The best Matt emulsion paints, compared.
Top pick: Johnstone's Ivory Spray matt 5 L Best value: Crown Brilliant White matt 10 L – Lowest price per litre among packs of at least 2.5 litres that are not the top pick, about £2.09 per litre. Updated October 2026.
Matt emulsion paint is the water-borne, low-sheen coating used on UK interior walls and ceilings when you want a flat look that hides small bumps better than silk. Under the 2012 VOC Regulations, interior matt is capped at 30 g/l ready to use, and the tin must show that limit. You judge a suitable tin by the litres you can plan, whether the room stays dry, and a scrub class only if the label prints one. Plan about 10–14 m² per litre per coat, and buy for two coats. A large pack suits a whole room. A small tin suits one wall. Ordinary matt suits bedrooms, living rooms and ceilings. Bathrooms and kitchens need a product the maker specifies for moisture or steam. A room claim on a bullet is not a mould test. Those checks are in the [matt emulsion paint buying guide](/hub/paints-and-varnishes/matt-emulsion-paint/sub/matt-emulsion-paint-buying-guide). Matt hides marks less well when you scrub. Silk or a washable matt is the alternative when wiping matters. New plaster wants time to dry, then a mist coat, then two undiluted coats.
Matt emulsion paint is the water-borne, low-sheen coating used on UK interior walls and ceilings when you want a flat look that hides small bumps better than silk.
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you painting?
Ivory Spray is the colour name on Johnstone's 5 litre vinyl matt, model 304053, at £28.00 and 7.03 kg, not a spray can. The listing is 4.6 from 106 reviews, and the saved listing holds 30 UK texts rather than 50. Several buyers liked the fresh neutral, the low smell, and the coverage, including one coat over navy with touch-ups and one coat over dove grey. Another tin felt as if the next brush stroke lifted the wet paint, and one buyer called it thin enough to need three coats. A carton that was not kept upright leaked, and the container field says aerosol can, which disagrees with a 5 litre, 7.03 kg emulsion. Waterproof is false, water resistance says water repellent, and the bathroom question is unanswered. Coverage is listed as 65 m² per tin, with dry time at 1.5 hours and full cure at 24 hours. The 4.6 does not outrank the 4.5 lines with thousands of reviews, because the score deducts for the small count and the aerosol field.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You have already matched Ivory Spray against a tester and you want 5 litres of that colour for dry interior walls.
Less suitable: You are choosing by the star number alone, or you expected an aerosol.
Specifications
Common questions
Is Ivory Spray an aerosol?
The container field says aerosol can and the paint type says spray. The title, 5 litre volume, 7.03 kg weight, and item type say vinyl matt wall and ceiling emulsion. The colour name is Ivory Spray.
Can the listing confirm bathroom use?
The bathroom question is unanswered. Bullets claim kitchens and bathrooms. Waterproof is false. Water resistance says water repellent.
How many reviews support the 4.6 stars?
106 on the listing line. The saved listing holds 30 UK reviews. They include strong coverage and also a thin tin that needed three coats, plus a leak when the box was not upright.
Johnstone's vinyl matt brilliant white, model 303967, is a 2.5 litre tin at £17.01, listed at 4.5 from 5,427 amazon.co.uk reviews. In the first 50 UK texts, reviewers describe even ceiling coverage, low odour, and a bright white that hid bedroom walls and dried quickly. One reviewer said the finish still looked sound after about 12 months, and repeat buyers treat it as a known tin. Coverage on the page is 12 m² per litre, in line with the retail figure quoted for this range, though one reviewer found the hide poor and would rather have bought Dulux. A second tin arrived without the lid security tape, and another had leaked inside the carton. Waterproof is false and the water-resistance line only says water repellent, while the bullets still name kitchens and bathrooms. Dry time and full cure are both listed as 1.5 hours, against a bullet that says 1–2 hours. In this set it is the top pick because the score of 90 is tied with two other Johnstone's colours and the 5,427 reviews break that tie.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 2.5 litre brilliant white for a bedroom or ceiling and you are choosing on the largest review sample in this set.
Less suitable: You need a 7 or 10 litre white, a named colour, or a bathroom paint the maker specifies for steam.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this 2.5 litre white say it is waterproof?
No. Is waterproof is false. The water-resistance line says water repellent. The bullets still name kitchens, bathrooms, and high-traffic rooms.
What coverage does the listing give for this Johnstone's white?
12 m² per litre. The tin is 2.5 litres and weighs 3.55 kg. Dry time and full cure are both listed as 1.5 hours, while the bullet says 1–2 hours.
What do the reviews in the extract say about the tin itself?
