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Ice Rink Painting: How It’s Done and Why to Book Your 2027 Date Now
The paint under your ice does more work than most people realise. It’s what makes the surface look bright and clean, it’s what players read every time they skate a line and it’s often the first thing a visitor, a sponsor or a camera sees.
We paint ice at rinks across the UK every year, from community pads to Lee Valley Ice Centre and Alexandra Palace. Here’s how ice rink painting works, what you can include and why the best summer dates for 2027 are already being taken.
Why the paint under your ice matters
Bare ice over a concrete slab looks grey. A good white base turns it bright, helps reflect the lights and makes every line and logo stand out. Over a season the ice gets shaved and rebuilt hundreds of times, so a strong base and sharp markings are what keep a rink looking its best through to the end of the year.
For hockey and figure skating, clear lines aren’t just cosmetic. Players, referees and coaches rely on them. And for public skating, a crisp white sheet with your branding on it is the difference between a rink that looks cared for and one that looks tired.
How an ice rink is painted
Most rinks repaint when they take the ice out, usually during the summer shutdown. The process runs in layers:
- Prepare the slab: the old ice comes out and the floor is cleaned.
- Seal it: a thin layer of ice is built up to give a smooth, even surface to paint on.
- White base: white ice paint goes down evenly across the whole surface.
- Lines and markings: hockey lines, face-off circles, creases and spots are measured out and painted.
- Logos: centre-ice and sponsor logos are laid in.
- Seal and build: fine floods of water lock everything in, then the ice is built up to full thickness.
With the right team the painting itself is quick: at Lee Valley we laid the lines, logos and white base in under eight hours.
Hockey rink lines and markings
An ice hockey rink has a red centre line, two blue lines, goal lines, face-off circles and spots and the goal creases. Getting their positions and widths right matters, especially if your rink hosts league or international games.
We set out markings to your rink’s layout and the standard you play to. If you’re checking sizes and line positions, our IIHF ice rink dimensions guide covers the current rules.
Logos and sponsor branding
Your ice is one of the most visible spaces you own. A centre-ice logo makes your rink instantly recognisable in photos and on camera and sponsor logos in the ice can bring in real revenue season after season.
Tell us what you’d like to include and we’ll plan the layout with you before the day, so there are no surprises when the paint goes down.
Jet Ice paint and the Line Pro system
We supply Jet Ice paints, the white base and line colours used by rinks around the world, so you can be confident in what’s going under your ice.
For rinks that want to touch up or lay their own lines in-house, the Line Pro Ice Painting System makes it straightforward: a Milwaukee M12 pump, quick-change colour tanks, drip-stop control and a lightweight aluminium delivery tube.
Why summer 2027 dates are already going
Nearly every rink wants to repaint at the same time of year: during the summer shutdown, before the new season. That means summer dates are limited and the best ones go first. Alexandra Palace is already among the first bookings in our 2027 painting diary.
Booking now also gives you time to plan logos and sponsors, line up any barrier or machine work for the same shutdown and budget for it properly.
Book your 2027 ice painting
To give you a clear quote we just need a few details: the size of your rink, the dates you have in mind, the markings you need and any logos you’d like in the ice.
Book your 2027 date →
Call 0800 092 0285 or email office@marshallsinternational.com
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to paint an ice rink?
The painting itself can often be done in a day. At Lee Valley Ice Centre the lines, logos and white base went down in under eight hours. Allow extra time either side to take the old ice out, seal the slab and build the ice back up to full thickness.
When should I book ice rink painting?
As early as you can. Most rinks repaint during their summer shutdown, so summer dates are limited and the best go first. Marshalls International's 2027 painting diary is already open.
What paint is used under ice?
Specialist ice paints such as Jet Ice, designed to be applied to a thin layer of ice and then sealed in. A white base goes down first, followed by coloured lines, markings and logos.
Can you paint logos and sponsor branding into the ice?
Yes. Centre-ice logos and sponsor branding can be laid in during painting and sealed under the ice, where they stay for the season.
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