A person painting a canvas print of a scenic coastal landscape with blue water, white buildings, and pink flowers, using a fine-tip paintbrush. A row of small paint pots sits on the wooden table beside the canvas, with a candle and plant.

Easy Paint by Numbers for Adults: Beginner Guide, Pricing and Where to Buy in the US

Article Summary

A complete guide to easy paint by numbers kits for adult beginners in the United States. Covers what makes a kit beginner-friendly, how to choose the right color count and canvas size for a first attempt, full USD pricing, where to find beginner kits compared to Hobby Lobby and Michaels, and delivery to any US address.

An adult holding a paint brush over a paint by numbers canvas that is partially complete, with a row of numbered paint pots arranged beside it on a wooden table

Easy paint by numbers for adults uses a larger canvas section size and a lower color count so first-time painters can focus on the process rather than precision.

Paint by numbers for adult beginners works differently from what most people expect walking in. You do not need any prior art experience. The numbered canvas handles every decision about color placement and composition. Your only job is to match the number on the canvas to the numbered paint pot and fill in the section. The difference between a beginner-friendly kit and one that frustrates a first-time painter comes down to a few specific design choices. This guide covers what those are, how to find them, and how to order the right kit for a first attempt in the US.

What Makes a Paint by Numbers Kit Easy for Beginners

Not all paint by numbers kits are equally beginner-friendly. The factors that determine how approachable a kit is have nothing to do with the subject matter and everything to do with the technical specifications of the canvas design.

Color count
The number of different paint colors in a kit determines how complex the painting is to manage. A 24-color kit is the right starting point for most beginners. It produces a result that looks complete and detailed without requiring you to track and switch between dozens of pots. A 48-color kit on a first attempt means constantly hunting for the right number, which breaks the flow of painting before it starts.
Section size
Beginner-friendly kits use designs with larger numbered sections, which means each area of the canvas is easier to fill in without accidentally painting over an adjacent section. A design with very small, intricate sections requires fine brush control that most first-time painters are still developing. Landscapes, bold florals, and abstract compositions tend to have larger sections than detailed portrait work.
Subject choice
Some subjects are more forgiving than others on a first attempt. Landscapes and nature scenes are the most beginner-friendly because slight imprecision reads as natural variation in the subject. Portraits and faces are the most demanding because the likeness depends on exact color placement in small areas. If this is your first kit, choose a landscape, floral, or animal subject over a detailed portrait.

Choosing the Right Color Count

A close up view of a paint by numbers canvas in progress with numbered paint pots of different colors arranged in order beside it

Color count is the most important specification in any beginner paint by numbers kit. It determines the complexity of the painting experience more than any other single factor.

Color Count Best For Typical Completion Time
24 colors First-time painters, landscapes, bold florals 8 to 12 hours
36 colors Second or third kit, portraits, pets 12 to 18 hours
48 colors Experienced painters, complex subjects 20 to 30 hours

For a first attempt, 24 colors is the right choice regardless of the subject you want to paint. The result will still look complete and detailed. What you gain is a more manageable experience where each session makes visible progress, and the palette stays simple enough that switching colors does not break your concentration. Our guide to the best paint by numbers for adults covers quality signals to look for across all color counts.

Easy Paint by Numbers Pricing in USD

Beginner paint by numbers kits start from $29.99 USD for a standard 40x50cm canvas. All orders include buy 2 get 1 free site-wide with no code required.

Standard Adult Kit (40x50cm) 24 Colors 36 Colors 48 Colors
Without frame From $29.99 From $34.99 From $39.99

All prices in USD. DIY frame and stretched on frame options also available at checkout. Free shipping on orders over $75.

Buy 2 Get 1 Free
Applies site-wide, no code needed. Add 3 kits and the cheapest is automatically free at checkout.
New customers: WELCOME15
15% off your first order. Stacks with buy 2 get 1 free. Applies to all kit types.
Free shipping over $75
Free on all US orders over $75. Easy to reach with the buy 2 get 1 free offer on any multi-kit order.

Beginner Kits at Hobby Lobby and Michaels vs Online

Hobby Lobby and Michaels both carry beginner paint by numbers kits in store. The in-store options are lower price but come with real trade-offs: canvas size is rarely disclosed on packaging, color count is often not stated, and frame options are not included. Hobby Lobby's 40% off coupon brings some kits down to $6 to $15, but at that price point the canvas and paint quality reflects the cost.

Hobby Lobby / Michaels Dedicated online kit
Canvas size stated Rarely Always stated: 40x50cm standard
Color count stated Often not disclosed Always stated: 24, 36, or 48
Frame option Not included DIY or stretched on frame at checkout
Starting price $9.99 to $23.98 (Hobby Lobby with coupon: ~$6) From $29.99 USD
Buy 2 get 1 free No Yes, site-wide

In-store buying makes sense if you want a kit today with no wait. For a first serious attempt where you want to know the canvas size, color count, and have a framing option available, ordering online gives you the information you need before you commit. Our Hobby Lobby vs Michaels comparison covers the full in-store vs online trade-offs.

Delivery to Any US Address

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Standard delivery: 5 to 8 days
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All 50 states including Alaska and Hawaii
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Free shipping on orders over $75
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Tracking on every order

Common Questions

What is the easiest paint by numbers for adults?

The easiest paint by numbers kits for adult beginners are those with a 24-color palette, a standard 40x50cm canvas, and a landscape or floral subject. These have larger numbered sections, a manageable color count, and forgiving subject matter where slight imprecision reads as natural variation rather than a mistake. The beginner collection is curated specifically for these characteristics.

What paint by numbers kit should I get as a beginner?

For a first kit, choose a 24-color standard adult kit on a 40x50cm canvas. Avoid 36 or 48 color kits on your first attempt: the additional palette complexity slows you down before you have developed a painting rhythm. Choose a landscape, floral, or animal subject over a detailed portrait for the same reason. Start simple, finish the canvas, then move up to more complex kits on your second attempt.

Is paint by numbers hard for beginners?

No. Paint by numbers is specifically designed so that no prior art experience or skill is required. Every color placement decision is made for you by the numbered canvas. The main learning curve for a beginner is brush loading (how much paint to pick up) and staying within section boundaries, both of which most people find natural within the first hour of painting. A 24-color beginner kit is designed to make this as approachable as possible.

Does Hobby Lobby or Michaels carry beginner paint by numbers kits?

Both carry beginner-level paint by numbers in store. The in-store kits do not typically state canvas size or color count on packaging, which makes it hard to know whether a specific kit suits a first-time painter before buying it. For a kit where the specifications are clearly stated before purchase, ordering online with 5 to 8 day US delivery is the more reliable option for beginners.

How long does an easy paint by numbers kit take to complete?

A 24-color beginner kit on a standard 40x50cm canvas typically takes 8 to 12 hours across multiple sessions for most adults. Most people work in one to two hour sessions, making this a project that runs across several weekends rather than a single sitting. Simpler designs with larger color areas finish faster than detailed subjects within the same color count.

Further Reading

Shop Easy Paint by Numbers for Beginners

From $29.99 USD. Buy 2 get 1 free. New customers use WELCOME15. Free shipping over $75. Delivered to all 50 states in 5 to 8 days.

William Murdock, Founder of Paint On Numbers

About the Author

William Murdock is the Founder of Paint On Numbers, based in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He curated the beginner collection around the specific design characteristics that make a first paint by numbers attempt succeed rather than frustrate.

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