The listing is 4.5 from 5,427 reviews. In the first 50, ceilings and low odour are praised. Other reviews describe a missing lid tape or paint leaked inside the carton.
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, so hide is not consistent across the sample. A dented tin from a reduced offer still held usable paint. Is waterproof is false, yet the water-resistance field says waterproof, and the bathroom question is unanswered even though the bullets name kitchens and bathrooms. The container type says bottle, coverage is listed as 12 m² per litre, and dry time and full cure are both 2 hours. It shares the score of 90 with the white 2.5 litre tin, and the smaller review count is why it is not the top pick.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want this named sage on a previously painted interior wall and you will plan two coats.
Less suitable: You need brilliant white, a large pack, 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.
How much sage is in the pack?
2.5 litres, model 308639, 3.6 kg, coverage 12 m² per litre. Container type says bottle. Finish is flat matt.
Do the extracted reviews say one coat is enough?
Several say two coats, including over white and over dark teal. One says a second coat was not needed. The star line is 4.5 from 2,011 reviews.
Manhattan Grey is a 5 litre Johnstone's vinyl matt pail, model 307781, at £28.65, with 4.5 from 1,670 reviews. Reviewers describe a mid grey that went on easily over a grey undercoat, and one hallway order is praised for low smell and strong coverage. Two coats to cover white is the usual plan in the extract, one reviewer called the body very runny, and after a longer prep job another said marks came back after a few weeks. The surface field says stone, while the title and bullets say walls and ceilings, including kitchens and bathrooms, and waterproof is false beside a water-resistant line. Coverage is listed as 65 m² per tin, dry time is 2 hours, and full cure is 1 day, against a bullet that says 1–2 hours. It ties on a score of 90 and loses the top-pick place on review count. Buyers who had paid about £14 for a tin before also objected to £28.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want Manhattan Grey for a hallway or living room in a dry house and you will apply two coats.
Less suitable: You need a scrub-resistant finish, a stone coating, or a brilliant white.
Specifications
Common questions
Is Manhattan Grey a stone paint?
The surface recommendation says stone. The title, item type, and bullets say matt wall and ceiling emulsion, including kitchens and bathrooms. Waterproof is false.
What dry times does the listing print?
Dry time 2 hours and full cure 1 day. The bullet says dry in 1–2 hours. Coverage is 65 square metres per tin on a 5 litre pail.
What comes up in the grey reviews?
The listing is 4.5 from 1,670 reviews. Reviewers describe a mid grey that often took two coats. One review says marks came back after a few weeks. Another calls it runny.
Dulux smooth matt, model 500006, is a 7 litre pure brilliant white at £27.05, rated 4.4 from 3,208 reviews. Reviewers who liked it describe a smooth, quick-drying white that freshened a room, and one said loft beams were nearly covered in one coat. Others called it really thin, watery, and more creamy or off-white than brilliant white. One wall was so patchy that the buyer switched to a Screwfix own-brand emulsion and said the tin was not full. A tin stored upside down leaked, and that reviewer estimated about 1 litre lost, with paint inside the plastic even when the outer carton looked intact. Listing coverage is 10–12 m² per litre, and both dry time and full cure are 4 hours. Waterproof is false and water resistance is not water resistant. Stain resistant is a feature string, not a scrub result in these reviews, and the durable, wood, and primer questions are unanswered.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a 7 litre Dulux brilliant white for interior walls and ceilings and you will plan two coats.
Less suitable: You need a white with no creamy-cast complaints, or a moisture-rated bathroom paint.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the Dulux 7 litre listing say it is waterproof or for wood?
Waterproof is false and water resistance is not water resistant. The wood question and the primer question are unanswered. Use on the listing is interior walls and ceilings.
What coverage and dry time are printed?
10–12 square metres per litre. Dry time and full cure are both 4 hours. The pack is 7 litres and 10 kg, model 500006.
Is durable answered on the listing?
The question is there and not answered. Bullets say matt finish, good coverage, and chroma lock technology. Reviews in the extract include both crisp cover and patchy, leaky tins.
The Paintsmiths magnolia touch-up is a 30 ml bottle with a cap brush, part PS000910, at £8.79 and 50 g, rated 4.3 from 241 reviews. Reviewers use it on small scuffs and black marks, before a rental inspection, and after moving a light fitting, and they like not needing a separate brush. The bottle is compared with nail varnish, and 30 ml runs out as soon as the mark is larger than a scuff. The shade often looks brighter than the existing wall unless you feather the edge. Brush hairs are described as long and soft, one reviewer poured the paint onto a sponge, and drips show up when the bottle is used like a full brush. Coverage is listed as partial, dry time is 2 hours, and full cure is 24 hours. Is waterproof is true and water resistance is water resistant, which is unique among these eight listings, but the pack is a touch-up, not a bathroom system. The title also says wood, while that question is unanswered and the surface field says ceilings and interior walls.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You have a magnolia scuff or a small mark around a fitting and you will feather the edge into the old paint.
