Why Powder Coatings Have Fewer Color Options Than Paint

Why Powder Coatings Have Fewer Color Options Than Paint

Powder coating is a durable and environmentally friendly finish commonly used on metal surfaces. However, customers often notice that it comes with fewer color choices than traditional paint. This difference comes down to how powder coatings are manufactured and the performance standards they must meet.

⚙️ The Manufacturing Difference

Powder coatings and liquid paints are made and applied very differently.

Unlike liquid paint, where colors can be blended on the spot (for example, mixing white and black paint creates a smooth, uniform gray), powder coatings behave very differently.

Because powders are made up of solid resin particles, mixing white and black powder would not melt together into gray — it would result in a “salt and pepper” speckled effect after curing.

Each powder color must be pre-manufactured and fully melted during production to achieve a consistent finish. That’s why powders can’t be tinted or mixed at the jobsite like paint.

Liquid Paint

• Form: Pigments and resins suspended in liquid solvents

• Application: Sprayed or brushed on; air-dries or cures chemically

• Color Mixing: Can be tinted on-demand at the store or jobsite

Powder Coating

• Form: Dry, finely ground thermoset or thermoplastic resin powder

• Application: Electrostatically applied to metal and baked in an oven

• Color Mixing: Must be pre-formulated, extruded, and cured in batches

Because powder coatings are made and cured as solid materials, each color must be pre-manufactured in a batch. Adjusting the hue requires a complete reformulation — it’s not as simple as adding tint at the counter. That’s why the range of stock powder colors is smaller than what’s available with liquid paints.

🎨 Standard and Custom Powder Colors

To ensure consistency and performance, most powder coating manufacturers — such as Sherwin-Williams and Tiger Drylac® — offer a core selection of standard powder colors. These are proven to deliver durable, repeatable results and predictable curing behavior.

When a project requires a specific color outside this range, custom powder colors can be produced. Custom batches typically involve minimum order quantities and additional lead time for formulation and testing.

🟫 RAL Color Matching

For customers seeking a precise match:

• Most classic RAL colors (the European four-digit color standard) are available in powder coating form.

• When requesting a custom color, please provide the four-digit RAL code for accurate matching.

• RAL codes ensure consistent color reproduction across paints, coatings, and materials.

You can look up RAL colors and their corresponding codes at this RAL color chart website.

🧱 Why It Matters

Powder coating formulations are designed for:

• Durability and corrosion resistance

• UV and fade stability

• Environmental safety (no VOC solvents)

These benefits rely on tightly controlled chemistry and curing. Limiting the color range helps maintain the performance, consistency, and appearance that powder coatings are known for.

✅ Summary

📋 Need a Specific Color?

If your desired color isn’t included in our standard or premium product lines, please provide:

• The four-digit RAL color code, or

Our coatings team can then confirm availability, pricing, and lead times for a custom powder finish that meets your specifications.