My Top Five Spray Paint Brands for Studio Art and Murals
The Best Top Five Spray Paint Brands
1 . Montana Gold
Montana Gold sits at the top because it balances pro‑level performance with approachability. Its low‑pressure NC‑acrylic valve gives you ultra‑clean lines and buttery fades straight out of the can, making it ideal for detail work and photorealism. The range now spans ≈ 215 hues, including metallics and transparents, so mixing is almost unnecessary.
Expect to pay about $8.99 for a 400 ml can at independent art‑supply retailers—mid‑pack pricing for premium paint. Availability is rock‑solid: virtually every U.S. and European graffiti/web shop stocks Gold, and many brick‑and‑mortar art stores keep a core rack on hand.
Montana reinforces the line with added UV‑blockers, giving it excellent light‑fastness outdoors even without varnish.
Why it wins: unrivaled color harmony + low‑pressure precision + legitimate UV chemistry, all at a fair price.
2 . Montana Black
If speed matters more than surgical control, Black is your weapon. A constant high‑pressure (≈ 3.6 bar) valve pushes dense pigment fast, letting writers fill large areas in seconds while still handling outlines with cap changes. The palette covers 187 matte tones—fewer than Gold but tuned for opacity and coverage.
Street price ranges $8.50–$8.99 per can at large art chains. Because the brand mirrors Gold’s distribution network, finding Black caps or refills is rarely a problem. Like its sibling, Black uses top‑grade European pigments plus UV blockers, so murals keep their punch through long summers.
Best for: fast fills, winter sessions (it’s rated “winter‑proof”), and anyone who loves a matte, opaque finish.
3 . MTN 94
MTN 94—the Spanish classic—lands third only because the user asked for this order; by raw numbers it actually boasts the largest palette here at 217 low‑pressure matte colors. Its feather‑soft valve is beginner‑friendly yet precise enough for seasoned muralists.
Prices hover around $7.56–$8.25 a can, so you save a dollar or two versus the Montanas. MTN has full U.S. distribution through Spray Planet and dozens of regional shops, plus strong EU/Asia presence. A 2022 tech sheet rates 94 “very good” against UV and weathering, matching its reputation for long‑lasting color on outdoor walls.
Sweet spot: artists who want a huge color map, silky control, and solid durability without premium pricing.
4 . Dang Prime
Colorado‑based Bombing Science created Dang to deliver European quality at budget prices, and it shows: cans often retail around $5.50–$6.50. Even with the bargain tag you still get ≈ 179 shades (and growing), plus a soft low‑pressure valve that feels similar to MTN 94.
Availability is primarily online—Bombing Science, Jag Artworks, 14th Street Supply, Amazon and Walmart all ship nationwide—so brick‑and‑mortar access can be hit‑or‑miss in smaller cities. The alkyd formula is UV‑ and weather‑resistant, giving newcomers a fade‑proof entry point.
Value play: a wide palette and dependable fade resistance at nearly half the price of top‑shelf brands.
5 . MTN Hard Core (“Hard Core 2”)
Hard Core is MTN’s original high‑pressure gloss line—still the quickest covering can in the catalog. Today it offers 142 glossy colors and a relentlessly uniform output that old‑school bombers swear by. At $6.20 per can on Spray Planet, it undercuts Montana but edges above Dang.
Supply is excellent online and in most graffiti‑centric stores; because it shares caps with MTN 94 you’ll never run short on nozzles. Multiple product pages and tech sheets cite “very good resistance to sun, rain, and UV light,” making Hard Core surprisingly durable despite its gloss finish.
Who should use it: writers who prize speed, gloss punch and rock‑solid fade resistance at a wallet‑friendly price.
Quick‑Glance Scorecard
|
Brand |
Colors |
Avg. Price (400 ml) |
Valve Type |
UV Protection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Montana Gold |
215 |
$8.99 |
Low‑pressure |
Excellent |
|
Montana Black |
187 |
$8.75 |
High‑pressure |
Excellent |
|
MTN 94 |
217 |
$7.80 |
Low‑pressure |
Very good |
|
Dang Prime |
179 |
$5.90 |
Low‑pressure |
Very good |
|
MTN Hard Core |
142 |
$6.20 |
High‑pressure |
Very good |
-
Fine‑detail murals & studio work → Montana Gold or MTN 94
-
Fast fills & cold‑weather bombing → Montana Black or MTN Hard Core
-
Budget‑conscious projects without sacrificing pigment → Dang Prime
Whichever route you take, pair the paint with a compatible varnish for maximum UV insurance, especially on south‑facing walls. Happy painting—and stay vibrant!