U.S. shipments, 2023
$31.5B
Census Annual Survey of Manufactures, via ACA (April 2025).
Research dataset · verified September 9, 2026
U.S. Paint & Coatings Industry Statistics 2026
Market size, forecast, producer prices, employment, company revenue and regulation for the U.S. paint and coatings industry — every figure read from its source and dated, with Census-based, estimated and forecast numbers labeled separately.
15 rows verified against ACA, BLS, EPA, company releases and PCI Magazine · 11 primary-source
U.S. market, 2025 estimate
$34.1B
1.33 billion gallons; 2026 forecast $35.3B (ChemQuest via ACA).
Producer prices, Jul 2026
+0.57% YoY
BLS PPI WPU0623, 422.953 preliminary vs 420.562.
Quick facts
A 20-second read. Every card opens its source.
U.S. paint and coatings shipments, 2023
$31.5B
ACA, citing Census Annual Survey of Manufactures
U.S. market estimate, 2025
$34.1B
ChemQuest via ACA · 1.33 billion gallons
Producer Price Index, paint and coatings
+0.57%
BLS WPU0623 · Jul 2026 vs Jul 2025
Industry employment, 2023
312,000
ACA, citing BLS QCEW · 41,900 in manufacturing
Sherwin-Williams 2025 net sales
$23.57B
Company release, Jan 29, 2026 · global
PPG 2025 net sales
$15.9B
Company release, Jan 27, 2026 · global
Key findings
Sentence-ready statements with the source named inline. Copy any line as-is.
- 1
Product shipments by U.S. paint and coatings producers totaled $31.5 billion in 2023 (American Coatings Association, citing the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of Manufactures).
- 2
ChemQuest estimates the U.S. market at 1.33 billion gallons worth $34.1 billion in 2025 and forecasts $35.3 billion in 2026 and $36.9 billion in 2027 — estimates published via ACA, not official production statistics.
- 3
In the 2026 forecast, architectural coatings volume slips 0.3% while value rises 1.9%; industrial OEM reaches $10.7 billion on 372 million gallons and special-purpose coatings $8.3 billion on 202 million gallons (ChemQuest).
- 4
The BLS Producer Price Index for paint and coatings manufacturing (WPU0623) was 422.953 in July 2026, preliminary, up 0.57% from 420.562 in July 2025.
- 5
The industry employed 312,000 workers in 2023 at 53,700 establishments, 41,900 of them in manufacturing, where the average wage was $83,900 and total industry payroll approached $19.1 billion (ACA, citing BLS QCEW).
- 6
Sherwin-Williams reported $23.57 billion in 2025 consolidated net sales (up 2.1%) and PPG $15.9 billion — global figures spanning all coatings segments, not U.S. market shares.
- 7
Federal VOC limits for architectural coatings remain 250 g/L for flat and 380 g/L for nonflat products under EPA's 1998 rule.
Charts: market size by year, 2026 segments, employment, company revenue
Every bar carries its number; the full table below is the accessible fallback.
U.S. market value by year
Census-based shipments (2023) and ChemQuest estimates and forecasts (2025–2027).
- 2023 — product shipments (Census, via ACA) $31.5B
- 2025 — market estimate (ChemQuest) $34.1B
- 2026 — forecast (ChemQuest) $35.3B
- 2027 — forecast (ChemQuest) $36.9B
2026 forecast by segment
ChemQuest via ACA. Architectural is derived as the remainder of the $35.3B total.
- Architectural — derived remainder ≈ $16.3B
$35.3B minus the two published segments; volume −0.3%, value +1.9%
- Industrial OEM — 372M gallons $10.7B
- Special-purpose — 202M gallons $8.3B
Source: PCI Magazine, Aug 29, 2026
Who works in paint and coatings (2023)
ACA, citing BLS QCEW. Painting contractors are a separate sector and not included.
