recognise premium brands, which can help in high-end properties.
The Case for Trade Paints
✅ Better coverage – Fewer coats needed, making it faster and cheaper to apply.
✅ More durable – Designed for high-traffic areas, easier to wipe clean.
✅ Easier to work with – Less dragging, smoother finish, and fewer re-coats.
✅ Much cheaper – Costs half as much as premium paint for similar performance.
When to Choose Premium Over Trade
🏡 Feature walls & statement rooms – If you want that premium look, it’s worth it.
🏡 Heritage properties – Better historical colour accuracy and depth.
🏡 Eco-conscious builds – Low VOC options are better for health and sustainability.
Touching up and different batches
The premium paints are more artisan in their build up and therefore there is often a difference between batches of the same colour. The paint also settles quickly so you can’t stockpile spare paint. This means when you come to do touch ups you are likely going to have to paint the entire wall again, not just small touch ups like you can get away with with trade paints.
Colour matching
Colour matching is a cheat used to get the benefits of the nice colour with the price of the trade paints and some of the time it works well but it’s not perfect. The colour match is as close a colour match as the paint mixer can get, it is not an exact match. Some of the colours look idential, some look completely different. The quality of the colour is also different between the real deal and the colour matched so you need to try it. In my own house, I colour matched everything to save money but then as I have been touching up or decorating room by room, I’ve used genuine products and the quality of finish is higher.
Cost difference
Leyland Trade paint is £0.50 per m2 per coat vs Farrow and Ball is £1.50. A good size house in SW11 tends to have around 1,000 sqm of walls and ceilings so it’s going to cost at least £1,000 extra to paint our example vs Leyland trade paints per coat. With trade paints you need a standard mist coat / under coat and 2 top coats to achieve a good finish. With premium paints, you often need 3 top coats of paint plus over the matching premium primer undercoat which is priced at a similar level to the top coat.
💰 Cost Comparison: Premium vs. Trade Paint
| Paint Type | Coats Needed | Cost per m² (Labour + Materials) | Total Cost (1,000m²) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leyland Trade | Mist coat + 2 top coats | £17.25 per m² | £17,250 |
| Farrow & Ball | Undercoat + 3 top coats | £29.50 per m² | £29,500 |
Key takeaway: Using premium paint adds at least £12,250 extra, and that’s before factoring in woodwork, doors, windows, or colour change wastage.
The Verdict: What Should You Use?
🔹 For practicality, durability, and cost-effectiveness: Trade paint wins.
🔹 For richer colours and luxury appeal: Premium paint is worth it in key areas.
At Bloom Builders, we use both depending on the project. Want advice on what’s best for your build? Get in touch.
