PALTRIX Data · 2026
We counted the colors in our own catalog — 306 finishes sorted into 7 families — and the picture is clearer than the usual "wrap colors are trending" headline. Solid still leads, but the growth is all in shift and depth finishes, and nearly a third of the plain colors are just greys.
Share of our 306 classified colors by finish family. Solid still leads, but chameleon now sits just under pearl, and that gap is the part we didn’t expect two years ago.
Source: PALTRIX internal color master (335 SKUs; 306 classified into 7 families, 29 pending classification). Percentages are share of the 306 classified colors.
The 306 colors aren’t a random sample. They’re the finishes we actually map onto 10 flagship models, so here’s the body-style mix of that set, and you can judge how representative it is.
Models: BMW M8, Corvette C8, Porsche 911, Porsche Taycan (sports); Defender, Range Rover, Model Y (SUV); Mercedes S-Class, Model 3 (sedan); Cybertruck (pickup). Each mapped across 28–29 colors for 280+ color×vehicle pages.
The 83 solid colors are the largest family, but most of them aren’t “colors” in the way people mean. Nearly a third are neutral greys, blacks and whites, and the non-neutral ones cluster in a few hue families.
Of the 83 solid shades, 24 are neutral greys, blacks and whites — about 29%. That single fact explains a lot about why the catalog looks the way it does: the volume leader is mostly safe, resale-friendly neutrals, not bold pigment. The remaining color is concentrated, not spread evenly. Greens (14), blues (11) and reds/pinks (11) account for most of the non-neutral solids; golds, purples and oranges fill in the rest. So “Solid is the biggest family” and “most wraps are conservative” are the same observation from two angles.
Bars are share of the 83 solid colors; a few shades span two hues and are counted once. Full counts from the PALTRIX color master.
Four shifts stand out once you sort the catalog this way. Each is backed by the counts above, not a vibe.
Chameleon is now 54 colors (17.6%), nearly as many as pearl (62), and the violet–red–blue shift is the single most-asked-for look in the catalog. Two years ago it was a specialty finish.
Example: Chameleon Purple Red Blue is our most-requested shift; Green Silver Purple is the "oil-slick" alternative. Chameleon 17.6%Matte holds 44 colors (14.4%) and keeps climbing. It’s no longer the loud choice — it’s the default low-gloss for blacks, olives and dusty pastels, especially on trucks and SUVs.
Example: Matte Black on a Cybertruck reads as factory; Matte Combat Green is the off-road default. Matte 14.4%Solid leads at 83 colors (27.1%), and 29% of those are just greys, blacks and whites. They outsell everything else combined because they protect resale and don’t date.
Example: Crystal Nardo Grey and Crystal Brooklyn Grey are the "make it look factory" picks. Solid 27.1%Pearl (62) and metallic (47) together are 109 colors — over a third of the library. Buyers moving off factory paint want light-catching depth, not flat color.
Example: Liquid Metal Lake Blue and Metallic Gunmetal Grey are the dimensional-neutral standouts. Pearl + Metallic 35.6%Each family’s share comes down to a plain reason people buy. The honest version, without the marketing gloss.
Neutrals sell because they’re safe. Greys, blacks and whites (29% of solids) protect resale and don’t look dated in three years. Most buyers pick a shade they can live with, and a film they can peel off without touching the factory paint.
Depth is what justifies the upgrade. Pearl and metallic (109 colors combined) bend light instead of sitting flat, and that’s the premium look factory paint can’t give you without a custom job.
Shift is the loud option. Chameleon (54 colors) is the fastest-growing family because no factory paint changes color with the angle. It costs more than solid or matte, and it shows every imperfection in the install — but it’s the one finish that makes a stranger do a double-take.
Matte reads as expensive, not trendy. At 44 colors it’s gone from fashion statement to default for stealth builds, and it looks costly exactly because it doesn’t catch the light.
Every classified finish family, by count. This is our real catalog, not the colors that photograph well.
| Finish family | Share | Colors | % of catalog |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solid | 83 | 27.1% | |
| Pearl | 62 | 20.3% | |
| Chameleon | 54 | 17.6% | |
| Metallic | 47 | 15.4% | |
| Matte | 44 | 14.4% | |
| Starburst | 13 | 4.2% | |
| Carbon | 3 | 1.0% |
What each one looks like, who actually picks it, and a real shade from the catalog. Counts are from the 2026 catalog.
Flat single-tone shades. Greys, blacks and whites make up most of it. Pick this when you want protection and nothing else to change. Browse Solid →
Try: Crystal Nardo Grey, Crystal Meissen Blue83 colors · 27.1%Light-refracting pearls give a soft glow factory paint can’t fake. For elegant builds that should catch light without shouting. Browse Pearl →
Try: Pearl White, Diamond Pearl White62 colors · 20.3%Shifts color with the angle, violet to teal to copper. The fastest-growing family and the boldest finish we sell. Browse Chameleon →
Try: Chameleon Purple Red Blue, Chameleon Green Silver Purple54 colors · 17.6%Metal flakes for a sparkling, dimensional look. The default upgrade for daily drivers who still want shine. Browse Metallic →
Try: Liquid Metal Lake Blue, Metallic Gunmetal Grey47 colors · 15.4%Low-gloss, no reflection. Blacks, olives and dusty pastels lead; for builds that should look expensive without catching the eye. Browse Matte →
Try: Matte Black, Matte Combat Green44 colors · 14.4%Glitter-loaded metallics for maximum flair. A small but loyal niche, show cars and event builds. Finish guide →
Try: Colorful Golden Armor, Silver Diamond13 colors · 4.2%Woven carbon-fiber texture for trim and accents. Our smallest family, used to add texture rather than wrap whole panels. Browse Carbon →
Try: Black Carbon Fiber3 colors · 1.0%The numbers matter because they map onto real cars. A few picks from the catalog, by the vehicles we actually wrap most.
The flat bodywork makes gloss look odd. Matte Black reads as factory, and a color-shift would fight the shape — skip it here. Pick: Matte Black, Satin Stealth Black
Low, sculpted, photographed from every angle. This is where chameleon earns its cost — the shift shows on the fenders. Pick: Chameleon Purple Red Blue, Crystal Racing Red
Off-road and adventure positioning. Matte Combat Green is the default; a satin neutral hides trail dust between washes. Pick: Matte Combat Green, Matte Mountain Grey
Broad body panels reward depth. Liquid metal or a triple pearl reads expensive without being loud. Pick: Liquid Metal Silver, Diamond Pearl White
High-gloss black shows every swirl, so most owners go lighter. A neutral solid or a cool white is the safe, resale-friendly move. Pick: Crystal Nardo Grey, Crystal Arctic White
Conservative buyers want depth, not noise. Gunmetal metallic or a warm pearl keeps it flagship-appropriate. Pick: Metallic Gunmetal Grey, Pearl White
The numbers come from our own internal color master (worksheet “7.3”), which covers 335 SKUs. 306 of those sort into 7 finish families; 29 are still unclassified, mostly clear 7.5 mil film and shades still in testing. Every percentage here is a share of those 306.
That same library drives our Vehicle × Color matrix, 10 flagship models, each mapped across 28–29 colors for 280+ color-specific pages. We’re putting it out openly because a real catalog beats a think-piece, and it helps installers and owners actually choose. One caveat: this is our catalog, not a market-wide survey, so read it as one large data point rather than the whole industry.
How to read hue and pick your shade across the families.
Gloss, matte, metallic, carbon and chameleon compared side by side.
TPU vs TPH, thickness, installation and aftercare in one place.
See every color on BMW, Porsche, Tesla and more.
