Walk into any paint shop in Lahore or Karachi and you will immediately notice two things. The wall behind the counter has hundreds of colour swatches. And the price difference between the cheapest and most expensive emulsion on the shelf is more than tenfold. A basic distemper goes for PKR 550 per litre. Premium Dulux or Nippon emulsion costs PKR 1,200-1,500 per litre for the same quantity. Both get applied to walls. Both come out looking more or less similar on day one. What separates them becomes clear in year two, year three, and when you are doing the next renovation and realising that cheap paint in a Pakistani climate means you are repainting every two to three years instead of every five to seven.
This guide gives you real September 2026 paint prices across Pakistan — brand by brand, type by type, with city-specific variations — along with an honest explanation of when spending more on paint is genuinely worth it in Pakistani conditions and when it is not.
PAINT PRICE PAKISTAN — SEPTEMBER 2026
Budget emulsion
per litre
Premium emulsion
per litre
Premium brand
16-20 litre drum
Paint Price in Pakistan 2026 — By Brand and Type
| Brand & Product | Per Litre (PKR) | 4L Tin (PKR) | 16-20L Drum (PKR) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🏆 Dulux Promise Emulsion | PKR 900 – 1,100 | PKR 3,500 – 4,500 | PKR 16,000 – 22,000 | Premium interior emulsion |
| Dulux Weathershield Exterior | PKR 1,150 – 1,500 | PKR 4,500 – 6,500 | PKR 20,000 – 30,000 | Exterior weather coat |
| 🏆 Berger Walmasta Emulsion | PKR 750 – 950 | PKR 3,000 – 4,000 | PKR 14,000 – 20,000 | Premium interior emulsion |
| Berger Weathercoat Exterior | PKR 1,000 – 1,300 | PKR 4,000 – 5,500 | PKR 17,000 – 25,000 | Exterior weather coat |
| Berger Super Emulsion (Distemper) | PKR 400 – 600 | PKR 1,600 – 2,400 | PKR 7,000 – 10,000 | Budget distemper — not washable |
| Nippon Paint Premium Emulsion | PKR 900 – 1,200 | PKR 3,600 – 5,000 | PKR 15,000 – 22,000 | Premium interior — eco-friendly |
| Brighto / Master Emulsion ✅ Budget | PKR 550 – 800 | PKR 2,200 – 3,200 | PKR 10,000 – 15,000 | Mid-budget — local brands |
| Diamond Paints Emulsion | PKR 500 – 750 | PKR 2,000 – 3,000 | PKR 9,000 – 14,000 | Budget — quick makeovers |
| Enamel Paint (Berger / Brighto) | PKR 1,000 – 2,000 | PKR 4,000 – 8,000 | PKR 18,000 – 35,000 | Doors, windows, wood, metal |
September 2026 Pakistan market rates. Prices vary by dealer, city and current promotions. Always confirm before ordering.
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Dulux vs Berger vs Nippon vs Brighto — Honest Pakistan Comparison
The brand question in Pakistani paint is more nuanced than most dealer recommendations suggest. The right brand depends on what surface you are painting, how long you need it to last, and what your realistic repainting cycle is going to be.
Dulux (ICI) has been in Pakistan for over 30 years and remains the strongest brand recall in the premium segment. Dulux Promise is the most trusted interior emulsion among Pakistan’s middle-to-upper class homeowners — not because of marketing but because of consistent performance. The washability on Dulux Promise emulsion is genuinely good — crayon marks, handprints and cooking grease wipe off without damaging the paint film in a way that cheaper emulsions simply do not replicate. For any Pakistani home where children are present or where the kitchen and bathroom walls see daily contact, Dulux Promise at PKR 900-1,100 per litre is worth every rupee over Diamond at PKR 500.
Berger is Pakistan’s most complete paint brand — it covers every price point from the Super Emulsion distemper at PKR 400/litre to premium Walmasta emulsion at PKR 950/litre. For contractors painting multiple properties, Berger’s combination of wide product range, consistent dealer network across all Pakistani cities and competitive contractor pricing makes it the practical default. Berger Weathercoat for exterior walls is one of the most specified weather-resistant coatings in Pakistan and performs well across the country’s diverse climates — the heat of Lahore summers, the rain of Karachi monsoons and the cold of Islamabad winters.
