Most paint by numbers kits come with somewhere between 24 and 48 numbered colors. The exact count depends on the size of the canvas and how detailed the image is, but that range covers the large majority of kits on the market. A simple design for a beginner might use 18 to 24. A dense, photo-realistic scene can push past 40.
Why the count varies so much
The number of colors is really a proxy for difficulty. More colors means more small regions, more switching between pots, and a finished piece with subtler shading. A sunset with a smooth gradient across the sky needs eight or nine closely related oranges and pinks to look convincing. A bold pop-art portrait might get away with a dozen flat, punchy colors. Neither is better. They are just different jobs.
Canvas size feeds into it too. A larger canvas gives the designer room to break an image into finer sections, so a 50x70cm landscape will usually carry more colors than the same scene at 30x40cm. If you are weighing sizes, our canvas size guide lays out how dimensions change the experience.
What the numbers actually mean
Each pot is labeled with a number, and every region on the canvas carries a matching number. Color 1 goes in every space marked 1, and so on. It sounds obvious, but the first time people open a kit they often assume the numbers run in some logical order across the canvas. They do not. Number 7 might sit in three corners and the middle. Working out how to move through them efficiently is half the skill, and we broke that down in reading your canvas.
Do you ever mix your own colors?
With a standard kit, no. That is the whole appeal. Every shade you need is already in a pot, matched to the print. That said, some painters like to blend adjacent colors at the borders to soften a transition, especially on skies and skin. It is optional and a bit advanced. If you want smoother gradients than the kit gives you out of the box, our color mixing walkthrough shows how to do it without wrecking the design.
A common worry: not enough paint
People often ask whether the pots hold enough. In a decent kit, yes, with a little to spare, as long as you apply thin, even coats. The paint runs low when a color has to cover a big area and you are laying it on thick or doing multiple passes. The colors most likely to run short are the dominant background shades, the sky blue or the grass green that fills half the canvas. Cap every pot the moment you finish with it so nothing dries out, and you will almost always make it to the last region.
Curious about everything else in the box beyond the paint pots? Our complete unboxing guide walks through the brushes, canvas, and reference sheet you get.
Choosing by color count
If this is your first kit, aim for one with 24 colors or fewer. Fewer pots means larger regions, less eye strain, and a faster path to something you are proud of. Once you have a painting or two under your belt, reach for the 36-plus kits where the shading gets genuinely painterly. Beginners can start in our beginner-friendly collection, sized and colored for a smooth first run. When you are ready for more ambitious pieces, the best sellers span the full range from simple to intricate.