- Whole industry — 53,700 establishments 312,000
- Manufacturing — avg. wage $83,900 41,900
Largest coatings companies, 2025 net sales (global)
Company year-end releases. Global and multi-segment, so not comparable to the U.S. market.
- Sherwin-Williams — up 2.1% $23.57B
- PPG $15.9B
Market calculator: value per gallon, producer-price adjustment
Derived from ChemQuest's market estimates and the BLS producer price index. Producer-level figures, not retail prices and not a Carolina Renew quote.
Average value per gallon (derived)
ChemQuest's market value divided by its volume for the same year. A derived figure, not a published price.
- Market-average value per gallon
- —
- Value of the gallons entered
- —
Blends architectural, industrial and special-purpose coatings; a gallon of premium house paint retails well above this average.
Producer-price adjustment
Scales a July 2025 paint-materials amount to July 2026 using the BLS PPI for paint and coatings manufacturing (WPU0623): 420.562 → 422.953 (preliminary).
- Index change
- +0.57%
- Equivalent in July 2026
- —
Producer prices, not retail shelf prices; retail markups and promotions move independently. Preliminary index values are revised by BLS.
Verified facts
15 rows · 11 primary-source · each links to its source and opens a ready citation.
| Metric | Value | Scope | Entity | Confidence | Source | Cite |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. paint and coatings product shipments value (NAICS 325510) | $31.5 billion (2023) | NAICS 325510, Paint and Coating Manufacturing, national total; 2023 is the most recent year Census has published this breakout | U.S. paint and coating manufacturers | High | American Coatings Association, "FACTs About the Paint & Coatings Industry: Economic Contributions" (citing U.S. Census Bureau Annual Survey of Manufactures) April 2025 (data year 2023) | |
| U.S. paint and coatings market, 2025 — 1.33 billion gallons valued at $34.1 billion (ChemQuest estimate published via ACA; volume −1.1%, value +0.6% vs 2024) | 1.33 billion gallons / $34.1 billion (2025) | Total U.S. coatings market (architectural + industrial/OEM + special-purpose); market-research estimate, not an official Census/ACA production count | U.S. paint and coatings industry (all segments) | Med | PCI Magazine, reporting ChemQuest Corp. estimates published via American Coatings Association channels August 29, 2026 | |
| U.S. paint and coatings market forecast for 2026 — about 1.33 billion gallons valued at $35.3 billion (ChemQuest estimate published via ACA; forecast, not measured) | ~1.33 billion gallons / $35.3 billion (2026 forecast) | Forecast | U.S. paint and coatings industry (all segments) | Med | PCI Magazine, reporting ChemQuest Corp. forecast August 29, 2026 | |
| 2026 forecast by segment — industrial OEM $10.7 billion on 372 million gallons; special-purpose $8.3 billion on 202 million gallons; architectural volume −0.3% and value +1.9% (ChemQuest via ACA; forecast) | $10.7B / $8.3B | Forecast | Market segments | Med | PCI Magazine, reporting ChemQuest forecast August 29, 2026 | |
| U.S. paint and coatings market forecast for 2027 — 1.36 billion gallons valued at $36.9 billion (ChemQuest via ACA; forecast) | $36.9B (2027F) | Forecast | Market size | Med | PCI Magazine, reporting ChemQuest forecast August 29, 2026 | |
| Producer Price Index, Allied and Miscellaneous Paint Products (WPU0623) | 422.953(P) index (Jul 2026, NSA, Jun 1983=100, preliminary); +0.57% vs Jul 2025 (420.562) | Commodity series WPU0623, Chemicals and Allied Products: Allied and Miscellaneous Paint Products; not seasonally adjusted | U.S. paint manufacturing sector (BLS commodity series WPU0623) | High | U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Producer Price Index, series WPU0623 (fetched via data.bls.gov and FRED, both citing BLS) Data for July 2026 (marked preliminary '(P)'), extracted September 9, 2026 | |
