The best Black wall paints, compared.
Top pick: Sandtex multi-surface satin black 750 ml Best value: Johnstone's matt black 2.5 L – The other 2.5 L tin at the same £16.99, about £6.80 a litre, with the touch-mark deduction already in the score. Updated October 2026.
Black wall paint is usually a water-borne emulsion for interior plaster, plasterboard, or a previously painted wall or ceiling. In the UK you buy it for one feature wall, a whole room, or a room that stays steamy. The same search also returns exterior satin, which is a different job. You tell a suitable tin by the coats stated over a light colour, by whether people will brush the film, and by a VOC figure inside the 2012 cap for interior walls and ceilings. Flat matt hides bumps and can mark if a hand touches it. Soft sheen or silk wipes more willingly and shows the surface. Stated rates for matt emulsions commonly sit around 11–17 m² per litre per coat. Porous plaster uses more. A colour called black may dry anthracite, so you judge the dry film in the room's light. An anti-mould coating is a finish. It does not repair a leak or rising damp. The order of room, finish, then volume is in the [black wall paint buying guide](/hub/paints-and-varnishes/black-wall-paint/sub/black-wall-paint-buying-guide).
Black wall paint is usually a water-borne emulsion for interior plaster, plasterboard, or a previously painted wall or ceiling. In the UK you buy it for one feature wall, a whole room, or a room that stays steamy.
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
Will people brush the painted wall?
Sandtex multi-surface satin black is a 750 ml tin at £19.67, about £26.23 a litre, with a stated 9 m² per tin per coat, touch dry in 1.5 hours and full cure in 24 hours. The indoor/outdoor field says Outdoor, specific uses say Interior/Exterior, and the listing calls it waterproof, with a 10-year durability claim and a mould-resistance line. The star line is 4.8 from 40 ratings, a thin sample, and one review describes gutters rather than a bedroom wall. The brand-name field says Crown while the title and manufacturer say Sandtex, and the surface field says Wood. It is a satin for brick, concrete, stone, wood, weathered PVC-u and non-ferrous metal, with a second coat after 4–6 hours on exterior work. It is the wrong tin if you came for a 2.5 L interior emulsion.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Exterior brick, concrete, wood or metal that needs a black satin, in two coats.
Less suitable: A bedroom, a feature wall, or any interior job priced per litre against the 2.5 L emulsions.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this interior wall emulsion?
The indoor/outdoor field says Outdoor, and specific uses say Interior/Exterior. One review describes gutters. It is a 750 ml multi-surface satin, not a 2.5 L interior emulsion.
Is it waterproof?
The listing field says waterproof. Special features include a 10-year durability claim and mould resistance.
Which brand is printed?
The title and the manufacturer field say Sandtex. The brand-name field says Crown.
Crown's Grey Black matt is a 2.5 L acrylic emulsion at £22.20, about £8.88 a litre, with a stated 14 m² per litre, a 2 hour touch dry and a 4 hour recoat. The bullets point it at bedrooms and living rooms and say to use Crown Silk in kitchens and bathrooms. Two coats are stated for most previously painted surfaces, and the waterproof field is false. The listing claims a maximum VOC of 1 g/l, a 99% solvent-free line and a vegan-verified mark. The star line is 4.7 from 440 ratings, but reviews on this ASIN mention other colours, so they are a weak guide to Grey Black itself. The name is a dark grey, not a jet black, and you only know the dry colour in the room's light. It suits a low-touch living room if you want that VOC line printed, and it is a poor swap for the Johnstone's black if the brief was jet.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A bedroom or living room where you want a dark grey matt and a printed low-VOC claim.
Less suitable: A jet-black hall, a bathroom, or anyone treating the 4.7 as a verdict on this shade alone.
Specifications
Common questions
Is Grey Black a jet black?
The title colour is Grey Black, and the bullets also describe a grey range. Reviews on this ASIN mention other colours, so they are a weak guide to this shade.
Can I use this matt in a bathroom?
The bullets say to choose Crown Silk for kitchens and bathrooms, and Mid Sheen for halls. This tin is pointed at bedrooms and living rooms. The waterproof field is false.
What VOC figure is printed?
