How to find your wall paint color from a photo with the Color Match app

You've got a scuff on the wall, but the paint can is long gone and nobody remembers the color name. That's exactly why we built the free Mr. Brushable Color Match app. Snap a photo, tap the wall, and get a suggested color, plus the option to have a touch-up bottle filled in your shade.

Here's how to use it and how to get the closest match.

Step 1: Open Color Match

Go to the Color Match page. It works on a phone or a computer, and there's nothing to download. On a phone, tap Open Color Match full screen for the easiest view.

Step 2: Take a good photo of your wall

The photo is everything. A few tips make a big difference:

• Use daylight. Natural light from a window gives the truest color. Indoor bulbs can make walls look yellow, blue or gray.
• Turn off the flash. Flash washes out the color and adds glare.
• Shoot straight on. Hold the phone flat to the wall, not at an angle.
• Avoid shadows and shine. Pick a spot without shadows, glare or the scuff itself in the middle.
• Use a clean spot. Dirt and fingerprints change the color, so wipe the area first if needed.

Step 3: Tap the wall

Tap an even, well-lit part of the wall in your photo. The app reads the color there and suggests the closest match. If the color looks off, try tapping a different spot or retake the photo in better light.

Step 4: See what goes with it

Along with your match, the app shows colors that go with it. That's handy if you're also touching up trim, doors or an accent wall.

Step 5: Order your touch-up paint

Happy with the match? Go to Custom Color-Match Paint, choose the product you want, and follow the ordering steps. We mix your shade to order and fill it into the Mr. Brushable™ product you pick:

• Brush bottle (4 oz or 6 oz) for scuffs, chips, edges and trim
• Repair kit (6 oz) with spackle, spatula and sanding sponge, for nail holes and dents
• Roller bottle (6 oz) for bigger scuffs on the flat part of a wall. Choose Custom Color Match on the roller bottle page.

Custom colors are made to order, so allow a little extra time before your order ships.

Good to know before you paint

• A photo match is an estimate. Lighting, your camera and the age of your paint all affect the result. Paint fades over the years, so even the original color can look a little different on an older wall.
• Sheen matters as much as color. Custom color paint is currently semi-gloss. Many walls are flat or eggshell, so a semi-gloss touch-up can look shinier. It's ideal for trim, doors and cabinets.
• Test first. Try a small spot somewhere hidden and let it dry before touching up the middle of a wall. Paint can look different wet than dry.
• Have the original paint? For an exact color and sheen, use your own leftover paint in an empty refillable bottle instead.

Then touch it up the easy way

When your bottle arrives, squeeze to feed paint into the built-in brush or roller, apply a thin coat right on the mark, and cap it. No can, no tray, no brush to wash. For more tips, read how to touch up wall paint without it showing.

Try Color Match free →