Diamond Painting vs Paint by Numbers – Which Should You Try?

Diamond painting and paint by numbers often end up in the same shopping basket — and for good reason. Both produce wall-worthy artwork without years of practice. But whilst the results are equally impressive, the actual experience of making them couldn't be more different. This guide breaks down the practical differences so you can pick the one that fits your life.

The Core Difference in One Sentence

Diamond painting is mosaic assembly: you pick up tiny resin drills with a stylus pen and place them onto a coded adhesive canvas. Paint by numbers is brush painting: you dip a brush into acrylic paint and fill in numbered sections on canvas. One is precise placement, the other is brushwork — different hand movements, different headspace, different results.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Technique and Process

Diamond painting is rhythmic and almost automatic once you find your flow. Pick up a drill, press it into place, move to the next symbol. Many people describe it as meditative — your hands keep working whilst your mind drifts. There's no mess, no drying time, and no cleanup between colours.

Paint by numbers involves more traditional craft skills. Brush pressure, paint coverage, staying within edges — there's more variation in what your hands do from minute to minute. You'll clean brushes between colours, wait for sections to dry, and occasionally paint over thin spots for better coverage. It feels more like "real" painting because, well, it is.

Verdict: Diamond painting is assembly work. Paint by numbers is painting. If you want a steady, rhythmic flow, go diamond. If you want to feel like an artist, go paint.

Difficulty and Learning Curve

Diamond painting has an exceptionally low entry barrier. If you can place a sticker, you can do this. Mistakes are forgiving — peel off a misplaced drill and reposition it. The challenge scales with canvas size and complexity, where combining speed with accuracy becomes its own skill.

Paint by numbers is also designed for beginners, but brush technique matters more from day one. Thin paint coverage, small fiddly sections, and uneven brush strokes are common early frustrations. Fixing mistakes is trickier — you can paint over errors, but layers build up visibly. The upside? Your skill improves noticeably with each project, and your third canvas will look markedly better than your first.

Verdict: Diamond painting is marginally easier for a first project. Paint by numbers rewards skill development more over time.

Time Commitment

Concrete numbers: a 40×50 cm diamond painting typically takes 15–25 hours, depending on drill shape and image complexity. Round drills are faster; square drills need more precision. A smaller 30×40 cm piece takes roughly 8–15 hours. For a deeper breakdown, see our guide on how long a diamond painting takes.

A 40×50 cm paint by numbers takes approximately 10–20 hours. The time depends on colour count and region size — more colours and smaller sections mean slower progress. Unlike diamond painting, there are natural pauses for drying and brush cleaning that break the rhythm.

Verdict: Both are multi-evening projects. Diamond painting often feels faster thanks to its steady rhythm, even when total hours are similar.

Finished Look and Aesthetics

A finished diamond painting looks like a sparkling mosaic. Square drills create a tight, pixel-like surface that catches and reflects light beautifully. The ideal viewing distance is 1–2 metres — up close you see individual drills, but from across the room they blend into a cohesive image. The effect is modern and decorative.

A finished paint by numbers looks like a hand-painted artwork. Brush strokes give the surface texture and depth, and the result genuinely resembles an acrylic painting. It holds up at any viewing distance and looks like "real" art on the wall.

Verdict: Diamond painting = sparkly and contemporary. Paint by numbers = painted and classic. Neither is objectively better — it's purely an aesthetic preference.

Mess and Practicality

This is where the gap is widest. Diamond painting is essentially mess-free: no water, no paint, no drying time. You can work on the sofa, in bed, on a train, or at a holiday cottage. Drills stay in their bags until you place them, and the only hazard is the occasional drill rolling off your tray onto the floor.

Paint by numbers needs a proper workspace. You'll want a water cup for rinsing brushes, surface protection against paint splashes, and enough room for your paint pots. Brushes need cleaning between colours, and wet paint needs time to dry before you work on adjacent sections. It's a home crafting activity — a lovely one, but not particularly portable.

