Paint by Numbers in the United States: The Complete Buying Guide

Paint by numbers is one of the fastest-growing creative hobbies in the US. Knowing where to buy and what to expect at each price point makes the difference between a kit you finish and one that sits in a drawer.

If you are searching for paint by numbers near you in the United States, your three most likely in-store options are Walmart, Hobby Lobby, and Michaels. All three carry kits, and all three have real limitations worth knowing before you buy. This guide compares what each retailer actually stocks, where a dedicated online kit pulls ahead, and how to choose the right one for what you want to paint.

Where to Buy Paint by Numbers Near You

The difference between a retail kit and a dedicated paint by numbers kit is not just price. It is size options, colour count, and whether a custom photo kit is possible at all.

Walmart

Walmart paint by numbers kits sit mostly in the $19.97 range for standard adult sets, with some budget options lower. The convenience of same-day pickup or two-day delivery is the main draw, and for a first attempt at the hobby it is a reasonable entry point. The limitation is the same as any mass-market retailer: fixed designs, no size or colour count choice, and product listings that frequently omit basic information like canvas dimensions and how many paint pots are included. You are buying without knowing exactly what arrives.

Hobby Lobby

Hobby Lobby paint by numbers kits are typically priced around $9.99, making them one of the cheapest in-store options in the US. The range leans toward florals, landscapes, and simple animal scenes, with a rotating seasonal selection. At that price point, a beginner kit from Hobby Lobby is a fair way to find out whether the hobby suits you before spending more. The ceiling is low: whatever is on the shelf that week is what exists, with no size upgrade path, no colour count choice, and no option to bring your own photo.

Michaels

Michaels stocks a wider paint by numbers range than most US craft retailers, with budget kits around $9.99 and more developed adult kits up to $23.98. The higher-priced Michaels kits offer larger canvases and better-defined numbering than the cheapest options, putting them closer to an entry-level dedicated kit in terms of canvas quality. The same ceiling still applies though: fixed designs, no customisation, and no photo-to-kit option. Paint by numbers nearby at Michaels is available in most US cities, but availability on specific designs varies by store and stock rotates frequently.

Amazon

Amazon has the widest single-platform selection, ranging from cheap import kits under $15 to higher-quality sets around $25 to $40. The challenge is knowing which listing is which before you buy. Review counts on Amazon paint by numbers listings can be misleading because the same third-party kit is often sold under multiple brand names with consolidated review totals, meaning a listing with thousands of reviews may be for a different version of the product than what is currently in stock under that listing.

For all four retail options, the fundamental constraint is the same: you choose from what someone else decided to produce, at whatever size and colour count they chose, with no ability to customise the design. Our adult buyer's guide covers what to look for in kit quality at any price point.

In Store vs Online: What Actually Changes

Kit Types

Pricing in USD

Every order includes buy 2 get 1 free site-wide with no code required, and free shipping on US orders over $75.

Prices in USD, shown automatically when visiting from the United States.

The jump from 24 to 36 colors is worth paying for if the design includes skin tones, water, or sky. Going from 36 to 48 matters most for detailed portraits and complex scenes, and makes very little visual difference on a simple floral or landscape where 24 colors already covers the design completely. Each kit is available without a frame, with a DIY stretcher frame included, or pre-stretched on a frame ready to hang.

Delivery to the United States

For a fixed-date gift such as a birthday or holiday, ordering 10 to 12 days ahead covers the full delivery window comfortably. Custom kits add 2 to 3 business days for the artist design step before the kit ships, so allow a little extra lead time on those.

Choosing the Right Kit

The right kit is the one that matches what you want to paint and the level of detail you are ready to work with.

Start with what the finished canvas will show. A simple landscape, floral, or abstract looks complete at 24 colors and there is no visible benefit from a higher color count on that kind of subject. A face, a pet portrait, or anything with detailed water or sky genuinely benefits from 36 or 48 colors because those subjects contain gradients that a lower color count flattens out. If you are considering a national parks design, our national parks guide covers five of the most popular US landscape designs worth painting.

If you have already tried a kit from Hobby Lobby or Michaels and finished it, you know the basic process and a 36 color kit will not overwhelm you. If this is a genuine first attempt, the 24 color standard tier is the more manageable starting point since higher color counts mean smaller numbered sections and slower progress on a first project. Our beginner collection is specifically curated for an easier first experience.

A custom kit is the right choice when the subject matters more than the process. A pet, a couple's photo, a specific place, or a family portrait cannot be replaced by any catalogue design. Our custom pet portrait guide covers how to get the best result from a pet photo, and our photo selection guide is worth reading before you upload any custom kit photo.

Once You Have Finished Painting

A finished canvas deserves to be displayed properly. Sealing with varnish protects the paint and gives it a unified finish. Our sealing and framing guide covers the full process including which varnish to use and how to assemble a DIY stretcher frame. For ideas beyond a standard frame, our display ideas guide covers several alternatives.

For technique while painting, our guide on painting dark to light is the single most impactful sequencing change a beginner can make, and it requires no additional skill beyond following a different order.

Common Questions

About the Author

William Murdock is the Founder of Paint On Numbers, based in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He built this guide to give US buyers an honest comparison of every option available, from what is on the shelf at Hobby Lobby to what a dedicated kit can do that retail cannot.