| Sherwin-Williams consolidated net sales, full-year 2025 — $23.57 billion, up 2.1% (global, all segments) | $23.57 billion (up 2.1% YoY) | Company (global) | The Sherwin-Williams Company | High | The Sherwin-Williams Company, 2025 Year-End and Fourth Quarter Financial Results press release January 29, 2026 | |
| PPG net sales, full-year 2025 — $15.9 billion ($15,875 million; global, all segments) | $15.9 billion ($15,875 million) | Company (global) | PPG Industries, Inc. | High | PPG Industries, Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2025 Financial Results press release January 27, 2026 | |
| Architectural coatings VOC content limit, flat coatings | 250 g/L (2.1 lb/gal) | Federal national VOC content limit, g/L (lb/gal) minus water and exempt compounds, applies to manufacturers/importers | EPA National VOC Emission Standards for Architectural Coatings, 40 CFR Part 59 Subpart D | High | U.S. EPA, "Detailed Fact Sheet: Architectural Coating Rule for Volatile Organic Compounds" Rule published September 11, 1998 (63 FR 48848); fact sheet as fetched 2026 | |
| Architectural coatings VOC content limit, nonflat coatings | 380 g/L (3.2 lb/gal) | Federal national VOC content limit, g/L (lb/gal) minus water and exempt compounds | EPA National VOC Emission Standards for Architectural Coatings, 40 CFR Part 59 Subpart D | High | U.S. EPA, "Detailed Fact Sheet: Architectural Coating Rule for Volatile Organic Compounds" Rule published September 11, 1998 (63 FR 48848); fact sheet as fetched 2026 | |
| Direct employment, paint and coating manufacturing | 41,900 workers (2023) | NAICS 325510 only (manufacturing establishments); 2023 is the most recent year BLS QCEW data was available per this source. Brief's target series (BLS CES/QCEW NAICS 3255, the broader paint+coating+adhesive group) was not independently fetchable at a more current date. | Paint and coating manufacturers (NAICS 325510) | High | American Coatings Association, "FACTs About the Paint & Coatings Industry: Economic Contributions," citing BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) April 2025 (data year 2023) | |
| Total U.S. paint and coatings industry employment (mfg + wholesale + retail + contractors) | 312,000 workers (2023) | Combined NAICS 325510 (paint/coating mfg), 444120 (paint/wallpaper stores), 424950 (paint/varnish/supplies wholesalers), 238320 (painting/wall covering contractors) | U.S. paint and coatings industry, NAICS 325510 + 444120 + 424950 + 238320 | High | American Coatings Association, "FACTs About the Paint & Coatings Industry: Economic Contributions," citing BLS QCEW April 2025 (data year 2023) | |
| Number of paint and coatings establishments | 53,700 establishments (2023) | Same combined NAICS grouping as total employment figure (mfg + wholesale + retail + contractors) | U.S. paint and coatings industry | High | American Coatings Association, "FACTs About the Paint & Coatings Industry: Economic Contributions," citing BLS QCEW April 2025 (data year 2023) | |
| Average annual wage, paint and coatings manufacturing sector | $83,900 (2023) | NAICS 325510 manufacturing workers only, vs. $61,300 industry-wide average across the four combined NAICS codes | Paint and coating manufacturers (NAICS 325510) | High | American Coatings Association, "FACTs About the Paint & Coatings Industry: Economic Contributions," citing BLS QCEW April 2025 (data year 2023) | |
| Total payroll, U.S. paint and coatings industry | nearly $19.1 billion (2023) | Same combined NAICS grouping (mfg + wholesale + retail + contractors) | U.S. paint and coatings industry | High | American Coatings Association, "FACTs About the Paint & Coatings Industry: Economic Contributions," citing BLS QCEW April 2025 (data year 2023) |
Where sources disagree
Published figures that are often quoted interchangeably but measure different scopes. Cite the source, not a blended number.
How big is the U.S. market?