Verdict: Diamond painting wins decisively on convenience and portability. Paint by numbers wins if the physical act of painting is what you're after.

Price

Both hobbies sit in a similar price bracket, but exact pricing changes with size, complexity, and campaigns. In practice, a standard ready-made kit often lands somewhere around €19.90–€99.90 depending on size and detail level, whilst custom versions made from your own photo are typically in the €44.90–€99.90 range. The exact current pricing is best checked on the live product pages.

Useful add-ons: diamond painting benefits from a finishing sealant to protect your completed work. Paint by numbers benefits from a frame for wall display. Neither is essential.

Verdict: Same price bracket. No meaningful difference in base kit cost. Custom pieces run about €45–50 for either craft.

Custom from Your Photo — Which Works Better?

Both crafts can be made from your own photograph, and the result is striking in either case — just in different ways.

Custom diamond painting excels with detailed images: pet portraits, wedding photos, family snapshots. The drill density preserves fine detail, especially at larger sizes. Square drills produce the sharpest result.

Custom paint by numbers captures mood and colour atmosphere. Brush strokes naturally soften the image, and the result looks like a genuine painted portrait. It works best when the feeling of the photo matters more than pixel-perfect detail.

Verdict: Diamonds for detail, paint for mood. Both are made to order and shipped from our EU warehouse.

Comparison Table

Who Should Choose What — Quick Guide

You want to relax on the sofa without any mess? Diamond painting. Canvas on your lap, series on the telly, hands doing their thing. No water, no paint, no worries.

You want to feel like you're creating art? Paint by numbers. There's something about holding a brush, mixing coverage, and seeing your own strokes on canvas that drills simply can't replicate.

Buying a gift? Diamond painting is the safer choice — it's dead easy to start, requires zero experience, and the finished piece looks impressive. A custom diamond painting from a photo makes a particularly memorable gift.

Crafting with children? Both work, but diamond painting is tidier. Paint by numbers needs a bit more supervision with young ones around — acrylic paint and light-coloured furniture aren't friends.

You travel or want a portable project? Diamond painting. Compact kit, no liquids, fits in a bag.

You want to turn a photograph into art? Both options are available — choose by style. Custom diamond painting for a detailed mosaic, custom paint by numbers for a painterly finish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is easier for a complete beginner?

Diamond painting is slightly easier for a first project. You place drills onto symbols — no technique required — and mistakes are instantly fixable by peeling and repositioning. Paint by numbers is also beginner-friendly, but brush control takes a little practice to get right.

Which produces a better-looking result?

Different, not better. Diamond painting sparkles and looks like modern mosaic art — particularly striking when light catches the drills. Paint by numbers looks like a hand-painted canvas with visible brush texture. Both are genuinely wall-worthy. It comes down to whether you prefer shimmer or brush strokes.

Can I do both?

Absolutely. Many of our customers start with one and discover the other later. They're different experiences rather than competitors — diamond painting is an evening wind-down, paint by numbers is a weekend art project.

What accessories do I need beyond the kit?

All kits include everything to get started. Helpful additions: for diamond painting, a finishing sealant protects your work and locks drills in place. For paint by numbers, a frame makes wall display easy. Good lighting helps with both crafts — especially for diamond painting where reading tiny symbols matters.

Which is cheaper?

They're in the same price range. Ready-made kits start from around €12–25, and diamond painting kits can be found on sale for under €15. Custom kits from your own photo usually fall somewhere around €44.90–€99.90 for either craft. Diamond painting has a few optional accessories (sealant, light pad), but none are essential.

Where to Start

If diamond painting sounds like your thing, browse our diamond painting kits or read the diamond painting instructions for beginners. If paint by numbers appeals more, have a look at our paint by numbers kits and the paint by numbers guide.

Or try both — for many of our customers, that turned out to be the best answer.