The best Emulsion paints, compared.
Top pick: Johnstone's Magnolia matt 2.5 L Best value: Crown brilliant white matt 10 L – Lowest price per litre among packs of at least 2.5 litres, about £2.09. The badge is a price rule. Updated October 2026.
Emulsion paint is the water-based paint used on UK interior walls and ceilings. Matt, silk and scrubbable matt are sheens, not separate product types. You buy it for bedrooms, ceilings, hallways and a feature wall, and you tell a suitable tin by the pack against the room, a coverage figure near 10–14 m² per litre, and a waterproof line you do not ignore when a bullet mentions bathrooms. Ordinary matt hides bumps and suits ceilings and bedrooms. A hallway you scrub, or a bathroom that steams, needs silk, a durable matt with a printed scrub class, or a bathroom emulsion. A kitchen-and-bathroom bullet does not overturn a waterproof field that says false. A retail listing in this category often omits a BS EN 13300 class. Those checks are in the [emulsion paint buying guide](/hub/paints-and-varnishes/emulsion-paint/sub/emulsion-paint-buying-guide). Plan two coats at about 10–14 m² per litre on a sound painted wall. A 30 ml bottle is for scuffs. Do not plan from a coverage line of 35 m² per litre. This category was not lab-tested.
Emulsion paint is the water-based paint used on UK interior walls and ceilings. Matt, silk and scrubbable matt are sheens, not separate product types.
28 products checked · 58 hrs invested · +22,100 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you painting?
Magnolia is Johnstone's vinyl matt, model 304025, titled 2.5 litres, at £16.05, rated 4.7 from 443 reviews. The item-volume field says 25 litres. Size is 2.5 L, unit count is 2500 ml, and weight is 3.55 kg, so the 25 litre line is the broken field and it costs the score 4 points. Reviewers describe a clean cream, low odour, and paint that washes off if you catch it quickly. Some needed one coat. One wall stayed patchy after a second tin, and a touch-up of an older Johnstone's magnolia looked darker. The lid was hard to open for one buyer, and another found microbubbles. Waterproof is false and water resistance says not water resistant, while the bullets name kitchens and bathrooms. Coverage is 12 m² per litre. Dry time is 1 hour and full cure is 2 hours. The score is 90.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 2.5 litre magnolia and you will ignore the 25 litre volume field.
Less suitable: You need a 25 litre pack, a white 7 or 10 litre, or a bathroom tin with waterproof true.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this magnolia really 25 litres?
The item-volume field says 25 litres. Size says 2.5 L, unit count says 2500 ml, the title says 2.5L, and the weight is 3.55 kg. Treat the pack as 2.5 litres.
Does the listing say this magnolia is waterproof?
No. Is waterproof is false and water resistance says not water resistant. The bullets still name kitchens and bathrooms. The non-toxic question is unanswered.
What do the reviews say about hide?
The star line is 4.7 from 443 reviews. Several praise low odour and one coat. One buyer was still patchy after a second tin, and a touch-up of older Johnstone's magnolia was darker than the wall.
Ballet Slipper is Johnstone's 2.5 litre matt, model 308630, at £16.30, rated 4.6 from 1,041 amazon.co.uk reviews. In the first 50 UK texts, reviewers describe a dusty pink that matches the name, with low odour, and several needed only one coat on a light wall. Others report a thin or purple first coat that covered on the second, and one buyer needed three or four coats over white. One of three pots had lumps of dried paint. A holed tin and a doorstep leak also appear. Coverage is 12 m²/l. Dry time is 1 hour and full cure is 24 hours, against a bullet that says 1–2 hours. Waterproof is false and water resistance says water resistant, while the bullets name kitchens and bathrooms. It is the top pick because 4.6 times 20 is 92, the highest score in this set.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 2.5 litre dusty pink for a bedroom and you are choosing the highest score in this set.
Less suitable: You need brilliant white, a 5 or 10 litre pack, or a bathroom paint the maker specifies for steam.
Specifications
Common questions
Is Ballet Slipper listed as waterproof?
No. Is waterproof is false. Water resistance says water resistant. The bullets still name kitchens and bathrooms, and the bathroom question on the listing is unanswered.
How long does the listing say this pink takes to dry?
Dry time is 1 hour and full cure is 24 hours. The bullet says 1–2 hours. The tin is 2.5 litres, 3.6 kg, coverage 12 m²/l.
What do the first 50 reviews say about coverage?
The star line is 4.6 from 1,041 reviews. Several say one coat was enough. Others describe a thin or purple first coat that settled on the second, and one of three pots had dried lumps.
