Paint by numbers used to be a nostalgia item, something you picked up at a craft fair and forgot about in a closet. That’s changed. A growing number of adults are treating it as a legitimate way to unwind after work, and the market has grown to match that demand.
U.S. arts and crafts industry revenue reached approximately $51 billion in 2025, according to Digital Journal, with the DIY movement reshaping how people spend their free time and their money. Painting has become one of the biggest beneficiaries of that shift. In 2024, 71% of U.S. adults engaged in at least one craft project, and 86% of Gen Z identified as crafters, according to data compiled by ScottMax. That’s not a niche hobby anymore; it’s a mainstream way to spend a Saturday afternoon.
With so many paint-by-numbers companies competing for attention, picking the right one is not obvious. Canvas quality, custom-photo options, and shipping policies vary a lot between brands. This guide ranks eight companies worth knowing about in 2026, starting with the one we think does it best.
Why Paint by Numbers Is Having a Moment in 2026
The hobby’s popularity isn’t just about aesthetics. A 2025 randomized controlled trial across four NHS hospitals in London, involving 129 healthcare professionals, found that structured group art therapy reduced emotional exhaustion and burnout compared to a waitlist control group, measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Researchers published the findings on PMC, the National Institutes of Health’s open-access archive.
A separate study on college students, published in Frontiers in Psychology, found that a structured art-based intervention measurably reduced stress levels, supporting the broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions. Paint by numbers fits that model well. It gives you a clear, low-stakes task with a visible outcome, and that combination seems to matter more than the artistic skill involved.
There’s a practical angle too. Online sales of hobby and craft supplies in the U.S. exceeded $22.2 billion in 2024, per ScottMax’s compiled industry data, and the global arts and crafts market is projected to grow from $47.97 billion in 2025 to $87.38 billion by 2035. North America already accounts for more than 40% of that market. People aren’t just painting for fun; they’re buying kits as gifts, decor, and even team-building activities.
What to Look For When Choosing a Paint by Numbers Kit
Not every kit is worth your money. A few factors separate a good one from a frustrating one:
- Canvas quality: linen-blend canvases hold paint and shape better than thin cotton-poly blends, which can warp once wet.
- Paint pigment and coverage: cheaper kits often need two or three coats to cover a numbered section; better ones cover in one.
- Custom-photo options: turning your own photo into a kit is a strong differentiator, especially for gifts.
- Price transparency: watch for kits that look cheap upfront but tack on shipping, brush sets, or framing as add-ons.
- Shipping and guarantee policies: a company that stands behind a damaged or misprinted canvas is worth the extra few dollars.
Keep these in mind as you look through the list below. Each company approaches the hobby a little differently, and the right fit depends on whether you want a quick weekend project or a detailed custom piece.
1. Number Artist
Number Artist website
Number Artist tops this list for good reason. The company has served more than 450,000 customers and offers a library of over 2,223 designs, ranging from landscapes and animals to abstract patterns. What sets it apart is the custom-photo kit option, which lets you turn a personal photo into a paint-by-number canvas rather than picking from a preset catalog. Every order comes with a 30-day happiness guarantee, so a damaged shipment or a printing error doesn’t mean you’re stuck with it. For anyone who wants a reliable brand with both breadth of choice and a real return policy, Number Artist is the easiest recommendation on this list.
2. Winnie’s Picks
Winnie’s Picks website
Winnie’s Picks has built a loyal following of more than 60,000 customers around kits designed by American artists rather than licensed stock art. The brand runs a rewards program that gives repeat buyers points toward future orders, which matters if you plan to work through several canvases a year. Design variety leans toward whimsical and folk-art styles, a nice option if you want something less literal than a straight photo reproduction.
3. Artistry By Numbers
Artistry By Numbers website
Artistry By Numbers focuses on custom photo-to-kit conversions starting at $18.95, which undercuts most competitors on price for personalized work. The canvases use a linen-textured material, and the paints are noticeably higher-pigment than budget kits, meaning fewer touch-up coats. It’s a solid pick if a custom kit is your main priority and you want to keep the cost down.
4. PaintFan
Founded in 2020, PaintFan has built a catalog of more than 500 designs and offers kits with up to 48 individual colors for finer detail work. That color count matters for anyone who’s outgrown the simpler 24-color starter kits and wants more realistic shading in the finished piece.
5. ColourSilo
ColourSilo launched in 2021 with separate product lines for kids and adults, plus a custom photo kit option. The kids’ line uses simplified numbering and larger canvas sections, which makes it a reasonable choice for a family project rather than a solo hobby.
6. Canvas By Numbers
Canvas By Numbers website
This U.S.-based company leans into the therapeutic and relaxation angle in its marketing, and it backs that up with a rigid canvas board that holds up better during long painting sessions. It also sells diamond painting kits alongside its paint-by-numbers line, so it’s worth a look if you want to try both crafts under one brand.
7. CRAFTBARN
CRAFTBARN website
CRAFTBARN is a family-owned Texas brand that sells exclusively through Amazon, eBay, and Sears rather than its own storefront. Its kits use a flax and hemp-back canvas, and the price point sits at the budget end of the market. It’s a fine entry point if you’re testing the hobby before committing to a pricier brand.
Final Thoughts: Picking the Right Kit for You
Given that 71% of U.S. adults picked up a craft project in 2024, you’re in good company if you’re considering paint by numbers for the first time. The research on art-making and stress reduction backs up what a lot of hobbyists already sense: sitting down with a canvas and a numbered guide is a decent way to switch your brain off for an hour.
Match your choice to your goals. If you want the widest design library and a company that stands behind its shipping, Number Artist covers the most bases. If a custom photo kit on a tight budget is the priority, Artistry By Numbers is worth a look instead. And if you’re just testing whether the hobby sticks, a budget option such as CRAFTBARN removes the financial risk of trying something new.
For more on how creativity shapes people’s lives beyond the canvas, our feature on Imani Duckett’s creative journey and Kerri Eisenberg’s story of creative reinvention later in life are worth a read.