Less suitable: You need to paint a room, match aged paint exactly, or treat a 30 ml bottle as bathroom paint.
Specifications
Common questions
Will this 30 ml bottle paint a room?
No. Volume is 30 ml and coverage is partial. Reviews call it nail-varnish sized and useful for scuffs and small marks.
Can it be used on wood, and is it waterproof?
The wood question is unanswered. The title says walls, ceilings, and wood. The surface field says ceilings and interior walls. Is waterproof is true and water resistance is water resistant.
Does magnolia match an existing wall?
The listing also offers white. Reviews say the touch-up can look brighter than the old paint unless you blend the edge. Stars are 4.3 from 241 reviews.
Crown pure brilliant white matt, part R180470, is a 2.5 litre tin at £10.87, rated 4.2 from 433 reviews. Reviewers praise a clean bright white, touch-ups that blend, and a price below the shops, and some report even cover in one coat with little splatter. Others call it runnier and thinner than Dulux, less happy under a roller, and patchy enough that extra coats show up and the paint rolled off more than one wall. The coverage field says up to 35 m² per litre, which is why the score deducts 4: that figure sits far above Crown Trade's up to 17 m² per litre and is not a planning number. Special features says shiny on a matt listing, waterproof is false, and water resistance says water resistant, while the ceiling, washable, and primer questions are unanswered. Leaks from the base, a failed this-way-up delivery, and a broken container with paint loose in the packaging are in the same sample. Dry time and full cure are both listed as 8 hours.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want a cheap 2.5 litre brilliant white for a small previously painted wall and you will ignore the 35 m² line.
Less suitable: You are buying litres from that coverage field, or you need a large pack with a stronger star line.
Specifications
Common questions
Can this Crown tin be used on ceilings, and does it need primer?
Both questions are on the listing and unanswered. The surface field says walls. Specific use is interior. Washable is also unanswered.
Why is the coverage line treated cautiously?
The listing says up to 35 m² per litre. That is the figure printed. It is far above the 10–17 m² per litre range on other tins in this set, so the score deducts 4. It is not a measured result.
What do the reviews say about the 2.5 litre tin?
4.2 from 433 reviews. Praise is for a clean white and the price. Complaints are thin paint, extra coats, and tins that leaked from the base or arrived broken.
Crown brilliant white matt, model 5022863, is listed at £20.87 with an item volume of 10 litres and a weight of 12.9 kg, rated 4.0 from 1,411 reviews. The reviews treat the pack as 10 litres and praise the volume for the money, including some crisp cover over a darker colour and tins that arrived without a spill. Others report poor hide on already-white walls after sugar soap, with black marks still showing, and they call the paint watered down, thin, and in need of more than one coat. One container arrived with the bottom smashed and leaking, and that reviewer said Amazon issued a refund. The size field says 10 ml and the unit count says 10.0 millilitre, which is why the score deducts 4, and a bullet also mixes 70 sq m with 5 litres on a 10 litre title. Dry time is 4 hours and full cure is 1 hour, waterproof is false, and the tin is not water resistant. About £2.09 per litre is the lowest in this set, which is why it is the best value pick, not because the stars are the strongest.
Pros
Cons
Best for: You want the most litres of brilliant white per pound in this set, you will check the pail is 10 litres, and you will plan two coats.
Less suitable: You need the strongest review score, a size field that agrees with the volume, or a moisture-rated paint.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this Crown pack 10 ml or 10 litres?
The title and item volume say 10 litres, and the weight is 12.9 kg. The size field says 10 ml and the unit count says 10.0 millilitre. Those fields disagree.
What coverage does the listing claim?
The coverage field says 70 sq m. A bullet says 70 sq m, 5 litres, on a title that says 10 litres. Dry time is 4 hours and full cure is 1 hour.
Why is it the best-value badge?
£20.87 for the 10 litre volume is about £2.09 per litre, the lowest in this set. Stars are 4.0 from 1,411 reviews. The badge is price per litre, not a quality test. Reviews include thin paint and a smashed, leaking base.
Eight amazon.co.uk matt emulsion listings were scored from the stored listing files and the UK review texts captured for each ASIN. This was not a lab test. The base score is the star rating times 20. A count under 250 reviews deducts 6. A size field that contradicts the litre volume deducts 4. A coverage field of up to 35 m² per litre deducts 4, because that figure is an outlier against the same brand’s trade sheet and is not a planning number. A container field that says aerosol on a 5 litre pail deducts 4. If scores tie, the larger review count is the top pick. The best value is the lowest price per litre among packs of at least 2.5 litres that are not the top pick. No BS EN 13300 class was printed on these listings, so none was scored. Conflicting waterproof lines are reported and are not treated as a bathroom test.
