Once you've found a shade you're happy with, you can order the full-size tin from our full paint collection.
Happy Painting!
Shop Tester Pots by Brand
We stock tester pots across all three brands we carry, Farrow & Ball, Little Greene and Paint & Paper Library, so you are never limited to a handful of separate sample shades. Each pot is mixed to match the exact tin colour, which means these paint colour samples are a true match rather than an approximation.
Prices start from £5.75 depending on brand and finish, and one pot covers enough wall for two coats on a few sheets of lining paper. It's an affordable way to test a shade in your own space before ordering a full-size tin.
How to Use Paint Tester Pots at Home
- Paint two coats onto lining paper, not straight onto the wall. The white beneath fresh lining paper is more neutral than most existing wall colours, so it won't distort the finished shade the way painting over a dark or patterned wall can.
- Label each sheet if you're comparing shades. Testing several paint swatch pots at once is easier to track if each sheet is labelled before you put them up.
- Move your paint patch testers around the room. Prop them against skirting boards or fabric you're keeping, rather than judging the colour in isolation.
- Leave each patch up for at least 24 hours. Light changes throughout the day, so check it in the morning, at midday and in the evening.
- Order paint selection pots for your shortlist. If you've already narrowed things down using our online paint visualiser, this confirms on the wall what you've already picked on screen.
The Benefit of Testing Before You Buy
Ordering a paint trial pot before the full-size tin is the most cost-effective way to avoid an expensive repaint, since colour can appear noticeably different once it covers a whole wall.
This matters most with strong or unusual shades, where undertones shift with your room's light and orientation. North-facing rooms often mute a colour, while south-facing rooms can make the same shade look brighter than it did on the paint colour swatches in a colour card.
A paint shade tester on your own wall accounts for your lighting and whatever else is in the room, which a printed swatch or screen can't fully replicate. Finish matters too; our wall paint finishes page covers how matt, eggshell, satin and gloss change a colour's appearance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Our Paint Tester Pots
How Much Wall Does a Paint Tester Pot Cover?
Most tester pots cover around 1 to 2 square metres per coat, depending on brand and finish. For a reliable test, apply two coats to lining paper rather than directly onto an existing wall colour, which can throw off the result.
How Long Do Paint Tester Pots Take to Dry?
Most water-based tester pots are touch-dry within one to two hours and ready for a second coat after two to four hours, though this varies by brand and finish. Leave the final coat to cure overnight before judging the colour.
Are Tester Pots Available for Every Colour You Stock?
Yes. Farrow & Ball, Little Greene and Paint & Paper Library tester pots are available across each brand's full colour range, so you can sample any shade before ordering the equivalent full-size tin.
Should I Order Paint Samples Before Choosing a Colour?
Yes, ordering paint tester pots before the full tin is the most reliable way to confirm a shade. Paint it onto lining paper, move it around the room and check it in daylight and artificial light over a day or two. Colour cards and our online visualiser are great for narrowing down a shortlist, but nothing beats seeing a tester pot in your own light and against your existing finishes before you commit to a full tin. It's one of the simplest ways to shop with confidence at Paint and Papers.