Nippon Paint has gained significant market share in Pakistan since their local manufacturing expansion. Their premium emulsions are technology-forward — lower VOC content, better colour retention — and are particularly popular in Karachi and urban Islamabad where awareness of indoor air quality is growing. Pricing sits alongside Dulux in the premium tier.
Brighto and Master Paints are the volume leaders in the mid-budget segment. They cover adequately, are widely available across Pakistan’s smaller cities and towns, and offer decent value for rental property painting where you want the space to look fresh without overspending on a tenanted property. The honest caveat: their washability and colour retention in direct sunlight on exterior walls is noticeably behind Dulux and Berger. For rental property interior repaints on a 2-3 year cycle, they are appropriate. For a family home you intend to keep for 10 years, they are not.
Paint Price Per Square Foot — Pakistan 2026
| Work Type | Material Only (PKR/sqft) | Labour Only (PKR/sqft) | Total (PKR/sqft) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior — distemper (budget) | PKR 5 – 10 | PKR 15 – 22 | PKR 20 – 32 |
| Interior — emulsion (Dulux/Nippon) | PKR 10 – 18 | PKR 20 – 30 | PKR 30 – 48 |
| Interior — washable premium 2 coats | PKR 15 – 22 | PKR 22 – 35 | PKR 37 – 57 |
| Exterior — weather coat | PKR 18 – 28 | PKR 22 – 38 | PKR 40 – 66 |
| Enamel — doors, windows, grills | PKR 20 – 35 | PKR 25 – 45 | PKR 45 – 80 |
| Ceiling — white matt | PKR 5 – 12 | PKR 12 – 20 | PKR 17 – 32 |
Complete House Painting Cost Pakistan 2026
| House Size | Budget (Distemper) | Standard (Berger) | Premium (Dulux/Nippon) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 Marla Single Storey | PKR 18,000 – 28,000 | PKR 32,000 – 48,000 | PKR 48,000 – 70,000 |
| 5 Marla Single Storey | PKR 28,000 – 45,000 | PKR 50,000 – 78,000 | PKR 78,000 – 115,000 |
| 5 Marla Double Storey | PKR 55,000 – 88,000 | PKR 98,000 – 155,000 | PKR 155,000 – 225,000 |
| 10 Marla Single Storey | PKR 55,000 – 90,000 | PKR 98,000 – 160,000 | PKR 160,000 – 230,000 |
| 1 Kanal Single Storey | PKR 110,000 – 175,000 | PKR 195,000 – 310,000 | PKR 310,000 – 460,000 |
Distemper vs Plastic Emulsion — Which to Use in Pakistan
This is the most practically important decision in Pakistani house painting — and the one most commonly made based on upfront cost without calculating the real cost over time.
Distemper (which Berger markets as Super Emulsion and most Pakistani painters simply call “safeda paint”) is a water-based paint with a chalk and adhesive base. It is inexpensive — PKR 400-600 per litre — applies easily and covers well. In dry areas of Pakistan away from monsoon humidity, it is adequate on ceilings and lower-priority rooms. Its practical problem is that it chalks, cannot be washed, absorbs stains permanently, and in Pakistan’s monsoon belt — Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad — it begins peeling and bubbling when exposed to humidity. In a 5 marla house, the cost saving of distemper over emulsion on the interior walls is approximately PKR 15,000-25,000. That saving disappears entirely when you repaint two years earlier than you would have with emulsion.
Plastic emulsion is the correct specification for all Pakistani interior walls. It resists humidity, can be wiped clean (with premium washable grades), maintains colour better over time and lasts 5-7 years versus 2-3 for distemper in Pakistan’s conditions. For bedrooms, living rooms and kitchens — everywhere that will be lived in daily — plastic emulsion is not a luxury. It is the minimum sensible specification for any homeowner who intends to occupy the space for more than 2 years.
Why Paint Prices Keep Rising in Pakistan
Pakistani paint prices have risen significantly over the past three years and the structural reasons are not going to reverse quickly. Raw materials for paint — titanium dioxide (the white pigment base), linseed oil, various polymers and additives — are either imported or have import-cost components. When the PKR weakened against the USD, every imported raw material cost more in rupees, and those costs passed directly to the consumer through price increases that have not reversed even as the exchange rate partially stabilised.