The listing says a maximum of 1 g/l, with a 99% solvent-free Breatheasy claim and a vegan-verified claim.
Johnstone's soft sheen black is the same 2.5 L and the same £16.99 shelf price as the matt, and the amazon.co.uk line is 4.5 from 950 ratings, the largest count in this set that is not shared across other colours. The bullets call the finish subtler than silk and state 12 m² per litre, while a separate coverage field prints 12 m², so you should plan from the per-litre bullet and not from that single total. Several reviewers report two coats over white, and one reports about five coats and a watery film, which is the limit of treating this as a one-pass black. Touch dry is listed at 1–2 hours, with a field that says 1.5 hours, and the full-cure field prints 3E+1 days, which reads as 30 days. No washable specification is on the page. One reviewer says the film does not mark and wipes clean, which is a single comment, not a scrub class. It is the top pick here for a wall people will touch, at the same price as the flat matt, and it is the wrong tin if you wanted a dead-matt ceiling that hides every bump.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Halls, stairs, and the wall behind a sofa, when you want black that is less likely to show a pale touch mark than the flat matt.
Less suitable: A dead-matt ceiling where any sheen will show the roller, or a one-coat job.
Specifications
Common questions
How is soft sheen different from matt?
The listing calls this a subtler finish than silk, for walls and ceilings that want a satin look. The tin size and the £16.99 shelf price match the matt ASIN B005Q7BBIW.
Will one coat cover a white wall?
Several reviewers report two coats over white. One reports about five coats and a watery film. The bullets claim 12 m² per litre.
Does the listing say it is washable?
No washable field is printed. One reviewer says it does not mark and wipes clean. That is a single review, not a specification.
Landlords black is a 1 L matt at £22.90, sold to help reduce condensation and limit mould in bathrooms, kitchens and on ceilings. The bullets claim a washable, scrub-resistant film, coverage up to 10 m² per litre and a 2 hour touch dry, and the waterproof field says true. One reviewer says it scratches and is not that waterproof, and most of the 1,258 ratings at 4.4 are other colours on the same parent, so the star line is a weak guide to this black. The paint-type field says spray and the use field says exterior, which contradict the 1 L liquid tin for indoor walls. The title talks about preventing damp. The bullets do not say the paint repairs a leak or rising damp. Buy it for a small condensation-prone ceiling after the cause of the moisture is dealt with, not as a 2.5 L decorating emulsion.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A small bathroom ceiling or kitchen wall where condensation is the problem and the leak is already fixed.
Less suitable: A whole-room black, or damp that keeps coming back.
Specifications
Common questions
Will this stop damp?
The title says it prevents damp and mould. The bullets say it helps reduce condensation and helps limit mould. The listing does not say it repairs a leak or rising damp.
Is this a spray?
The paint-type field says spray and the use field says exterior. The title, the item form, and the bullets describe a 1 L liquid matt tin for indoor walls and ceilings.
Is the black washable?
The bullets claim a washable, scrub-resistant matt, and the waterproof field says true. One reviewer says it scratches and is not that waterproof. Most reviews are other colours.
Johnstone's matt black is a 2.5 L interior emulsion at £16.99 on amazon.co.uk, about £6.80 a litre, and the listing states 32 m² for the tin with a 1–2 hour touch dry. Across 497 ratings the line is 4.4. Reviewers repeatedly say a light touch leaves a pale mark, and that wiping the mark makes it worse, so this is a flat film for a wall people do not brush past. The listing says the range is formulated for all rooms, including kitchens and bathrooms, and it prints no wet-scrub class and no washable figure. Johnstone's own notes call for two coats, and another where the colour change is strong, which is the usual black-over-white job. The full-cure field says 2 hours, a short line next to a film that still marks. It is the best value tin here when you want the lowest price per litre for a 2.5 L matt and the wall stays out of reach.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A low-touch bedroom or ceiling where you want flat black at the lowest price per litre in this set.
Less suitable: Halls, the wall behind a sofa, or anywhere hands and bags will brush the film.
Specifications
Common questions
Can this matt be used in a bathroom?