Stars and review depth
45%The base score is the amazon.co.uk star rating times 20. A count under 250 reviews deducts 6. If two listings share a score, the larger review count takes the top pick.
Listing fields you can trust
25%A size field that contradicts the litre volume deducts 4. A container field that says aerosol on a 5 litre pail deducts 4. Waterproof lines that disagree are reported, not scored as a bathroom test.
Coverage you can plan
15%Plan about 10–14 m² per litre per coat. A coverage field of up to 35 m² per litre deducts 4, because it is an outlier against the same brand’s trade sheet.
Price against the job
15%Best value is the lowest price per litre among packs of at least 2.5 litres that are not the top pick. A 30 ml bottle is not priced per litre against a pail.
Start with the room, then sheen and wiping, then litres and pack size, then whether the listing fields agree. The notes below follow that order. None of these listings was lab-tested.
Matt emulsion is the water-borne, low-sheen paint used on UK interior walls and ceilings when you want a flat look. It hides small bumps better than silk, and it scuffs more easily when you wipe. Under the VOC Regulations 2012, interior matt means gloss at or below 25 at 60°, capped at 30 g/l ready to use, and the tin must show that limit. Aerosols sit outside that paints definition. BS EN 13300 classifies these paints, including wet scrub. Use a class only if the tin prints one.
Plan about 10–14 m² per litre per coat. Johnstone's retail matt is about 12 m² per litre. Crown Trade vinyl matt is up to 17 m² per litre. A listing field of up to 35 m² per litre is not a planning number.
Buy two coats. Reviews on the sage and grey tins often needed a second coat over white or over a dark wall. Hide is not consistent enough to skip the second tin.
Waterproof is false on every full-size tin here. A kitchens-and-bathrooms bullet is not a mould test. Use a product the maker specifies for steam or grease, or call a professional if the damp is widespread.
Ordinary matt suits bedrooms, living rooms and many ceilings. Bathrooms and kitchens need a product the maker specifies for moisture, steam or grease. Dulux says that even for a washable matt. A kitchens-and-bathrooms sentence on a Johnstone's bullet is not a mould test, and waterproof is false on every full-size tin in this set. The 30 ml bottle is the only listing marked waterproof, and it is a touch-up, not a bathroom system. Sheen is the next split.
Plan about 10–14 m² per litre per coat and buy two coats. That range is a rule of thumb. Dulux Matt is up to 14 m² per litre, Johnstone's retail matt about 12 m² per litre, and Crown Trade vinyl matt up to 17 m² per litre. Do not plan from a field of up to 35 m² per litre. A 65 m² or 70 m² line is per tin, and one bullet mixes 70 m² with 5 litres on a 10 litre title. A 10 litre white is a whole room. A 2.5 litre tin is a small room or one colour wall.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want brilliant white for a bedroom or a ceiling and you are choosing on the largest review sample. Johnstone's vinyl matt, model 303967, is the top pick, at about £17.01 with 4.5 from 5,427 reviews. Waterproof is false beside a kitchens-and-bathrooms bullet. Some tins arrived untaped or leaked in the carton.
You want the most brilliant white per pound and you will check the pail is 10 litres. Crown, model 5022863, is the best value, at about £20.87, about £2.09 per litre, with 4.0 from 1,411 reviews. The size field says 10 ml. The badge is the litre price, not the highest score.
You want Natural Sage on a previously painted wall and you will plan two coats. Johnstone's, model 308639, is about £17.18 with 4.5 from 2,011 reviews. It shares the score of 90 and is not the top pick because the review count is smaller. Waterproof is false while the water-resistance field says waterproof.
The top pick is Johnstone's vinyl matt brilliant white, model 303967, at about £17.01. It has 4.5 from 5,427 reviews, and that count breaks a tie on the score of 90 with two other Johnstone's colours. Waterproof is false beside a kitchens-and-bathrooms bullet, and some tins arrived untaped or leaked. The best value is Crown brilliant white matt, model 5022863, at about £20.87 for a 10 litre volume, about £2.09 per litre. Stars are 4.0 from 1,411 reviews. The size field says 10 ml against that volume, so you check the pail, and the badge is the litre price, not the highest score.
Crown Brilliant White matt 10 L
Lowest price per litre among packs of at least 2.5 litres that are not the top pick, about £2.09 per litre.
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 22 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.