Transport and energy costs within Pakistan also feed directly into paint manufacturing. Kiln firing, mixing plant operation and refrigerated storage of emulsion products all require consistent electricity — an input whose cost in Pakistan has risen substantially and unpredictably. Paint dealers across Pakistan frequently note that price lists from major brands change quarterly and sometimes more frequently than that — which means any article quoting specific prices should be treated as directional rather than definitive at the moment of your actual purchase.
Painting Labour Rates Pakistan — City by City 2026
| City | Painter Daily Rate (PKR) | Interior Per Sqft (PKR) | Exterior Per Sqft (PKR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Islamabad / Rawalpindi | PKR 2,000 – 2,800 | PKR 28 – 40 | PKR 38 – 55 |
| Karachi | PKR 1,800 – 2,500 | PKR 25 – 38 | PKR 35 – 52 |
| Lahore | PKR 1,600 – 2,200 | PKR 22 – 35 | PKR 30 – 48 |
| Faisalabad | PKR 1,200 – 1,800 | PKR 18 – 28 | PKR 25 – 38 |
| Multan | PKR 1,100 – 1,600 | PKR 16 – 25 | PKR 22 – 35 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the price of paint in Pakistan per litre in 2026?
Paint prices in Pakistan in September 2026 range from PKR 400-600 per litre for budget distemper (Berger Super Emulsion, Diamond) to PKR 550-800 for mid-range emulsion (Brighto, Master) and PKR 900-1,500 per litre for premium washable emulsion (Dulux Promise, Berger Walmasta, Nippon). Exterior weather-resistant coats cost PKR 1,000-1,500 per litre. Enamel paint for doors and woodwork costs PKR 1,000-2,000 per litre depending on brand and finish.
Which paint brand is best in Pakistan 2026?
Dulux and Berger are the most trusted paint brands in Pakistan for quality and longevity. Dulux Promise is the premium choice for interior walls where washability and long-term colour retention matter. Berger provides the best range across all price points and has the widest dealer network across Pakistan. Nippon Paint is a strong alternative in the premium segment with advanced eco-friendly formulations. For budget applications, Brighto and Master Paints offer adequate performance at lower prices.
How much does it cost to paint a 5 marla house in Pakistan?
Painting a 5 marla single-storey house in Pakistan costs PKR 28,000-45,000 with budget distemper, PKR 50,000-78,000 with standard Berger emulsion and PKR 78,000-115,000 with premium Dulux or Nippon emulsion — all including labour. Double-storey 5 marla costs approximately double these amounts. Lahore is typically 10-15% cheaper than Islamabad for equivalent painting work. Exterior weather coat adds PKR 15,000-40,000 depending on the size of exposed exterior surface.
What is the difference between distemper and emulsion paint in Pakistan?
Distemper (safeda/chalky paint) is a chalk-base paint at PKR 400-600/litre — inexpensive but not washable, chalks over time, peels in humidity and lasts 2-3 years. Plastic emulsion at PKR 700-1,500/litre is a polymer-based paint that resists humidity, can be wiped clean (in washable grades), holds colour better and lasts 5-7 years. In Pakistan’s monsoon climate, emulsion is the correct interior specification for any room that will be used daily. Distemper is acceptable only for low-priority storage areas, utility spaces and ceilings where washability is not needed.
What is the best exterior paint for Pakistan weather?
Berger Weathercoat and Dulux Weathershield are the most trusted exterior paint brands for Pakistan’s climate. Both are formulated to resist the combination of intense summer sun, monsoon rain and temperature fluctuations that cause standard exterior paint to blister, chalk and peel within 1-2 years in Pakistan. At PKR 1,000-1,500 per litre versus PKR 400-600 for basic exterior paint, the premium is significant — but weather coat extends the repainting interval from 2-3 years to 5-8 years, making the total cost of ownership lower than cheaper alternatives repainted more frequently.
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🇵🇰 Related Pakistan Construction Resources
Paint prices listed are based on September 2026 Pakistan market research across Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad and major cities. Prices vary by dealer, tin size, city and market conditions. Paint brand price lists change frequently — always confirm current rates with your local dealer before purchasing. Wooden Box Trading is not responsible for price variations at point of purchase.
