WHAT IS HIDING POWER?
Hiding power refers to a paint colour’s ability to conceal the surface beneath it. In practice, it determines how many coats are needed to achieve full coverage. A colour with good hiding power will cover the substrate or previous colour with fewer coats. A colour with poor hiding power may require multiple layers — increasing both time and material use.
WHY SHOULD PROFESSIONAL DECORATORS CARE?
For professional painters, hiding power directly affects:
- Labour hours: More coats mean more time on site.
- Material costs: More paint is needed to achieve the desired finish.
- Customer satisfaction: Uneven or translucent finishes can lead to callbacks or complaints.
- Quote accuracy: Underestimating the number of coats can eat into your margins.
When quoting a job, knowing the hiding power of the selected colour helps you plan realistically and price accordingly.
WHICH COLOURS TEND TO HAVE POOR HIDING POWER?
Bright and bold colours — especially yellows, reds, and greens — often have lower hiding power. These shades may need a white or tinted undercoat or multiple topcoats to reach full opacity.
HOW TO WORK SMARTER WITH POOR HIDING COLOURS
- Use a white or tinted primer: A white or colour-matched primer can significantly improve coverage and help maintain the intended tone of the colour.
- Find out before offering: If you notice bright or bold colours in a request for quote, check the hiding power in advance. Teknos retailers can help via tinting machines, or you can test the colour yourself.
- Collaborate with the designer: If the selected colour has poor hiding power, discuss whether a slight adjustment to the shade is possible. Even a small change can improve coverage and reduce the number of coats needed. If the colour must remain unchanged, use the right primer and application strategy to achieve the best possible result.
VISUALISING HIDING POWER IN PRACTICE
The image below compares two bright yellow paints applied over a surface divided into light and dark tones — both painted with two coats.
- Left: A bright yellow with good hiding power — consistent coverage across both light and dark areas.
- Right: A bright yellow with poor hiding power — the underlying tones affect the final appearance, resulting in visible shade variation.
This clearly demonstrates why a white primer is essential when working with colours that have poor hiding power. It helps maintain colour consistency and ensures the final shade matches the intended result.
HOW TO FIND OUT IF A COLOUR IS POOR AT HIDING POWER?
- Teknos colour solutions service: Our experts can advise on the hiding power of any colour available on our tinting machines.
- Wide retailer network: Reach out to your closest retailer and ask to check from the Teknos tinting machine. Those provide real-time warnings about poor hiding power, metamerism, or formula changes.
- Teknos sales representatives: Contact your personal sales representative and ask for support
DO YOU ALWAYS NEED TO CHECK THE COLOUR’S HIDING POWER?
Not necessarily — but it’s worth paying attention when bright or bold colours are involved. These are the shades most likely to have poor hiding power and may require extra coats or preparation.
If you spot such colours in a request for quote, it’s a good idea to double-check. Our Teknos shade service and our skilled retailers are happy to help ensure your quote reflects the correct number of layers or any additional prep work needed. This way, you can avoid surprises and keep your project on time and on budget.