- ACA / Census ASM — 2023 product shipments
- $31.5 billion
- ChemQuest via ACA — 2025 estimate
- $34.1 billion · 1.33 billion gallons
- ChemQuest via ACA — 2026 forecast
- $35.3 billion
Different years and different bases: Census shipments count what U.S. producers shipped in 2023; ChemQuest models total market value and volume. Neither is a market-share denominator for company revenue.
Company revenue vs. U.S. market
- Sherwin-Williams FY2025
- $23.57 billion (global)
- PPG FY2025
- $15.9 billion (global)
Both figures include non-U.S. sales, industrial and packaging coatings, and company-owned stores. Dividing them by the $34.1 billion U.S. estimate would overstate share; this page does not.
Employment scope
- ACA / QCEW — manufacturing only
- 41,900 (avg. wage $83,900)
- ACA / QCEW — whole industry
- 312,000 at 53,700 establishments
The whole-industry figure includes distribution and retail; painting contractors are a separate NAICS sector and are not in either number.
Known gaps (no authoritative source)
Metrics people ask for that no association-grade source isolates. Listed instead of estimated.
| Metric | Status | Why |
|---|---|---|
| CPI for paint specifically | No source | BLS CPI does not publish a paint-isolated line item; the closest published category, "Tools, hardware, outdoor equipment and supplies," bundles paint with hardware/tools and does not isolate paint prices, so no authoritative isolated CPI figure exists to cite (per the brief's own caveat). |
| Census Bureau NAICS 325510 shipments more recent than 2023, fetched directly from census.gov | No source | data.census.gov's Annual Survey of Manufactures tables are a JavaScript-rendered app that our fetch tools could not read; the only fetchable figure was the 2023 total ($31.5B) as republished by ACA, which itself states 2023 is the most recent year Census has released this breakout, and that Census discontinued state-level paint/coating disaggregation in 2017. |
| Current (2024/2025) BLS QCEW or CES employment for NAICS 3255 (4-digit, paint+coating+adhesive) specifically | No source | The brief's target series (NAICS 3255, broader than 325510) was not independently locatable via a valid BLS series ID or a fetchable QCEW/CES table in the time available; the only verified employment figure found (41,900, NAICS 325510 only) is from 2023 QCEW data via ACA's April 2025 publication, one NAICS level narrower and roughly 1.5 years stale. |
| ACA's own primary U.S. and Global Market Analysis report (gallons/dollars), directly from paint.org rather than third-party reporting | No source | paint.org's "U.S. and Global Market Analysis for the Paint and Coatings Industry" appears to be a paid/member publication; only its underlying ChemQuest estimates as summarized by trade press (PCI Magazine) were fetchable in full text. |
Journalist view
Copy-ready attributions. Each card credits the original source and links this dataset.
American Coatings Association, "FACTs About the Paint & Coatings Industry: Economic Contributions" (citing U.S. Census Bureau Annual Survey of Manufactures) · April 2025 (data year 2023)
$31.5 billion (2023) — U.S. paint and coatings product shipments value (NAICS 325510)
PCI Magazine, reporting ChemQuest Corp. estimates published via American Coatings Association channels · August 29, 2026
1.33 billion gallons / $34.1 billion (2025) — U.S. paint and coatings market, 2025 — 1.33 billion gallons valued at $34.1 billion (ChemQuest estimate published via ACA; volume −1.1%, value +0.6% vs 2024)
PCI Magazine, reporting ChemQuest Corp. forecast · August 29, 2026
~1.33 billion gallons / $35.3 billion (2026 forecast) — U.S. paint and coatings market forecast for 2026 — about 1.33 billion gallons valued at $35.3 billion (ChemQuest estimate published via ACA; forecast, not measured)
PCI Magazine, reporting ChemQuest forecast · August 29, 2026
