Which dilution should I use for line-marking paint?

You've got a can of concentrate and a pitch waiting to be marked. How much water goes in? That one decision sets how white your lines are and how many pitches you get out of a single can. Too much water and your lines look washed out. Too little and you use more paint than you need. A few simple rules of thumb will keep you right every time.

Our advice: 1:4

For all our concentrates we recommend 1:4: one part paint to four parts water. On most pitches that gives you nice white lines with low paint use. Not sure? Go for 1:4.

What does 1:4 mean?

For every litre of paint, add four litres of water. So one litre of concentrate makes five litres of ready-to-use paint. The higher the second number, the more water. At 1:8 your can goes further, but your lines will also be less white.

When should you move away from 1:4?

1:4 is a good starting point, not a fixed rule. Sometimes it makes sense to deliberately use more or less water.

More water: goes further. You get more pitches out of one can and pay less per pitch. Handy for training pitches, or when your lines don't need to be extra white.

Less water: whiter. More pigment on the grass gives brighter lines with better coverage. Go for this before a big match, in low sun or on a dark, heavily played pitch. Bear in mind: the lines won't last any longer. The paint wears just as fast, the line is simply whiter.

In short: want to save, add more water. Want your pitch to really stand out, use less.

Re-marking: you can often add more water

Has a line faded a bit but is still easy to see? Then simply go over it again. There's already white on the grass, so you need less pigment. You can happily use more water than 1:4, as long as you stay within the range of your concentrate. That way you freshen up your lines without using more paint than you need.

Marking out a pitch for the first time, or has the old line almost gone? Then stick to 1:4.

How far can you go with each concentrate?

Every concentrate has its own range. The more pigment it contains, the more water it can take without losing whiteness. Our advice stays 1:4 across the board. The table shows how far you can go.

With Mix Prof you can go as far as 1:12, for example when touching up a line. That gets you the most pitches out of one can. Mix Budget works best around 1:4, or with a little less water if you want extra white.

Which ratio is right for you?

Ask yourself these four questions:

New line or touch-up? Mark a new line at 1:4. Touching up a line that's still clearly visible? Then you can often add more water.

How important is the match? For a league or cup match, use less water. For training, a bit more is fine.

What does your pitch look like? Dark, dense or heavily played grass needs more coverage, so less water. On fresh, light green grass you can add more water.

How many pitches do you have to mark? If one can has to cover a lot of pitches, add more water, within the range of your concentrate.

Mixing tips

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• Use clean water. Dirty water can block your nozzle.
• Mix well. Shake or stir the concentrate first, then add the water and give everything another good stir.
• Check your machine first. Lines looking pale or patchy? Check your nozzle, machine settings and walking speed before you change the ratio.
• Mark on a dry pitch. In rain or dew, the paint won't stick as well.
• Protect from frost. Store your paint frost-free, especially in winter.
• Write it down. Found a ratio that works on your pitch? Note the paint, the ratio and the machine setting. Then it doesn't matter who marks the pitch next time.

Rather not mix it yourself?

Not every club wants to mix its own paint. In that case, go for a ready-to-use paint: no water, no ratios, crisp white lines straight away. Concentrate is cheaper per pitch and gives you more flexibility. Ready-to-use is quicker and easier. Not sure what suits your club best? Just ask us.

Need a hand?

The best dilution depends on your grass, your machine and what you want to achieve. Ask your dealer for a free demo on your own pitch, and we'll work out the right ratio together. Or get in touch with us.