Pantone™ PMS 396 U

Pantone PMS 396 U is a color communication reference, not a complete coating specification. It does not define sheen, film build, surface texture, or application method. Existing finishes already have those variables set, so applying a Pantone-matched paint for touch-up will often look different even if the color target is correct.

For PMS 396 U, this difference can be noticeable under lighting changes or at viewing angles where sheen and substrate show through. Pantone PMS colors are best used when the Pantone reference itself is the target, such as new brand-facing elements, rather than trying to blend into an existing coating.

As a general planning estimate, one spray can of Pantone PMS 396 U often covers about 10 square feet with a single, even coat. Actual coverage can vary based on spray technique, surface texture, and how heavy each pass is.

PMS 396 U is a vivid color, so achieving uniform appearance may require two or more coats. When estimating quantity, multiply the total area by the number of coats you expect, then add extra material to allow for overlap and consistency across cans.

The suffix in Pantone PMS 396 U indicates the Pantone reference series used to define the color appearance. Different suffixes represent different reference conditions, and they are not interchangeable.

When ordering PMS 396 U paint, make sure your brand standards or source documentation specifically call for the U version. Using a different Pantone series with the same number can result in a visible color difference when compared side by side.

For large surfaces, plan your application so PMS 396 U is applied in consistent sections using the same spray distance, overlap, and pass speed. Changes in technique partway through a project can lead to patchiness or banding.

Using multiple light coats rather than one heavy coat helps keep color and sheen more even. It is also important to box or rotate cans during use so material from different cans is blended across the surface instead of applied in isolated areas.

Unfortunately, no.

Some manufacturers specify Pantone colors as touch up for their products, but Pantone does not work well as a proxy for a touch-up solution (for a litany of reasons such as it doesn't include sheen and Pantone color tolerances are not tight enough for touch up). When we match Pantone colors we are matching to a swatch in a Pantone book - not to your product.

The only way we can provide a touch-up solution for your product is for you send us a part. We would use the part to create a touch-up grade match. Unfortunately, there isn't an effective way to 'spec' the color well enough to produce a touch up without the part.

Read more about using Pantone for touch-up.

Learn more about our paint color matching service.

To make spray paint matched to Pantone PMS 396 U. MyPerfectColor uses an acrylic enamel which is a fast-drying durable coating suitable for interior or exterior use. MyPerfectColor custom spray paint enables you to conveniently achieve a professional spray-smooth finish in any color in any sheen. It sticks well to most surfaces including metal, plastics, powder-coatings, cabinets and primed or previously painted wood.

The 11oz spray will cover about 20 square feet per coat. Keep in mind that it is difficult to gauge how much spray you'll need as it is highly dependent on how it is applied. It is better to have too much than run short.

While MyPerfectColor can provide PMS 396 U in paint, we don't provide any crossover information. We've found that every paint company offers its own unique selection of colors and rarely does a color have an exact equivalent in another company's color collection, especially for a color collection like Pantone which is designed for bright colors and inks.