FAQs

Delivery

Delivery is free, unless ordering for Saturday pre 12pm delivery, then a charge of £12.50 is applied. 

We work with our partners at Fedex and Royal Mail to deliver our orders. For more detailed information, please refer to our Delivery and Returns page.

When your order is on its way, you’ll receive an email with all the tracking information. So, check your inbox to follow its journey to your door.

If your order has been marked as delivered but you’ve not received it, please let us know by filling in this form so we can help.

If you’re missing a sample, please check your order confirmation email to confirm if you’re waiting for a sample pot or a paint swatch. Swatches are sent through Royal Mail and will arrive separately.

If you’re missing paint, wallpaper or other items that aren’t samples, please let us know by filling in this form. We’ll look into the problem right away. 

We’re very sorry to hear this. It’s not the high standard that we (or you) expect. Please let us know the details by filling in this form. We may need to talk to our courier about what’s happened, so it can take up to 12 working hours for us to do so and get back to you.

Any paint orders placed before 2pm will be dispatched the same day and delivered the next working day. You can find more information around our current lead times here. 

Order

We’d be more than happy to send you a VAT invoice but we can only do this once your order has been delivered. When you have your order, email us at sales@farrow-ball.com to request one.

Get in touch as soon as you can by calling us on 01202 876 141 between 8.30am-5.30pm, Monday-Friday. This gives us the best chance of being able to amend the issue. If it’s outside our opening hours, please email us at sales@farrow-ball.com.

Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee amends because we handle so many orders and are always aiming to deliver as quickly as possible, so your order may already be beyond the point of making amends.  

Get in touch as soon as you can by calling us on 01202 876 141 between 8.30am-5.30pm, Monday-Friday. This gives us the best chance of being able to cancel the order. 

Unfortunately, we can’t guarantee cancellation because we handle so many orders and are always aiming to deliver as quickly as possible, so your order may already be beyond the point of cancellation.  

You can find all the details of our returns policy here.

We’re very sorry that your order isn’t as you’d expect. Please get in touch here, so we can work out what’s gone awry. 

Product

With no drying time, no mess and no fuss, paint swatches make sampling simple. Carefully stick the swatches up in your space and then move them around to see how the colours shift in different lights.

We always recommend painting a sample pot onto a piece of paper, rather than your wall, so these paint swatches complete that step for you.

Find advice on choosing and applying paint samples here and see our article ‘How to Sample Paint Colours’ for our guide to testing colours at home.

We’ve put together a handy finish finder, to help you pick the perfect paint for your project. Take a look here. If you still need advice, please feel free to get in touch. 

In most cases, yes. Primer & Undercoat helps create an even surface, improves adhesion and helps achieve the truest colour and finish. It’s the best way to get  the most out of your paint.

The correct Primer & Undercoat depends on your chosen topcoat colour and the surface you're painting. You can find guidance on each product page.

We generally recommend applying two coats of your chosen paint finish over one coat of the appropriate Primer & Undercoat. 
Coverage can vary depending on the surface, previous colour and application method. 

Our easy-to-use calculator can help you work out how much paint you’ll need: 

1. Select your favourite paint colour and choose your desired finish. 
2. Click ‘Select Quantity' then ‘View Paint Calculator’. 
3. Enter your wall measurements and use the tool provided to subtract areas such as windows and doors. 
4. Click ‘Calculate and Update Quantity’ for our volume recommendation.  
5. Double check your space. Our paint coverage calculator is a helpful starting point, but we recommend you also check with your decorator, look at our coverage table or email sales@farrow-ball.com before ordering.

Drying times vary depending on the finish, temperature and humidity of your space. 
As a general guide, most finishes are touch dry within a few hours, but we recommend following the drying and recoat times listed on the product's advice sheet for the best results. 

In many cases, yes. However, surfaces should be clean, dry and free from loose or flaking paint before application. 

If you're changing from a dark colour to a light one, or painting onto a difficult surface, additional preparation may be required.

Store paint in a cool, dry, frost-free location with the lid securely sealed. 
Keeping paint in its original container and storing it correctly will help maintain its quality for future touch-ups. 

