On the surface, custom paint-by-numbers kits all look the same: canvas, paints, brushes, instructions. Order two from different companies, though, and the differences are immediate. One feels generous and considered. The other feels like a stationery set with a printed picture on top.
This is a comparison of what's typically included across price tiers, and where the meaningful differences sit.
The Baseline Every Kit Should Include
Regardless of price, every custom paint-by-numbers kit should include a numbered canvas, a set of numbered paint pots, at least one brush, a reference image and basic instructions. Anything less is not a complete kit.
If a 'kit' arrives with only a canvas and a vague suggestion to buy paints separately, that is not what you ordered.
Budget Kits (under A$50)
Canvas: Thin cotton-blend, usually rolled, often arrives creased. Print quality is acceptable but numbers can be hard to read.
Paints: 24 small acrylic pots, thin pigment, often need two coats.
Brushes: One or two cheap brushes that shed bristles into the paint.
Reference: A single small printed copy of the design.
Frame: Not included. Canvas is unstretched.
Honest verdict: Workable for a casual one-off, frustrating for anything you want to keep.
Mid-Range Kits (A$60–A$120)
Canvas: Heavier cotton or light linen, usually pre-stretched onto a wooden frame.
Paints: 24–30 acrylic pots, generally good pigment that covers in one coat.
Brushes: Three brushes in different sizes.
Reference: Stylised reference and sometimes the original photo.
Frame: Pre-stretched onto a basic wooden frame.
Honest verdict: The sweet spot for most buyers. Genuinely enjoyable to paint, looks good on a wall. Our custom photo paint-by-numbers kit sits in this tier.
Premium Kits (A$130+)
Canvas: Heavy linen, professionally pre-stretched and gallery-wrapped, ready to hang.
Paints: 30–36 heavy-body acrylic pots, deeply pigmented, single-coat coverage.
Brushes: Four or five brushes in graded sizes, with proper wooden handles.
Reference: Both stylised and original-photo references, printed at high resolution.
Extras: Wooden easel, varnish bottle, hanging kit, sometimes a video guide via QR code.
Honest verdict: Worth the premium for gifts, memorial pieces, or kits you intend to hang permanently. A framed 40×50cm kit saves you framing it later.
Things That Are Often 'Included' But Shouldn't Be Counted
Generic instructions photocopied from a different product. Filler.
A single brush listed as 'a brush set'. Misleading.
'Free' digital reference downloads. Should be standard, not advertised as a bonus.
'Free shipping' built into an inflated price. Read the total cost, not the marketing.
Things That Make a Real Difference and Often Aren't Listed
Whether the design was reviewed by a human. The most important factor in a finished portrait. We cover how to check this in our guide to choosing a custom paint-by-numbers company.
Whether you can preview your specific design before paying.
Whether the kit comes with the original (un-stylised) photo as a reference.
Whether the canvas is gallery-wrapped or just stapled.
The country the kit ships from, and how long shipping takes.
What's 'included' in a custom paint-by-numbers kit is partly a list and partly a philosophy. The cheap end of the market includes the bare minimum and hopes you won't notice. The premium end assumes you'll be opening the box on a Sunday afternoon, with a cup of tea, expecting it to feel like a small event. Pick whichever fits the moment you're buying for.
— Be Artistic Club