Loop vs MTN 94: Which Spray Paint Should You Buy?
Loop and MTN 94 are two of the cans we get asked about most at Paintbox. Loop is the paint our customers buy more than anything else, and MTN 94 is the low-pressure can a lot of writers learned on. Both are good paints. They're just good at different things.
The short answer: pick Loop if you want strong coverage, a huge colour range and the best price per can for fills and full pieces. Pick MTN 94 if you want a softer, low-pressure spray for outlines, fades and detail work. Plenty of writers use both: Loop for the fill, MTN 94 for the fine stuff.
Loop Spray Paint 400ml
MTN 94 Spray Paint 400mlLoop vs MTN 94 at a glance
| Loop | MTN 94 | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Italgete, Italy | Montana Colors, Barcelona |
| Pressure | Medium, with a soft valve | Low |
| Finish | Satin | Matt |
| Paint | Acrylic-based | Alkyd-based |
| Colour range | Around 200 | Over 200 |
| Price at Paintbox | £4.75 a can, or £4.50 a can in a 12-pack | £5.50 a can, 6-packs £34 |
| Best for | Fills, full pieces, big walls, everyday painting | Outlines, fades, detail work, learning can control |
Pressure: speed vs control
Pressure is the biggest difference between these two cans, and it changes how they feel in your hand.
MTN 94 is a low-pressure can. Paint comes out slower and softer, which gives you time to control a line. That makes it easier to pull clean outlines, do soft fades and work close to the wall with a skinny cap without drips. Montana Colors' own data sheet puts it at touch dry in about 10 minutes and fully dry in 24 hours.
Loop sits in the middle. It's a medium-pressure can with a soft valve, so you get more paint per pass than MTN 94 and your fills go down faster, but it's still controllable enough for lettering. Put a fat cap on it and it covers ground quickly. Put a skinny on it and you can still cut a decent line.
If pressure is new to you, our guide to high vs low pressure spray paint explains it in more detail.
Finish: matt vs satin
MTN 94 dries to a matt finish with no shine. It photographs flat and evenly, and it's easy to layer colours on top of each other. Loop dries to a satin finish, with a slight sheen that helps colours pop on the wall. Used side by side in the same piece, the difference is subtle from a distance and only really noticeable up close.
Colour range
Both have huge ranges, so you won't be short of options with either. Loop has around 200 colours, each named after a city, and some of the most popular with our customers are Barcelona, Manchester and Copenhagen. MTN 94 has over 200 colours across its range. Online, we carry MTN 94 in black, white and value packs, and Loop across its full colour range.
Price per can
Loop is the cheaper can, and the gap adds up fast on a full piece. At Paintbox, Loop is £4.75 a can and MTN 94 is £5.50. Ten cans of Loop cost £47.50, while ten cans of MTN 94 cost £55.
Buying in packs brings Loop down further:
- Loop Colours Pack, picked by our artists as a working palette: 6 cans for £28, 12 for £54 or 24 for £108
- Loop Black 12-pack and Loop White 12-pack: £54 each, so £4.50 a can
- MTN 94 6-pack, basic colours: £34
- MTN 94 matt black 6-pack and matt white 6-pack: £34 each
- MTN 94 12-pack, mixed colours: £66
Which is better for beginners?
MTN 94 is the more forgiving can to learn on. The low pressure means fewer drips and more time to correct your hand, which helps when you're still learning distance and speed. That said, plenty of people start on Loop and get on fine, especially for fills. A good first setup is a few Loop colours for your fill, a black and a white, and a mix of caps. Our graffiti starter kit guide has three ready-made setups at different budgets.
Which is better for big walls and murals?
Loop. On a big wall you want coverage and you want the price per can down, and Loop does both. Keep MTN 94 for the outlines and details on top. If you're working out quantities, our guide to how many spray cans you need has a simple rule for estimating it.
Can you mix Loop and MTN 94 in the same piece?
Yes, and lots of writers do. Both take standard graffiti caps, so you can swap your favourite caps between them. See our guide to graffiti caps for which cap to use for what.
Our take
Loop is the can we stock deepest and the one our customers buy most, because it gives you the most paint and colour for your money. MTN 94 is the specialist: if you want a slow, soft, matt can for clean lines and fades, it's hard to beat. If you can only buy one, buy Loop. If you're building a proper kit, have both.
Shop Loop spray paintShop MTN 94
Order online for UK delivery, or choose free click and collect from our shop at 389 New Cross Road, London SE14 6LA, usually ready within 24 hours.
Loop vs MTN 94 FAQs
Is Loop better than MTN 94?
Neither is better across the board. Loop is better value and covers faster, which makes it the stronger choice for fills and big walls. MTN 94 is better for slow, controlled detail work thanks to its low pressure.
Is Loop spray paint high or low pressure?
Loop is a medium-pressure can with a soft valve. It puts out more paint than a low-pressure can like MTN 94, but it's softer than high-pressure cans like MTN Hardcore.
Is MTN 94 matt?
Yes. MTN 94 dries to a matt finish, which is one of the main reasons writers and muralists choose it.
How long does MTN 94 take to dry?
Montana Colors' technical data puts MTN 94 at touch dry in around 10 minutes and completely dry in 24 hours.
Do MTN caps fit Loop cans?
Yes. Standard graffiti caps fit both Loop and MTN 94 cans. If you're unsure about a particular cap, bring it into the shop or message us and we'll check.
Where can I buy Loop spray paint in London?
At our shop at 389 New Cross Road, London SE14 6LA, or online with UK delivery. You can also order online and collect from the shop for free.