The listing says these emulsions are formulated for all rooms, including kitchens and bathrooms. It prints no wet-scrub class. Reviewers often report pale marks from a light touch.
Is this paint washable?
The listing does not state a washable figure. Reviewers repeatedly say a light touch leaves a mark, and that wiping makes the mark worse.
How much does the 2.5 L tin cover?
The listing prints 32 square metres for the tin. It does not print a per-litre rate in this saved listing.
Dulux Simply Refresh Rich Black is a 1.25 L water-based matt at £23.50, about £18.80 a litre, sold as a one-coat feature-wall paint. The listing states 16 m² for the tin, touch dry in 4 hours and full cure in 24 hours. The bullets say one coat, and that you use less paint than two coats of Dulux Matt. Reviewers split: some report one coat over white, others a matt that marks or chips, and the sample is 4.4 from 59 ratings. Dulux's own feature-wall note limits a roller load to about 0.5 m² and says to touch up after 4 hours from the same tin, so stretching the tin thin is how the one-coat claim fails. The surface field says Metal, which conflicts with a plaster wall. It is the tin for one feature wall if you load the roller as the maker describes, and a costly way to paint a whole room.
Pros
Cons
Best for: One interior feature wall when you will keep the roller loaded and not stretch the tin.
Less suitable: A whole room, a high-traffic hall, or a metal surface taken from the conflicting field.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a one-coat paint?
The bullets say one coat, and that less paint is needed than two coats of Dulux Matt. Reviewers split between one coat over white and a matt that marks or chips.
What coverage and dry time are printed?
The listing says 16 m² per tin on this 1.25 L tin, touch dry in 4 hours, and full cure in 24 hours.
Which surface does the listing name?
The use field says a one-coat feature wall. The surface recommendation says Metal. Plaster and primer are asked and not answered.
Six amazon.co.uk listings were scored from the stored files, read on 19 October 2026. The Dulux tin was still £23.50 with 4.4 from 59 ratings on a check on 20 October 2026. There is no laboratory test, and none of the six prints a BS EN 13300 wet-scrub class. The published score adds star points (the star line times ten), a review-count band, job points and coverage points, then takes off touch marks (8), a coverage clash (4), a field that contradicts the title (6), and mixed-colour reviews (6). Worked scores are 87, 83, 78, 64, 60 and 56. The weights below are the four positive blocks, maximum 48, 16, 26 and 4, scaled so they sum to 100. The top pick is the highest score. Best value is the other 2.5 L tin at the same £16.99, about £6.80 a litre, with the touch-mark deduction already in the score.
Star line
51%Star points are the amazon.co.uk star line times ten, so 4.4 is 44 and 4.8 is 48. This weight is that block scaled from a 48-point maximum. Stars are the listing average, not a scrub test.
Review count
17%Review-count points are 4 at 40–59 ratings, 12 at 200–499, 16 at 500–999, and 10 at 1,000 or more when the file mixes other colours. This weight is that block scaled from 16.
Job fit
28%Job points are 26 for a 2.5 L interior emulsion, 18 for a 1.25 L one-coat feature-wall tin, 14 for a 1 L anti-mould interior tin, and 6 for a 750 ml exterior satin. This weight is that block scaled from 26.
Coverage
4%Coverage adds 4 when the listing prints a figure you can plan from, and takes 4 off when a coverage field disagrees with the per-litre bullet. Touch-mark, clash and mixed-review deductions sit on the score. They are not a fifth weight.
Start with the room, then the finish, then the volume. Interior plaster needs emulsion. Exterior brick, wood and metal need an exterior system. Flat matt hides bumps and marks where a hand brushes it. Soft sheen wipes more willingly and shows the surface. Price a tin per litre. A small tin at a similar shelf price is a different job. Shelf lines in this capture run from £16.99 for 2.5 L to £23.50 for 1.25 L. The top pick and the best value are the two 2.5 L tins at the same £16.99.
Black wall paint, for a UK shopper, is usually a water-borne emulsion for interior plaster, plasterboard, or a previously painted wall or ceiling. People buy it for one feature wall, a whole room, or a steamy room. The same search also returns exterior satin, which is a different job. Flat matt hides bumps and marks. Soft sheen wipes more willingly and shows the surface. The scores on this page come from amazon.co.uk listings. They are not a lab ranking. Start with the room and the substrate.