Natural Sage is Johnstone's 2.5 litre matt, model 308639, at £17.18, rated 4.5 from 2,011 reviews. Reviewers who had tried another green describe this shade as a true green rather than apple-yellow, and several report two coats on previously painted plasterboard with few drips and a low odour. Two pots covered dark teal walls for one buyer, while another said a second coat was unnecessary. A second tin had skin or lumps, and one order was thin and drippy beside the same brand in white. A dented reduced tin still held usable paint. Is waterproof is false, yet water resistance says waterproof, and the bathroom question is unanswered even though the bullets name kitchens and bathrooms. Container type says bottle. Coverage is 12 m²/L. It scores 90, below Ballet Slipper.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 2.5 litre sage green and you are choosing on a large review count rather than the top score.
Less suitable: You need white, a 5 litre grey, or a tin whose waterproof fields agree.
Specifications
Common questions
Is Natural Sage listed as waterproof?
Is waterproof is false. Water resistance level says waterproof. Those two fields disagree. The bathroom question on the listing is unanswered.
What pack size is this sage?
2.5 litres, model 308639, 3.6 kg, coverage 12 m²/L. Container type says bottle. Finish is flat / matt. Dry time and full cure are both 2 hours.
Do the extracted reviews say one coat is enough?
Some say one coat. Others say two, including over white and over dark teal. One buyer needed about four layers. The star line is 4.5 from 2,011 reviews.
Manhattan Grey is Johnstone's 5 litre vinyl matt, model 307781, at £28.65, rated 4.5 from 1,670 reviews. Some reviewers covered a hallway or a living room from one tin and call the grey warm once dry. Others say it looks blue while wet, or darker than the tin, almost anthracite. One pot had lumps and skin that transferred to the wall. Another wall marked within a few weeks after two or three coats. Two pots arrived upside down and leaked at the lid. Waterproof is false and water resistance says water resistant. The surface field says stone, while the bullets name walls, ceilings, kitchens, and bathrooms. Coverage is 65 m² per tin, which is 13 m² per litre if you divide by the 5 litre volume. Weight is 7.03 kg. It scores 90. About £5.73 per litre, dearer per litre than the whites.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want one 5 litre tin of a mid grey and you can check the shade in daylight before you commit the whole room.
Less suitable: You want brilliant white, a 2.5 litre pink or sage, or a grey that matches the tin picture exactly.
Specifications
Common questions
Is Manhattan Grey listed as washable?
The washable question is unanswered. Is waterproof is false. Water resistance says water resistant. The bullets still name kitchens and bathrooms.
How much grey is in the pack?
5 litres, model 307781, 7.03 kg. Coverage is 65 m² per tin. Surface recommendation says stone. Dry time is 2 hours and full cure is 1 day.
Do the reviews agree on the shade?
No. The star line is 4.5 from 1,670 reviews. Some call it a warm mid grey. Others say blue-grey when wet, or darker than the tin, almost anthracite. One pot had lumps and skin.
Dulux Matt pure brilliant white, model 500006, is a 7 litre tin at £27.05, listed at 4.4 from 3,208 amazon.co.uk reviews, the largest count in this set. In the first 50 UK texts, reviewers describe a bright white on walls and ceilings, often in two coats, and a pack large enough for a hall. Others call it thin or watery, needed three or four coats over a pale colour, or found the tub short, split, or leaking through the lid. One lid was taped so heavily it took about 45 minutes to open. One buyer said it yellowed over filler. Coverage on the page is 10–12 m² per litre, dry time and full cure are both 4 hours, and waterproof is false. Weight is 10 kg. About £3.86 per litre. The score is 88. It is not the top pick, and it is not the cheapest per litre.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 7 litre brilliant white with the largest review sample in this set.
Less suitable: You want the lowest price per litre, a named colour, or a bathroom emulsion.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this 7 litre Dulux say it is waterproof?
No. Is waterproof is false and water resistance says not water resistant. The durability, wood, and primer questions on the listing are unanswered.
What coverage does the listing give?
10–12 m² per litre. The tin is 7 litres and weighs 10 kg. Dry time and full cure are both 4 hours. Warranty says no warranty.
What do the first 50 reviews say about the tub?
The star line is 4.4 from 3,208 reviews. Several praise a bright white. Others call the paint thin, report a short fill or a split side, or spent a long time cutting tape off the lid.
Paintsmiths Home Touch-Up is a 30 ml magnolia matt emulsion with a brush in the cap, part PS000910, at £8.79, rated 4.3 from 241 reviews. The count is under 250, so the score loses 6 points and lands at 80. Weight is 50 g and coverage says partial. In the first 50 UK reviews, people used it on scuffs, filler, screw holes, and Blu-Tack chips, including to avoid a rental repaint. Several also say the shade is too bright or very white, and that the bottle is the size of nail varnish for £8.79. The brush is called long, soft, or drippy. One parcel arrived with paint everywhere. Waterproof is true, which is the only true value in this set. Surfaces say ceilings and interior walls. The title also says wood, and that question is unanswered. It is not a substitute for a 2.5 litre tin.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You need to hide a few scuffs or filled holes in magnolia or white, not paint a room.