$10.7B / $8.3B — 2026 forecast by segment — industrial OEM $10.7 billion on 372 million gallons; special-purpose $8.3 billion on 202 million gallons; architectural volume −0.3% and value +1.9% (ChemQuest via ACA; forecast)
PCI Magazine, reporting ChemQuest forecast · August 29, 2026
$36.9B (2027F) — U.S. paint and coatings market forecast for 2027 — 1.36 billion gallons valued at $36.9 billion (ChemQuest via ACA; forecast)
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Producer Price Index, series WPU0623 (fetched via data.bls.gov and FRED, both citing BLS) · Data for July 2026 (marked preliminary '(P)'), extracted September 9, 2026
422.953(P) index (Jul 2026, NSA, Jun 1983=100, preliminary); +0.57% vs Jul 2025 (420.562) — Producer Price Index, Allied and Miscellaneous Paint Products (WPU0623)
The Sherwin-Williams Company, 2025 Year-End and Fourth Quarter Financial Results press release · January 29, 2026
$23.57 billion (up 2.1% YoY) — Sherwin-Williams consolidated net sales, full-year 2025 — $23.57 billion, up 2.1% (global, all segments)
PPG Industries, Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2025 Financial Results press release · January 27, 2026
$15.9 billion ($15,875 million) — PPG net sales, full-year 2025 — $15.9 billion ($15,875 million; global, all segments)
U.S. EPA, "Detailed Fact Sheet: Architectural Coating Rule for Volatile Organic Compounds" · Rule published September 11, 1998 (63 FR 48848); fact sheet as fetched 2026
250 g/L (2.1 lb/gal) — Architectural coatings VOC content limit, flat coatings
U.S. EPA, "Detailed Fact Sheet: Architectural Coating Rule for Volatile Organic Compounds" · Rule published September 11, 1998 (63 FR 48848); fact sheet as fetched 2026
380 g/L (3.2 lb/gal) — Architectural coatings VOC content limit, nonflat coatings
American Coatings Association, "FACTs About the Paint & Coatings Industry: Economic Contributions," citing BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW) · April 2025 (data year 2023)
41,900 workers (2023) — Direct employment, paint and coating manufacturing
American Coatings Association, "FACTs About the Paint & Coatings Industry: Economic Contributions," citing BLS QCEW · April 2025 (data year 2023)
312,000 workers (2023) — Total U.S. paint and coatings industry employment (mfg + wholesale + retail + contractors)
American Coatings Association, "FACTs About the Paint & Coatings Industry: Economic Contributions," citing BLS QCEW · April 2025 (data year 2023)
53,700 establishments (2023) — Number of paint and coatings establishments
American Coatings Association, "FACTs About the Paint & Coatings Industry: Economic Contributions," citing BLS QCEW · April 2025 (data year 2023)
$83,900 (2023) — Average annual wage, paint and coatings manufacturing sector
American Coatings Association, "FACTs About the Paint & Coatings Industry: Economic Contributions," citing BLS QCEW · April 2025 (data year 2023)
nearly $19.1 billion (2023) — Total payroll, U.S. paint and coatings industry
Methodology & data confidence
How each row got here
- A research pass compiled candidate figures from the ACA Economic Contributions fact sheet (Census and QCEW data), the BLS PPI series WPU0623, the Sherwin-Williams and PPG year-end releases, PCI Magazine's report on the ChemQuest forecast and the EPA VOC rule, each with the verbatim sentence.
- An independent verifier re-opened all rows: 14 of 15 confirmed verbatim; the PPI row's date wording was corrected after re-reading the data.bls.gov series table (July 2025 = 420.562, July 2026 = 422.953 preliminary).
- The ACA PDF was downloaded and text-extracted in-session; the Sherwin-Williams, PPG and PCI pages were re-read a third time. Two ChemQuest segment rows were added from the re-read PCI text.
- Company figures are labeled global; ChemQuest figures are labeled estimate or forecast, as PCI's own disclaimer requires; consumer gallon prices from cost guides were removed as out of scope.
- Where a primary series is not fetchable (NAICS 325510 Census M3 shipments, ACA members-only reports), the metric is listed under Known gaps.
