How long does it take to do a diamond painting?

Most people want a quick answer: a diamond painting can take anywhere from a few hours to several weeks, depending on the size.

Here’s a more realistic breakdown based on common canvas sizes:

• 8–15 hours (small 30x40 cm)

• 20–40 hours (medium 40x50 cm)

• 50–130 hours (large 60x80 cm)

In real life, most beginners finish a standard kit in about 2–3 weeks when working 1–2 hours per day.

If you're new to diamond painting, one of the first questions people ask is how long it actually takes to finish a canvas. The short answer is that most diamond paintings take anywhere from a few hours to several weeks depending on the canvas size, drill type, and the speed at which you place the diamonds. Beginners usually place around 300–400 drills per hour, while experienced crafters can reach 500 or more drills per hour. Larger canvases simply contain more drills, so they naturally require more time to complete. You can explore more kits and inspiration in the diamond art hobby and see how different designs influence the time needed to finish a project.

Average Time to Complete a Diamond Painting

The time required to finish a diamond painting depends mainly on the canvas size and the number of drills you need to place. Smaller designs can often be finished in a single weekend, while larger canvases may take several weeks of relaxed crafting. Many artists work on their paintings for one or two hours per evening, gradually completing sections of the canvas.

Below is a general estimate of how long different diamond painting sizes usually take.

These estimates assume a typical pace of around 350–450 drills placed per hour. More detailed images with many color changes can take longer because switching between drills slows down the process.

Simple Time Estimate Formula (Use This Before You Start)

If you want a more accurate estimate, you can use a simple rule most experienced crafters follow:

Total time ≈ total drills ÷ your drills per hour

Example:

• 40x50 cm canvas ≈ ~30,000 drills

• Your speed ≈ 400 drills/hour
  → Estimated time ≈ 75 hours

This rough model works surprisingly well and helps you plan your sessions more realistically than generic tables. Keep in mind that this estimate assumes placing drills one by one at a steady pace. Using multiplacer tools, working on large color blocks, or getting into a fast rhythm can significantly reduce the total time compared to this calculation.

How Many Diamonds Are in a Diamond Painting?

A 30x40 cm diamond painting usually contains around 12,000–18,000 drills. A 40x50 cm canvas has roughly 25,000–35,000 drills. A large 60x80 cm design can exceed 60,000 drills.

The exact number depends on the level of detail and color variation, but these ranges are accurate enough to estimate your total time using the formula above.

Diamond Painting Time by Canvas Size

Small diamond paintings – 30x40 cm

A 30x40 cm canvas is considered a small diamond painting and is one of the most popular sizes for beginners. These designs usually contain between 12,000 and 18,000 drills depending on the pattern. At a steady pace, most people finish this size in about 8 to 15 hours of work depending on detail and drill type.

Because of their manageable size, many crafters enjoy working on small diamond art projects when they want a quick and satisfying result. These kits are also perfect for learning the basic technique of placing drills and understanding how symbols on the canvas work.

Standard diamond painting projects – 40x50 cm

The 40x50 cm canvas is one of the most common diamond painting sizes available. A design of this size can contain around 25,000 to 35,000 drills depending on the image complexity. For most people, completing a canvas like this takes around 20 to 40 hours depending on complexity.

Many artists spread the work across multiple sessions, completing small sections of the canvas each evening. The steady progress makes the hobby relaxing while still delivering visible results after each crafting session.

Large diamond painting kits – 60x80 cm

Large diamond painting kits such as 60x80 cm designs are much more detailed and can contain over 60,000 drills. Completing a canvas of this size usually requires 50 to 130 hours depending on the complexity of the artwork and the speed of the painter.

Larger projects often provide the most impressive results once finished. Many people enjoy working on these canvases over several weeks as a relaxing routine. The benefits of diamond painting become especially noticeable during longer projects because the repetitive placement of drills creates a calm and focused crafting experience.

Why Your Time Estimate Can Be Wrong

Even with a good estimate, real completion time often differs. These are the main reasons:

• Confetti areas (many color changes) slow you down significantly

• Square drills require more precision than round drills

• Dark or similar colors take longer because symbols are harder to read

• Breaks and interruptions reduce your effective working time

This is why two people working on the same canvas can finish it days apart.

What Influences Diamond Painting Completion Time?

Several factors affect how long a diamond painting will take to complete.

Drill type – Round drills are slightly faster to place because they do not need to be aligned perfectly, while square drills require more precise placement.

Design complexity – Images with many color changes slow down progress because you frequently switch between drill colors.

Experience level – Beginners often work more slowly while learning the technique, while experienced painters naturally place drills faster.

Tools used – Using a good quality diamond painting pen and multiplacer tools allows several drills to be placed at once, which can significantly speed up the process.

In practice, most people quickly develop their own comfortable rhythm. Some enjoy working slowly and focusing on details, while others prefer completing larger sections in a single session.

Real Example From Practice

On a 40x50 cm canvas with square drills, working about 1–2 hours per evening, it typically takes around 2–3 weeks to finish. Faster sessions with multiplacer tools can shorten this, but detailed sections can slow progress unexpectedly.

This kind of real pacing is often more useful than theoretical estimates.

Tips to Finish Diamond Paintings Faster

If you'd like to complete your diamond painting more efficiently, a few simple techniques can make a big difference.

Start by organizing all drills before beginning the project. Keeping colors sorted and labeled prevents unnecessary interruptions while working.

Work on the canvas in small sections rather than removing the entire protective film. This helps keep the adhesive clean and prevents dust from settling on the sticky surface.

Many crafters also find that multiplacer tools greatly increase their speed when working on large areas of the same color. These tools allow several drills to be placed in one movement instead of one at a time.

Consistency is often the biggest factor. Spending even one hour per day on a project can complete a medium-sized diamond painting within a couple of weeks.

What to Do With Leftover Diamond Painting Drills

After finishing a diamond painting, it is common to have leftover drills. Instead of discarding them, many artists reuse these small resin pieces for additional craft projects.

Creative ideas include decorating picture frames, greeting cards, bookmarks, or small decorative objects. Another popular option is creating small mosaic-style artworks using extra drills. If you're looking for inspiration, here are some creative tips on using leftover drills.

Some artists also keep their extra drills organized by color so they can use them for future custom designs or small decorative crafts.

Enjoy the Process of Diamond Painting

While many people wonder how long a diamond painting takes to complete, the real value of this hobby lies in the relaxing creative process. Watching the image slowly appear as each drill is placed can be incredibly satisfying.

Rather than focusing only on finishing the canvas quickly, many artists enjoy the gradual progress that comes with working on a project over several evenings. Each completed section adds more detail and sparkle to the artwork.

If you would like to turn a personal photo into a sparkling artwork, you can also create your own custom diamond painting and experience the process from start to finish with an image that has special meaning.

Last updated: May 4, 2026