Less suitable: You are painting a wall, you need an exact match to an old colour, or you want a low price per litre.
Specifications
Common questions
Will 30 ml paint a room?
No. The pack is 30 ml and 50 g, and coverage says partial. Reviews compare the bottle to nail varnish or Tipp-Ex. It is for scuffs, filler, and small chips.
Does the listing say this touch-up is waterproof?
Is waterproof is true. Water resistance says water resistant. The waterproof question on the page is still unanswered. Surfaces listed are ceilings and interior walls. The title also says wood.
Do reviewers say the magnolia disappears?
The star line is 4.3 from 241 reviews. Several hid scuffs and rental marks. Others say it is brighter or very white against older paint, and that the brush is long and drippy.
Crown pure brilliant white matt is a 2.5 litre tin at £10.87, the lowest 2.5 litre price in this set, rated 4.2 from 433 reviews. Size and volume agree on 2.5 litres and the weight is 3.75 kg. The coverage field says up to 35 m² per litre, which is the outlier that costs 4 points. Finish says matt and special feature says shiny. Included components says painting. Dry time and full cure are both 8 hours, while one reviewer wrote touch-dry in about 4 hours. In the first 50 reviews, some like the white and a single coat, including a ceiling. Others call it thin, not the same as Crown Contract vinyl, and describe three to five coats, a greyish tinge, or a split base with paint in the bag. Waterproof is false. The score is 80. About £4.35 per litre.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the cheapest 2.5 litre white in this set and you will not buy litres from the 35 m² line.
Less suitable: You want a coverage figure you can plan from, or a 7 or 10 litre white.
Specifications
Common questions
Should you plan litres from 35 m² per litre?
The listing prints up to 35 m² per litre. That figure is why the score loses 4 points. Size and volume both say 2.5 litres. Do not treat 35 as the planning rate used for the other tins.
Is this Crown matt shiny?
Finish type says matt. Special feature says shiny. Waterproof is false. Water resistance says water resistant. The ceiling and washable questions are unanswered.
What do the reviews say about thickness?
The star line is 4.2 from 433 reviews. Some praise a clean white and one coat. Others call it thin or almost transparent and describe three to five coats, plus split tins and lids off in the bag.
Crown brilliant white matt, model 5022863, is titled as 10 litres at £20.87, rated 4.0 from 1,411 reviews. The volume field says 10 litres and the weight is 12.9 kg. The size field says 10 ml and the unit count says 10.0 millilitre, so the score loses 4 points and lands at 76. About £2.09 per litre, the lowest among packs of at least 2.5 litres, which is why it carries the best-value badge. That badge is a price rule, not a quality award. In the first 50 reviews, the paint is often called thin or watery, with three or more coats over dark walls, and a large share of tubs arrived smashed, split, or leaking through the bag. Coverage says 70 m², and a bullet says 70 m² and 5 litres. Full cure says 1 hour against a dry time of 4 hours. Waterproof is false. Specific uses says interior/exterior while indoor/outdoor says indoor.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the lowest price per litre for a white run and you will open the parcel where a leak will not ruin a floor.
Less suitable: You want a thick one-coat white, a named colour, or a tub whose size field matches the title.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this Crown tub 10 ml or 10 litres?
The title and the item volume say 10 litres. The size field says 10 ml and the unit count says 10.0 millilitre. Weight is 12.9 kg. A bullet also says capacity 70 m², 5 litres.
Is the 10 litre Crown waterproof?
No. Is waterproof is false and water resistance says not water resistant. Indoor/outdoor says indoor, while specific uses says interior/exterior. Special feature says reflective on a matt finish.
What do the reviews say about the paint and the tub?
The star line is 4.0 from 1,411 reviews. Buyers like the price. Many call the paint thin and describe extra coats, and many tubs arrived split or with the lid cracked and paint in the bag.
Eight amazon.co.uk emulsion listings were scored from the stored listing files, not in a lab. The score is the star rating times 20. A review count under 250 subtracts 6. A size or volume field that contradicts the litre title subtracts 4. A coverage field of up to 35 m² per litre subtracts 4. If scores tie, the higher review count ranks first. Worked scores are 92, 90, 90, 90, 88, 80, 80 and 76. Prices are the GBP shelf prices from 19 October 2026. The three deduction checks keep their point sizes of 6, 4 and 4. The star line takes the remaining share. Those four shares sum to 100. The top pick is the highest score. The best value is the lowest price per litre among packs of at least 2.5 litres. That badge is a price rule. Reviews often call that tub thin. The 30 ml touch-up is excluded from the per-litre comparison.