The amount of wallpaper you need depends on the pattern you’ve chosen, as well as the size and shape of your space. Take a look here for more information. We recommend getting in touch with us at sales@farrow-ball.com, so we can give you advice specific to your project. 

Yes, you can spray most Farrow & Ball finishes. However, not every finish is sprayable and there are some steps to take to make sure you get the best results. So, do make sure to check the Product Advice Guide for your chosen to finish to find out all the information on preparation and application.

Farrow & Ball's products are characterised by water-based, low-VOC formulations; A+ indoor air quality performance; PFAS-free paint; high durability; ingredient transparency; FSC-certified, plastic-free wallpaper; widespread vegan-friendly formulations; cruelty-free manufacturing; and a strong focus on using responsibly sourced raw materials while reducing waste throughout the product lifecycle.

We’re incredibly proud to be a B Corp™. Being a B Corp isn’t just a label. It means we meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. And it's a promise to keep growing.  

You can find out more about our approach and read our Responsibility Report here.

• Fully water-based paint formulations across the entire range since 2010, eliminating the need for traditional petroleum-based solvents. 
• Low-odour paints with very low VOC emissions, helping to improve indoor air quality during and after decorating.
• All paint finishes achieve an A+ rating under the French Indoor Air Quality standard. 
• All emulsion paints are classified as Trace VOC, the lowest possible category under the British Coatings Federation system. 
• 63% of the paint range is classified as Trace VOC and 31% as Minimal VOC.
• Paint has been externally audited and verified as PFAS-free. 
• Full ingredient transparency, with the complete ingredient list now publicly available.
• Paint formulations use carefully selected raw materials assessed for safety, sustainability, sourcing, pollution impact, and end-of-life considerations. 
• High levels of titanium dioxide provide excellent opacity, helping reduce the number of coats required and lowering material consumption during decorating. 
• Up to 59% of paint content (excluding water) consists of naturally occurring minerals such as calcium carbonate, limestone, kaolin and mica. 
• Minerals are sourced through suppliers selected for responsible, ethical and sustainable practices. 
• Preservatives are carefully controlled to maximise shelf life and minimise product waste while reducing potential user sensitivity.
• Synthetic Polymer Microparticles (SPMs) are used only where necessary to improve durability and manufacturing efficiency, supporting longer product life and reduced waste. 
• Product advice includes guidance on responsible tool cleaning and disposal to reduce environmental release of paint residues. 
• More than 95% of the paint range is vegan friendly including all core emulsion and trim paints. 
• The entire paint range is cruelty free, with no animal testing. 
• Durable finishes are designed to last longer and reduce the frequency of repainting, lowering long-term resource consumption.
• Modern performance finishes achieve the highest scrub resistance rating (Class 1), supporting longevity and reduced maintenance. 
• Wallpaper is manufactured using FSC-certified paper sourced from responsibly managed forests. 
• Wallpaper is plastic-free and PVC-free. 
• Core Wallpaper ranges are printed using Farrow & Ball's own water-based paints rather than plastic coatings.
• Wallpaper paste is made from biodegradable potato starch, a renewable natural resource. 
• Regulatory data sheets are published across multiple markets and languages, supporting transparency and informed product selection. 

We have different finishes for different projects, including some breathable options. For example, our Limewash, Distempers and select Exterior finishes are highly breathable. You can find out about each one by checking our online finish finder or reviewing our Product Advice Sheets.

If you have any question or would like more advice, email us with details of your project.

We aren’t part of the RAL colour system, so we can’t provide codes. Plus, our paints are so highly pigmented and beautifully nuanced in how they respond to their surroundings, they’re impossible to match. If you’d like help picking the perfect finish for your project, from washable wall paint to long-lasting exterior options, give us a call on 01202 876141 or message us on live chat. 

Our wallpapers are made using our very own paint. The traditional methods we use in our wallpaper production can mean colours look slightly different on wallpaper compared to on walls. That's why we always recommend sampling your paint and paper to see how it looks in your space.

We’re very sorry that your order isn’t as you’d expect. Please get in touch here, so we can work out what’s gone awry.