Paint & Coatings Price Index
Price trends, forecasts, and market data for architectural paint, primers, specialty coatings, and finish products.
Paint & Coatings scorecard
Current direction, confidence, year-over-year change, and volatility.
Understanding Paint & Coatings Prices in Construction
Paint and coatings are applied in virtually every construction project, typically representing 1-3% of total material costs. While individual per-gallon costs are relatively modest, the volume required for a full project - plus primer, specialty products, and multiple coats - makes this a meaningful budget line item. A typical 2,000 sq ft home requires 30-50 gallons of paint; a commercial project can require hundreds or thousands of gallons.
The architectural coatings market is dominated by a handful of major manufacturers - Sherwin-Williams, PPG (including Glidden), Benjamin Moore, and Behr (Home Depot exclusive). This consolidation gives producers significant pricing power, and the industry has implemented consistent annual price increases over time.
Key Pricing Drivers
- Titanium dioxide (TiO2) costs - the primary white pigment and largest single raw material cost
- Petrochemical-derived inputs: acrylic resins, solvents, and additives
- Supply chain consolidation and manufacturer pricing power
- VOC regulations driving reformulation toward higher-cost low-VOC and zero-VOC products
- Residential remodeling and repaint activity, which drives over 60% of architectural paint demand
- Specialty coating requirements for commercial and institutional applications
Supply Chain Context
Architectural paint is manufactured domestically by all major producers, with extensive regional distribution networks. Sherwin-Williams alone operates over 4,800 company-owned stores in the U.S. This robust domestic supply chain means paint availability is rarely a project constraint, and lead times are typically same-day or next-day for standard products.
Specialty coatings - high-performance floor coatings, fire-retardant treatments, industrial epoxies - have longer lead times of 1-4 weeks and are manufactured by more specialized producers. These products often require precise color matching and custom tinting that adds lead time for large orders.
Paint & Coatings supply chain risk assessment
Current risk factors affecting paint & coatings availability and lead times.
Seasonal Patterns
Paint demand peaks during spring and summer exterior painting seasons. Manufacturers typically announce price increases in January and sometimes implement a second increase mid-year. Pricing is very stable within the year - paint is not subject to the commodity-style volatility seen in metals or lumber.
Related Categories
For details on how we calculate these forecasts, see our methodology. View all categories on the Price Index overview.
Frequently asked questions
Very predictable. The major manufacturers have implemented annual price increases of 3-8% on a regular basis. Increases are typically announced in December for January implementation. The Flume forecast model factors in these regular increases along with raw material cost trends.
Low-VOC and zero-VOC formulations require more expensive resin systems and alternative solvents. The price premium has narrowed over time - now typically 5-15% over standard formulations - as production volumes have increased and many jurisdictions now require low-VOC products.
Yes. Commercial projects typically require higher-performance coatings (scrubbable, stain-resistant, antimicrobial) that cost 30-60% more per gallon than standard residential paint. Additionally, commercial color specifications often require custom tinting with tighter color tolerances.
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