Top 5 Paint by Number Kit Brands for Older Adults in 2026
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Ask a retired relative what they’d like to do with a free afternoon and you’ll often get a shrug. It isn’t a lack of interest. Many people just don’t fancy a hobby that demands skill or a big outlay.
Painting by numbers sidesteps both. The picture is already mapped out, the paints come in the box, and the only decision is which colour to pick up next. It’s an enjoyable pastime rather than a treatment, and many families find it gives everyone something to talk about.
The challenge is choosing a kit. Brands differ in print size, number of colours, delivery and whether the canvas arrives framed. Here are five worth comparing, with the points that matter most when you’re buying for an older person.
Number Artist
Number Artist sorts its range of paint by number canvas kits by difficulty (beginner, intermediate and advanced), which takes most of the guesswork out of picking something suitable for a relative with weaker eyesight or a short attention span. It also sells mini kits and bundles, so a first attempt can be small.
Two features are handy for gift buyers. The site has a short quiz to help you find a kit, and it offers custom kits made from a photo, such as a favourite pet or a family garden. A familiar subject tends to start conversations, which is half the point of the exercise.
Paint On Numbers UK
Paint On Numbers UK is the most local option here. Its ready-to-paint kits start from £24.99, custom photo kits from £29.99, and the site states that every kit arrives complete. It also offers free UK delivery on orders over £45, which suits a family buying for a relative who lives elsewhere.
You can shop by theme or by skill level, including a beginners section. Floral and botanical designs sit alongside landscapes and animals, so there’s a fair chance of finding something an older relative will recognise.
Ledgebay
Ledgebay sells ready-to-paint kits in framed (12 x 16 and 16 x 20) and unframed versions. A framed kit means one fewer jobs once the painting is finished, which is useful if your relative can’t easily manage a trip to a framing shop. The brand also publishes beginner guides and an article series on the therapeutic side of painting.
Bear in mind that the site prices in dollars and quotes a US free-shipping threshold, so check delivery terms and costs before ordering to the UK. It offers 30-day returns.
Paint With Number
Paint With Number organises its range by difficulty (beginner, intermediate and advanced) and by age group, with kits for adults, children and families. That last category is handy if you’d like to paint alongside a grandchild.
It positions itself as a US supplier with two-day US shipping, so UK buyers should confirm delivery times and import charges first. It also offers custom kits.
PaintVibe
PaintVibe lets you switch the shop to pounds sterling and browse by theme: nature, animals, places, people, seasonal and art. Its custom kit option turns a photograph into a numbered canvas, and it stocks accessories, which is where you’d look for extra brushes or replacement paint.
How to Choose a Kit for an Older Relative
Start with eyesight and attention span, not the picture. Fewer colours and larger numbered areas are far less frustrating than a busy scene, and a small kit that gets finished beats a large one that sits in a cupboard. Our guide to brain games that suit older adults is a useful companion if your relative likes puzzles and wants a varied routine.
Light and posture matter as much as the kit. Daylight is best, with a good lamp for darker afternoons. Keep sessions to twenty or thirty minutes, cover the table first, and rest the wrist on the table if there’s a tremor. If your relative gets frustrated, put the brush down and try again another day.
Be realistic about what a hobby can do. A 2023 network meta-analysis of 39 randomised trials in Frontiers in Psychiatry found that some art therapies improved cognitive function and quality of life for people with dementia, but 28 of the 39 trials didn’t clearly report how participants were randomised. It also looked at structured art therapies, not paint by numbers kits. Read the network meta-analysis of art therapies for the detail, and speak to a GP or occupational therapist if you have concerns about memory, mood or coordination.
The social side may matter more than the brushwork. A 2019 UK longitudinal study in Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology found that people who engaged with the arts every few months or more had lower odds of loneliness, though it studied attending cultural venues rather than painting at home. You can read the 2019 study on arts engagement and loneliness to see how the researchers framed it. That’s no proof that a paint set does the same job, but sitting down together is a sensible place to start.
Making It Part of the Week
Let your relative choose the picture, ideally something familiar such as a coastline, a garden or a dog like the one they had years ago. Finished pieces deserve a proper place on the wall, because visitors will ask about them. If you’d like more ideas for filling the days, our list of things for bored seniors to do has plenty.
Pick a small kit, let your relative set the pace, and treat the first painting as a shared afternoon rather than a project to finish. If it becomes a habit, the next kit is easy to choose.