A paint formulation and dispensing apparatus, said apparatus comprising: a paint can having an open top; a receiving can; a dispensing lid which is attached to the paint can so that the lid overlies the open top of the paint can, said lid having a spout, a reservoir and a fluid passageway fluidly connected to the open top of the paint can, a valve disposed in said passageway and movable between a first position in which said valve fluidly connects said passageway to said reservoir, and a second position in which said valve fluidly connects said reservoir with said spout, a plunger slidably disposed in and sealed to said reservoir so that the position of said plunger in said reservoir determines the volume of said reservoir, a weight scale positioned below said spout, the receiving can positioned on said weight scale, said weight scale generating an electronic signal representative of the weight on said weight scale, a movable actuator (70, 124) which detachably engages and controls the position of said plunger, a processor which receives said electronic signal as an input signal and generates output signals to control the position of said actuator (70, 124) and said valve; a housing which supports said weight scale, at least one container receiving station in said housing laterally spaced from said weight scale, a clamp assembly at said receiving station, said clamp assembly having an escapement which locks said lid to said clamp assembly upon full insertion of said lid into said clamp assembly, and an inverter attached to said clamp assembly which, under control of the processor, moves said clamp assembly and attached lid from a loading position in which said lid and paint can are laterally spaced from said weight scale with said lid above said paint can, and a mixing position in which said lid and paint can are inverted and positioned above said weight scale. a paint can having an open top; a receiving can; a dispensing lid which is attached to the paint can so that the lid overlies the open top of the paint can, said lid having a spout, a reservoir and a fluid passageway fluidly connected to the open top of the paint can, a valve disposed in said passageway and movable between a first position in which said valve fluidly connects said passageway to said reservoir, and a second position in which said valve fluidly connects said reservoir with said spout, a plunger slidably disposed in and sealed to said reservoir so that the position of said plunger in said reservoir determines the volume of said reservoir, a weight scale positioned below said spout, the receiving can positioned on said weight scale, said weight scale generating an electronic signal representative of the weight on said weight scale, a movable actuator (70, 124) which detachably engages and controls the position of said plunger, a processor which receives said electronic signal as an input signal and generates output signals to control the position of said actuator (70, 124) and said valve; a housing which supports said weight scale, at least one container receiving station in said housing laterally spaced from said weight scale, a clamp assembly at said receiving station, said clamp assembly having an escapement which locks said lid to said clamp assembly upon full insertion of said lid into said clamp assembly, and an inverter attached to said clamp assembly which, under control of the processor, moves said clamp assembly and attached lid from a loading position in which said lid and paint can are laterally spaced from said weight scale with said lid above said paint can, and a mixing position in which said lid and paint can are inverted and positioned above said weight scale.