Amazon stars
86%The star line is the base. Score equals the amazon.co.uk rating times 20, so 4.6 is 92 before any deduction. Stars are the listing average, not a lab scrub test. This share is what remains after the three deduction checks below.
Review count
6%A review count under 250 subtracts 6. That is the 30 ml touch-up, at 241 reviews. If two scores tie, the higher review count ranks first.
Size and volume
4%A size or unit-count field that contradicts the litre volume subtracts 4. That is the 10 litre title whose size field says 10 ml, and the 2.5 litre title whose item volume says 25 litres.
Coverage field
4%A coverage field of up to 35 m² per litre subtracts 4. That figure is not used as a planning number. The other tins stay near 10–14 m² per litre, or print a tin total.
Start with the room and how hard you wipe it, then litres for two coats, then whether the pack matches the job, then whether the size and volume fields agree, then the star line. The notes below follow that order. None of these listings was lab-tested.
Emulsion is the water-based paint used on UK interior walls and ceilings. Matt, silk and scrubbable matt are sheens, not different categories. The eight amazon.co.uk listings kept here, from the 19 October 2026 extracts, are all matt: a 30 ml touch-up, three Johnstone's 2.5 litre colours, a Johnstone's 5 litre grey, a Crown 2.5 litre white, a Dulux 7 litre white, and a Crown 10 litre white. Vinyl or flat matt means low sheen and water clean-up. Makers specify two coats.
Crown's 2.5 litre listing prints up to 35 m² per litre. That figure costs the score 4 points and is not a planning rate. Use about 10–14 m² per litre, or about 12 m² per litre on Johnstone's retail matt.
A kitchen-and-bathroom bullet does not overturn a waterproof field that says false. Only the 30 ml bottle in this file has waterproof true. A steaming bathroom needs a bathroom emulsion, which is not in this file.
Reviews of the 10 litre Crown title include split and smashed tubs and paint in the bag. Open the parcel where a leak will not ruin a floor. A thin first coat is also not the specification: makers specify two.
Ordinary matt hides bumps and suits ceilings and bedrooms. A hallway you scrub, or a bathroom that steams, needs silk, a durable matt with a printed scrub class, or a bathroom emulsion. A kitchen-and-bathroom bullet does not overturn a waterproof field set to false. Only the 30 ml bottle here has waterproof true. None of these eight states a BS EN 13300 class. Silk, durable matt and bathroom emulsion are not in this file.
Crown 10 litre's size field says 10 ml and the unit count says 10.0 millilitre, against a 10 litre title, a 10 litre volume and a weight of 12.9 kg. That contradiction subtracts 4. Johnstone's Magnolia's item volume says 25 litres against a 2.5 L size and a 2500 ml unit count. That also subtracts 4. Treat the magnolia pack as 2.5 litres. Crown's 2.5 litre coverage field says up to 35 m² per litre and subtracts 4. Do not buy litres from those lines. The score is then the star rating times 20.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You are painting one room from a 2.5 litre tin at about 12 m² per litre. Johnstone's Ballet Slipper is the top pick: the highest score in this set, 92, from 4.6 and 1,041 reviews. It is a dusty pink. Waterproof is false beside a kitchens-and-bathrooms bullet, and several reviews describe a thin first coat.
You are refreshing brilliant white walls and you want the lowest price per litre among packs of at least 2.5 litres. Crown's 10 litre title is about £20.87, about £2.09 per litre, which is why it is the best value. The size field says 10 ml, and reviews often call the paint thin. Open the parcel where a leak will not ruin a floor.
You want a brilliant white with the largest review sample in this set. Dulux Matt pure brilliant white is 7 litres at about £27.05, listed at 4.4 from 3,208 reviews, score 88. Coverage is 10–12 m² per litre. Waterproof is false. It is not the lowest price per litre.
The top pick is Johnstone's Ballet Slipper matt, 2.5 litres, at about £16.30. It has the highest score in this set, 92, from 4.6 and 1,041 reviews, with no deduction. Coverage is 12 m²/l. Waterproof is false beside a kitchens-and-bathrooms bullet, and reviewers describe a thin first coat as well as a dusty pink. The best value is Crown brilliant white matt, titled 10 litres, at about £20.87, about £2.09 per litre, the lowest among packs of at least 2.5 litres. The badge is a price rule. The score is 76 because the size field says 10 ml, and reviews often call that tub thin. The 30 ml touch-up is not in the per-litre comparison.
Crown brilliant white matt 10 L
Lowest price per litre among packs of at least 2.5 litres, about £2.09. The badge is a price rule.
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 sources from the research digest, last checked on 19 October 2026. Shelf prices and star lines are the amazon.co.uk figures in the display file. The price band is this set, not a market average. No listing was lab-tested.
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 stored amazon.co.uk figures, not a live crawl. We did not lab-test these coatings.
