Any project requires the right supplies, and buying the perfect paint is no exception. This guide will help you find the best paint for outdoor wood furniture, so you can easily tackle your next DIY project.
Not all paints are created equal, and we’ve made it simple to sort through the best of the best. Whether you’re looking for an eco-friendly option or something with a glossy finish, this guide will help you make the most informed purchase decision.
Keep reading to learn about the best paint for outdoor wood furniture.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall
Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch Latex Paint
Budget Option
Krylon COLORmaxx Acrylic Latex Paint
Best Eco-Friendly
Montage Eco-Friendly Paint
Best Overall
Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch Latex Paint
We listed the Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch Latex Paint as the best paint for outdoor wood furniture. The quality is top-notch, with an accessible price tag to accommodate any product budget.
The water-based acrylic formula is chip and fade-resistant to ensure long-lasting protection. Along with a good sealer, this paint can offer longevity against the elements.
It dries in just half an hour, saving time between coats, and with the impressive heavy coverage, you may not even need a second coat. The glossy finish creates a fresh look on surfaces and helps restore life to wood furniture.
This paint is low-odor and applies smoothly on wood. One quart of paint covers up to 100 square feet, giving you an impressive bang for your buck.
You can choose from 26 colors to find the right hue for your project. The manufacturer recommends sanding and priming the wood before painting for the best results.
Pros:
– Covers 100 square feet per quart
– Dries in 30 minutes
– Low odor
Cons:
– Requires priming and sanding beforehand
Budget Option
Krylon COLORmaxx Acrylic Latex Paint
Krylon COLORmaxx Acrylic Latex Paint is our pick for the budget-friendly option on our list of best paint for outdoor wood furniture.
The acrylic base offers premium coverage on outdoor wood projects, covering grain and other imperfections. This paint is touted as a one-coat wonder and packs a mean punch of color with just a single layer.
It can be hard to find pure black paint, but Krylon offers a deep, rich hue that creates a beautiful matte finish on wood surfaces.
If you’re looking for something lighter, you’ll also find 8 other colors with gloss and satin finishes.
Prioritizing color and coverage in a single coat, Krylon COLORmaxx covers about 100 square feet per quart and has a drying time of one hour.
Pros:
– Usually requires just one coat
– Deep color offers superior coverage
Cons:
– Flat sheen only comes in black or white
– Takes an hour to dry
Best Eco-Friendly
Montage Eco-Friendly Paint
If you’re keeping the environment in mind while finding the best paint for outdoor wood furniture, we have you covered. Montage Paints offers a hard-wearing protective finish for your wood project without any toxins.
This brand uses raw and post-consumer paints and upcycles them into a high-quality, environmentally-friendly paint for all your interior and exterior needs.
In addition to being dedicated to eco-friendly products, Montage Paints is devoted to creating durable products with longevity in mind. The 10-year warranty echoes this commitment.
Even though Montage paint only comes in one or five gallon sizes, it is very affordable. In fact, their motto is “it’s only paint, it should be affordable.”
With more than 24 colors to choose from in three different finishes, you’re sure to find just the right color and sheen for your outdoor wood furniture.
Pros:
– Nontoxic formula
– Covers in one coat
Cons:
– Only comes in one or five gallon sizes
Most User-Friendly
Majic PAINTS Diamond Hard Satin Paint
Majic PAINTS is one of the best paint for outdoor wood furniture because it is user-friendly. You can slather on a coat without having to sand or prime beforehand, making it perfect for first-time DIY-ers.
This paint has a solid acrylic enamel base that levels to a smooth, beautiful finish and sticks to nearly any surface. You’ll find 10 unique colors that speak to any style.
While Majic PAINTS boasts a superior finish, you will need to use a few coats to get the color just right. This paint also has a reported 8-hour drying time, costing you more time between coats.
Still, the fact that you can use Majic PAINTS without priming makes it a simple, cost-efficient addition to our list.
