Short answer: for an indoor wall on a budget, National lists Plastic Emulsion and Acrylic Super Emulsion. For walls inside or out, the choice is Nice, Matt or Super Matt (matt) or Eggshell Matt (low sheen). Eggshell Silky has the highest coverage on paper, and Gloss is the shiny water-based option. The table below is taken from each product’s data sheet.
Side by side
| Emulsion | Resin | Where | Finish | Volume solids | m² per litre | Thinning |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plastic | PVA copolymer | Interior | Smooth matt | 38 ± 2% | 7.5 to 9.5 | 10 to 15% |
| Acrylic Super | Acrylic | Interior | Smooth flat | 38 ± 2% | 7.5 to 9.5 | 10 to 15% |
| Nice | Vinyl-acrylic | Interior and exterior | Matt, washable | 40 ± 2% | 8 to 10 | 5 to 10% |
| Matt | PVA/acrylic | Interior and exterior | Matt | 42 ± 2% | 8.5 to 10.5 | 5 to 10% |
| Super Matt | Acrylic | Interior and exterior | Smooth matt | 42 ± 2% | 8.5 to 10.5 | 5 to 10% |
| Eggshell Matt | Acrylic | Interior and exterior | Eggshell matt | 40 ± 2% | 8 to 10 | 5 to 10% |
| Eggshell Silky | See data sheet | See data sheet | Silky eggshell | 48 ± 2% | 9.5 to 12 | See data sheet |
| Gloss | Acrylic | Interior and exterior; also wood and plastic | Glossy | 40 ± 2% | 8 to 10 | 5 to 10% |
Recommended systems
| Emulsion | National’s system |
|---|---|
| Plastic | PVA Primer Sealer or PVA Primer White 1, Stucco Filler 2, Plastic 2 |
| Acrylic Super | Acrylic Primer 1, Stucco Filler (interior) 1, Acrylic Super 2 |
| Nice | PVA Primer Sealer or PVA Primer White 1, Stucco Filler (interior) 2, Nice 2 |
| Super Matt | Acrylic Primer (water-based) 1, Stucco Filler (interior) 1, Super Matt 2 |
| Gloss | PVA Primer White 1, Matt Emulsion 1, Gloss 2 |
How to choose
- Indoor only, lowest cost: Plastic or Acrylic Super. National describes Plastic as low-cost and Acrylic Super as economical.
- Inside or outside, flat look: Nice, Matt or Super Matt.
- A touch of sheen: Eggshell Matt or Eggshell Silky.
- Shine, or wood and plastic: Gloss.
Every system starts with a primer. See Acrylic Primer, PVA Primer Sealer and Stucco Filler, or the full interior wall system.
Why the coverage figures differ
Coverage follows volume solids: the more of the paint that stays on the wall as film, the further a litre goes. Eggshell Silky has the highest solids in this group (48%) and the highest listed rate (9.5 to 12 m² per litre). Plastic and Acrylic Super have the lowest (38%) and the lowest rate (7.5 to 9.5). When two products cost about the same per litre, the one with higher solids usually needs fewer litres.
Litres for common jobs
| Emulsion (2 coats) | Bedroom walls, about 45 m² | Two-bed flat, about 200 m² |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic, Acrylic Super | about 9.5 to 12 L | about 42 to 53 L |
| Nice, Eggshell Matt, Gloss | about 9 to 11.3 L | about 40 to 50 L |
| Matt, Super Matt | about 8.6 to 10.6 L | about 38 to 47 L |
| Eggshell Silky | about 7.5 to 9.5 L | about 33 to 42 L |
Before you paint
- National’s surface preparation guide asks for walls that are clean, dry and sound, with laitance and efflorescence removed.
- New concrete and plaster can reach pH 13, which is why every system starts with an alkali-resistant primer.
- Fill cracks with Joint Filler, and open block with Block Filler.
Mistakes to avoid
- Using an interior-only emulsion outside. Plastic and Acrylic Super are listed for interiors.
- Mixing up the thinning. Plastic and Acrylic Super allow 10 to 15% water; most of the others allow 5 to 10%.
- Skipping the primer to save a coat. Each system lists one.
Frequently asked questions
Which emulsion is washable?
National describes Nice as washable. For details on scrub performance, check each data sheet linked below.
Matt or eggshell for a living room?
Matt hides surface flaws better; eggshell has a slight sheen. Our Matt against Eggshell guide compares them in detail.
What about exterior acrylic paints?
For exterior walls, also see Acryl I, Acryl II and Acrylic Rock.
Buy in Sharjah and Dubai
Al Tashteb Al Saree is an authorised National Paints retailer. Shop Eggshell Emulsion Matt 18 L, or ask us on WhatsApp which emulsion suits your job. See all National Paints products.
Sources
- Plastic Emulsion data sheet
- Nice Emulsion data sheet
- Matt Emulsion data sheet
- Super Matt Emulsion data sheet
- Acrylic Super Emulsion data sheet
- Eggshell Emulsion Matt data sheet
- Gloss Emulsion data sheet
All PDFs via AEC Online, retrieved 4 November 2026. The Eggshell Silky figures come from its data sheet, linked in our Eggshell Silky guide. The main image is illustrative.
