Paint to Sample, usually shortened to PTS, is Porsche's program for ordering a car in a color outside the standard palette. It's expensive and it adds time to an order, but enthusiasts prize it, and a well-chosen PTS color is one of the few options that can raise a Porsche's resale value by more than it cost.
Key numbers
- Paint to Sample
- About $14,700–$15,050 on a 2026 911 Carrera, per Porsche Sugar Land.
- Paint to Sample Plus
- About $30,000 or more for a fully custom color.
- Colors
- More than 160 pre-approved colors, with the list updated every year.
- At resale
- PTS colors are sought after, especially on GT cars. Documentation is essential.
How Paint to Sample works
- Paint to Sample (PTS). You choose from a list of colors Porsche has already tested and approved for production, many of them historic Porsche colors. The Porsche Club of America counted about 160 in October 2024, and the list is updated every year.
- Paint to Sample Plus (PTS Plus). You submit your own color sample. Porsche runs a feasibility study to see whether it can be produced, which can take a long time. PCA notes it has sometimes taken two years.
Both need a PTS allocation as well as an allocation for the car itself, and PCA notes that allocations fill quickly.
What Paint to Sample costs
| Option | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PTS, 911 Carrera | $14,190 | PCA, October 2024 |
| PTS, 911 Carrera (2026) | About $14,700–$15,050 | Porsche Sugar Land |
| PTS, Cayenne, Macan, Panamera, Taycan (2026) | About $13,000 or more | Porsche Sugar Land |
| PTS Plus, 911 Carrera | $31,070 | PCA, October 2024 |
| PTS Plus (2026) | About $30,000 or more | Porsche Sugar Land |
Prices as published by the named sources, checked October 2026. They vary by model and model year, so confirm with a dealer.
How Paint to Sample affects resale value
PTS cars are rarer than standard-color cars, and collectors pay for that. The effect is strongest on GT cars and limited models, where an unusual factory color can be the reason a buyer chooses one car over another. On high-volume models the premium is smaller, and an unusual color can narrow the pool of buyers.
The size of the premium depends on the color, the model and the market at the time. The honest way to gauge it is to compare recent auction results for the same model in PTS and standard colors.
Selling a Paint to Sample Porsche
- Prove it. The window sticker or a Porsche Production Specification document should show the PTS option and color.
- Name the color and its code in the listing. Buyers search for specific colors.
- Show that the paint is original. A paint-thickness reading and any body-shop records help.
- Sell where enthusiasts look. Online auctions and specialists reach buyers who value the color.
The Porsche seller's guide compares the routes.
Common questions
How much does Porsche Paint to Sample cost?
Porsche Sugar Land lists about $14,700 to $15,050 on a 2026 911 Carrera and about $13,000 or more on models like the Cayenne and Macan. Paint to Sample Plus is about $30,000 or more.
What is the difference between Paint to Sample and Paint to Sample Plus?
Paint to Sample uses colors Porsche has already approved. Paint to Sample Plus lets you submit your own color, which requires a feasibility study and takes much longer.
Does Paint to Sample add resale value?
Often, especially on GT cars and limited models. The premium depends on the color and the car, so compare recent sales of similar cars.
How do I prove my Porsche is Paint to Sample?
The window sticker or a Porsche Production Specification document will show the PTS option and color.
Sources
- Porsche Club of America: The difference between Paint to Sample and Paint to Sample Plus (October 2024)
- Porsche Sugar Land: Paint to Sample pricing and colors 2026
Figures were checked against these sources in October 2026. Prices change, so confirm before relying on them.