Confidence levels
High = primary source (association report PDF, government data, manufacturer data sheet, industry study). Med = consumer-cost aggregator (Angi, HomeGuide, HomeAdvisor, Homewyse) whose methodology is not public and whose ranges diverge by scope.
ACA (Census and QCEW data), BLS, EPA and company filings are primary-grade; the ChemQuest market figures are labeled Med because they are estimates reported second-hand by PCI Magazine.
Checked and left out
- Angi and HomeGuide per-gallon retail prices — consumer cost data, kept on the cost pages instead.
- Paid market-research market sizes (IMARC and similar) — not verifiable against a primary report.
- Any derived market-share percentage for Sherwin-Williams or PPG — the numerators are global.
Found an error or a newer edition of a source? Tell us and the row will be re-verified and dated.
Data freshness
Publication date of every source behind this page, newest first, so editors can judge recency at a glance.
-
Page verified and published
All 15 rows re-read; PPI series re-checked; CSV and JSON exports generated.
-
PCI Magazine on ChemQuest's State of the Industry 2026
2025 estimate $34.1B / 1.33B gal; 2026 forecast $35.3B; 2027 forecast $36.9B; segment splits.
-
BLS PPI WPU0623, preliminary
422.953, +0.57% vs July 2025.
-
Sherwin-Williams 2025 year-end results
Consolidated net sales $23.57 billion, up 2.1%.
-
PPG full-year 2025 results
Net sales $15.9 billion ($15,875 million).
-
ACA FACTs: Economic Contributions (2023 data)
$31.5B shipments; 312,000 workers; 41,900 in manufacturing; 53,700 establishments; $83,900 average manufacturing wage; $19.1B payroll.
-
EPA architectural coatings rule (40 CFR 59 Subpart D)
Flat 250 g/L, nonflat 380 g/L — still in force.
FAQ
How big is the U.S. paint and coatings industry?
Census-based product shipments by U.S. paint and coatings producers totaled $31.5 billion in 2023 (American Coatings Association, April 2025). ChemQuest estimates 1.33 billion gallons worth $34.1 billion in 2025 and forecasts $35.3 billion in 2026 — those are estimates published via ACA, not official production statistics.
How many people work in paint and coatings?
ACA, citing BLS QCEW: 312,000 workers across the industry in 2023, 41,900 of them in manufacturing, at 53,700 establishments, with manufacturing wages averaging $83,900 and total payroll near $19.1 billion.
Are paint prices rising?
The BLS Producer Price Index for paint and coatings manufacturing (WPU0623) was 422.953 in July 2026 (preliminary), 0.57% above July 2025 (420.562) — close to flat at the producer level.
Who are the largest paint companies?
Sherwin-Williams reported $23.57 billion in 2025 consolidated net sales (up 2.1%) and PPG $15.9 billion; both figures are global and span all coatings segments, so they cannot be read as U.S. market share.
What are the federal VOC limits for paint?
Under 40 CFR Part 59 Subpart D (1998), flat coatings are limited to 250 g/L and nonflat coatings to 380 g/L of VOC; the rule binds manufacturers and importers, not painting contractors.
How to cite this page
Carolina Renew Painting & Finishes. (2026). U.S. Paint & Coatings Industry Statistics 2026. https://carolinarenew.com/paint-industry-statistics-2026/
Rule: Cite the $31.5 billion as 2023 Census-based shipments via ACA; cite ChemQuest figures as estimates or forecasts published via ACA, never as official production statistics; cite company revenue as global; cite the PPI with its month and preliminary status.
Free to reuse with attribution (CC BY 4.0). Link to the row anchor (the “Cite” button gives it) so readers land on the exact figure.
What this means for a Charlotte paint job
Producer prices are nearly flat year over year, so most of a painting quote is still labor. See our live retail price index and how brands compare.
Back to research hub Paint price indexPaint brands comparedHouse painters in CharlottePainter wage statistics
Updated: September 9, 2026