Reviewers of the 2.5 L matt say a light touch leaves a pale mark, and that wiping the mark makes it worse. Halls, stairs and the wall behind a sofa want soft sheen, silk, or a washable matt. None of these listings print a wet-scrub class.
Black over white is a strong change. Johnstone's matt instructions say two coats, plus another over a strong contrast. A one-coat tin fails when the roller is stretched past the maker's load, about 0.5 m², with touch-up after 4 hours from the same tin.
Grey Black is a dark grey name, and reviews on that ASIN mix other colours. The 750 ml satin is for exterior brick, concrete, stone, wood and non-ferrous metal. It is the wrong tin for a bedroom wall.
Matt, gloss at or below 25 at 60° in the VOC rules, suits a low-touch wall. It hides bumps and can show a pale mark if a hand brushes it. Soft sheen, silk, or a washable matt suits a hall and the wall behind a sofa. Soft sheen wipes more willingly and shows the surface. None of the six listings print a BS EN 13300 wet-scrub class, so a washable or waterproof line counts only when that listing prints it.
Johnstone's matt instructions say two coats, plus another where the colour change is strong. Black over white is that change. A one-coat tin is a separate product, with a loading rule of about 0.5 m² per roller load and a touch-up after 4 hours from the same tin. Stated rates for UK matt emulsions commonly sit around 11–17 m² per litre per coat. Porous plaster uses more. Price the tin per litre, not by the sticker on a small tin. About £17 for 2.5 L is about £6.80 a litre.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want one dark wall and you will live with a matt that can scuff. Dulux Simply Refresh Rich Black, 1.25 L, at about £23.50 is the one-coat feature-wall tin, with 4.4 from 59 ratings and 16 m² stated for the tin. The maker note limits a roller load to about 0.5 m² and says to touch up after 4 hours from the same tin. Skip it for a whole room, or if you need a large review sample.
You want 2.5 L and the lowest price per litre in this set. Johnstone's matt black at about £16.99 is about £6.80 a litre, with 32 m² stated for the tin and 4.4 from 497 ratings. Reviewers report pale marks from a light touch, and that wiping makes the mark worse. Skip it for a hall or the wall behind a sofa.
You have a hall, stairs, or the wall behind a sofa, and you want black that is less likely to show a pale touch mark than the flat matt. Johnstone's soft sheen, 2.5 L, at about £16.99 is the top pick, with 4.5 from 950 ratings. A coverage field prints 12 m² against a 12 m² per litre bullet, so plan from the per-litre line. Skip it if you wanted a dead-matt ceiling.
The top pick is Johnstone's soft sheen black, 2.5 L, at £16.99. It is the highest score: 4.5 from 950 ratings, bullets stating 12 m² per litre, and the same shelf price as the flat matt. A coverage field prints 12 m², so plan from the per-litre bullet. Several reviewers report two coats over white. The best value is Johnstone's matt black, 2.5 L, at the same £16.99, about £6.80 a litre, with 4.4 from 497 ratings and 32 m² stated for the tin. Reviewers say a light touch leaves a pale mark and wiping makes it worse. Crown Grey Black is £22.20 with 4.7 from 440 ratings, a dark grey name, and reviews that mix other colours. Dulux Simply Refresh is £23.50 for 1.25 L with 4.4 from 59 ratings. Landlords black is £22.90 for 1 L. Sandtex is £19.67 for 750 ml of exterior satin. A 4.8 from 40 ratings on that satin can outscore an interior emulsion on stars and still be the wrong tin for a bedroom. None of the six listings prints a BS EN 13300 wet-scrub class, and none of this is a laboratory test.
Johnstone's matt black 2.5 L
The other 2.5 L tin at the same £16.99, about £6.80 a litre, with the touch-mark deduction already in the score.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources used for this comparison. Shelf prices, stars and review counts are the amazon.co.uk figures read on 19 October 2026. The Dulux tin was checked again on 20 October 2026. Last checked 20 October 2026.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are the UK listing lines captured for these six products. We did not run a laboratory test.
