Best House Paint Brands in Thailand: Compare Grades, Not Names

Which house paint brand is best in Thailand?

The direct answer is that no house paint brand is better than the others in every case. Every large paint manufacturer in Thailand makes several grades, from economy to top tier, and one brand's top-tier paint is a very different product from another brand's economy paint. The question that gives a usable answer is "which grade does this wall need?", followed by a comparison of that grade across brands. This article belongs to the house painting and colour guides from Phuket Pro Painters and is the only page on the website that discusses paint brands.

Phuket Pro Painters is not tied to any paint brand, is not a dealer, and this article does not rank brands. The aim is to give owners their own criteria for comparing paint.

How many grades of house paint are there, and how do they differ?

Each manufacturer names its ranges differently, but wall paints can generally be sorted into four tiers.

The line between grades is not the same at every manufacturer, so treat the table as a way of thinking, not an industry standard.

What actually differs between a high-grade and an economy paint?

The difference between paint grades comes from the amount and quality of binder, pigment and additives. That difference shows up in five ways.

How does film durability differ?

High-grade paint contains more acrylic binder, so the film is tougher, grips the wall firmly and is slower to chalk under the sun.

How does washability differ?

High-grade interior paint withstands repeated wiping without the film going patchy, which suits homes with children or pets. Manufacturers usually state on the label that the product is washable or scrubbable.

How do hiding power and coverage differ?

Paint with good-quality pigment covers the old colour in fewer coats, and one can covers more wall. Paint prices should therefore be compared as cost per area covered, not as price per can alone.

How does resistance to UV, mould and algae differ?

High-grade exterior paint contains more UV protection and more additives against mould and algae, which matters a great deal in Phuket, where the sun is strong and the air is humid all year.

How do odour and volatile compounds differ?

Many interior paints are labelled low odour or low in volatile compounds. These are mostly found from the premium grade upwards and suit bedrooms, children's rooms and condos with limited ventilation.

How do you read a paint label and product data sheet?

The label on the can and the manufacturer's technical data sheet give information that compares more directly than advertising does. Read them in this order.

1. Intended use: interior, exterior or both.
2. Type of binder, for example pure acrylic, which indicates how durable the film is likely to be.
3. Sheen level, such as matt, satin or semi-gloss.
4. Coverage per litre or per can, which is used to work out the number of cans and to compare value.
5. Recommended paint system: the primer that goes with the product and the number of top coats.
6. Drying time, recoat interval and the proportion of water to add.
7. Extra properties the manufacturer certifies, such as mould resistance, heat reflection or low volatile compounds.
8. Date of manufacture and storage advice.

For every figure, rely on what the paint manufacturer states on the label of that product, because figures differ even within one brand. If a painter proposes a method that departs from the system the manufacturer recommends, such as leaving out the primer or adding more water than the label allows, ask for the reason before agreeing.

A note for readers new to Thai paint shops: wall paint is usually sold by the gallon can and by the 5-gallon bucket. The bucket is the size used for whole-house work, and the label states the coverage for that size.

Which house paint brands are sold in Thailand?

Building-materials shops and paint shops in Thailand stock paint from several manufacturers. Names commonly seen, listed in alphabetical order and not as a ranking, include Beger, Captain, Dulux, JBP, Jotun, Nippon Paint and TOA. Each of them sells every grade as well as specialist ranges, such as exterior ranges, low-odour interior ranges and ranges for timber or steel.

Appearing in this list does not mean that Phuket Pro Painters uses or recommends that brand, and brands that are not mentioned are not inferior.

How do you compare paint brands fairly?

To compare paint across brands and reach an answer you can act on, follow these steps.

1. Decide first which wall is being painted, inside or outside, and what that wall has to face, such as afternoon sun, algae or hand marks.
2. Choose the grade that suits that wall, then take the same-grade product from each brand.
3. Compare the product data sheets point by point, above all coverage and the recommended paint system.
4. Work out the cost of the whole system: primer plus top coats, for the number of coats, across the whole wall area.
5. Check that a shop near you has the product and the shade in stock, because ordering more paint in the middle of a job causes delay.
6. Ask for a real colour sample or paint a test patch, because similarly named shades from different brands are not the same.

Once the grade is chosen, the next step is the shade. Worked examples of pairing colours are in the guide to two-tone grey exteriors and the guide to two-tone brown exteriors.

Why do house paint prices differ?

The price of house paint per can varies with the grade, the type of paint, the pack size and the shade. Dark or bright shades that have to be machine-tinted usually cost more than ready-mixed shades. Shop prices also change over time and with promotions, so this article gives no figures.

For the cost of a whole painting job, paint is only one part. The other parts are labour, surface preparation, and scaffolding or work at height. Estimated rates for each hiring option are on the painting prices in Phuket page.

Can you choose the paint brand yourself when hiring Phuket Pro Painters?

Yes. Phuket Pro Painters offers two hiring options. With labour only, the customer chooses the brand, product and shade and buys the paint, and we work out the quantity needed. With labour and paint together, the quotation states the agreed paint grade in writing. Both options start with a free on-site survey and measurement. Details are on the house and villa painting service page.