Pros:
– Don’t need to prime or sand before using
– Create a smooth finish with full coverage
Cons:
– Needs multiple coats
– Long drying time
Longest Lasting Finish
Modern Masters Front Door Paint
Modern Masters has created one of the best paints for outdoor wood furniture. This paint uses a water-based formula to ensure long-lasting durability.
Modern Masters designed this paint to maintain the same vibrant color throughout the years without fading. It dries to the touch in an hour and provides 100 square feet of coverage for every quart.
The manufacturer recommends using a primer beforehand and 2 coats of paint to achieve the most brilliant color.
This paint is developed with aesthetics in mind and offers 16 beautiful colors to choose from. If you’re hoping to transform your wooden bench into a striking accent piece, this brand will serve you well.
Pros:
– Dries in an hour
– Beautiful colors
Cons:
– Needs a primer
Best for Adding Details
FolkArt Outdoor Paint
If you want to paint detail work on your outdoor wooden furniture, FolkArt Outdoor Paint will help achieve your creative vision.
This option is small but mighty, with each unit packing 8 ounces of paint per jar.
This paint is water-based, which helps the color achieve longevity. It’s crafted with an ultra-tough formula perfect for illustrating small accents on any porous surface.
Another nice feature is that FolkArt uses a non-toxic recipe, so you don’t have to worry about breathing in harmful fumes.
You don’t need a sealer or primer with this paint, allowing you to finish the job quickly. It’s incredibly easy to use, making it one of the best paints for detail work on outdoor wood furniture.
Pros:
– Doesn’t require a sealer or primer
– Non-toxic formula
Cons:
– Small size
Buyer’s Guide
Now that you’ve discovered the best paint for outdoor wood furniture, take a look at our buying guide to learn which option is right for you.
Which Base is Best?
There are many different varieties of paint, but when it comes to the best paint for outdoor wood furniture, acrylic, latex, and water-based paint do best.
Acrylic and latex are both water-based, but unlike the latter, acrylic contains more chemicals. These additives allow the paint to expand and contract with the changing weather, making it ideal for outdoor projects.
Latex paint tends to be cheaper than acrylic paint and less toxic. It’s also better for the environment since it contains fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
Want to learn more about the pros and cons of each base before deciding which to choose? We have a very informative post on acrylic vs. latex.
Ease of Application
When deciding on the best paint for outdoor furniture, consider how much work you want to take on.
We listed the Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch as our top pick because it dries in 30 minutes, allowing you to finish the project on a faster timeline. However, you still need to sand and prime when using this option.
The Majic PAINTS might be the most accessible option, with no sanding or priming required, but the coats may take up to 8 hours to dry.
A happy medium between these two choices would be the Krylon COLORmaxx, which usually requires a single coat and dries in an hour.
FAQ
Now, let’s answer some of your burning questions about the best paint for outdoor wood furniture.
Do I need to prime outdoor wood before painting?
All unfinished wood surfaces should be primed before painting. Some paints, like the Majic PAINTS brand, have a primer built in, but you’ll need to purchase primer separately in most cases. ZINSSER Bulls Eye primer is a great option for painting outdoor wood.
Do I need to seal outdoor wood after painting?
Sealing is essential for outdoor wooden furniture. It helps protect the surface from water, sunlight, stains, and other external damage. Add sealing to your post-painting checklist, and find a good option to protect your handiwork (like Minwax Protective Finish).
Best Paint for Outdoor Wood Furniture: Summed Up
We hope this guide helped you find the best paint for outdoor wood furniture. Whether you’re looking to restore a thrifted deck table or add new life to your existing patio set, finding the right paint is an imperative part of the DIY process.
While you can’t go wrong with any of these choices, we have to hand it to the Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch Latex Paint for its durability and affordable price tag.
Are you looking for more DIY tips and tricks? We have more information on painting furniture to help you along your craft journey.