Steel is the preferred metal for structures that demand strength, such as doors, safes, outdoor furniture, etc. On the flip side, as a ferrous metal, it will rust if not protected from environmental elements. Painting is the simplest way to give it a barrier of protection and some added flair.
What is the best paint for steel? The best paint for steel forms a tough exterior that is durable and gives robust protection against corrosion and rust. Oil-based paints are the best bet for a strong and durable finish.
But given how saturated the paint industry is, it is easy to make a misguided purchase and encounter the pitfalls of choosing the wrong paint just a few weeks down the line. To avoid such a costly mistake, read on.
You’ll find in this article a helpful paint buying guide for steel. We will also list our top suggestions for the best ones available to purchase online for your convenience.
Choosing Paint For Steel – Buyer’s Guide
Choosing the right type of paint is a critical step in ensuring metal is protected and appealing. This is especially true for steel which is a ferrous metal.
Therefore, you must consider the following things when buying paint for steel.
1. Type of Paint
There are different types of paints on the market, and perhaps you are even familiar with some or have a favorite. But when it comes to steel, you must be very specific.
Steel works best with oil-based paints. These are the best paints for metals and have the capacity to protect steel adequately.
Oil-based paints are superior in strength and durability to other paints. They form a hard-wearing film that locks out moisture and air from the metal surface.
For this reason, it is ideal for outdoor use as it can withstand harsh elements. A coat of oil paint is also stain resistant and physically tough to handle stress.
The second best paint on steel is alkyd-based paint or enamel paint. Though often confused with oil paints, these are different in composition yet still solvent-based and provide superior protection for steel.
You are also free to use water-based acrylic paints or latex paints, especially those created for metal surfaces. They are cheaper, emit low to no odor, and have nothing near the toxicity levels of solvent-based paints.
They are not only a pleasure to work with but also dry much faster. However, all the good qualities require sacrificing durability. They don’t last as long as oil and enamel paints on metal.
If you are going with the water-based options, it is recommended to paint steel for indoor use. To prevent chances of rust, paint these over an oil-based primer.
2. Specialty
The surface to be painted and its purpose influences the paint we purchase. In this case, the surface is steel, so we aim for metal paint that overcomes the challenges of painting metal.
You can also opt for multi-surface paint as long as steel or metal is among the listed compatible surfaces. But for what application is the steel being painted?
When choosing paint for steel, think about where it is intended to be used. Is it on an indoor surface like a storage rack or outdoor items like shutters, gutters, a fence, or a garage door?
You must check the label to ensure you choose the right paint. We have exterior paint, which is built to stand up to everyday environmental elements when outdoors, then there’s interior paint specific for painting steel that will stay indoors where the conditions are bearable.
If the steel is a radiator, grill, appliance, or stove, check that the paint is specialized for that specific use.
3. Finish
There are many types of paint finishes. Gloss paint, for example, has a lustrous finish, while matte paint is a flat finish. There’s also satin, eggshell, and so on.
Oil and enamel-based paints are usually high gloss or semi-gloss. Since these are the best paints for steel, you’ll mostly come across those two options.
The higher the gloss, the more durable the coat of paint. Glossy paint is also easier to clean than matte paint. Contrarily, any flaws such as dents and scratches are more noticeable on a super shiny finish.
Gloss paint ideally provided the best finish for steel and metals, generally. It is particularly recommended for outdoor and high traffic areas.
If an extra shiny appearance doesn’t tickle your fancy, you can go with a semi-gloss paint. It is a balanced and very versatile finish for indoors and outdoors.
4. Spray or Brush On
Both spray and brush-on paints work fantastic on steel. And even though you may have a preferred method of application, the size of the project or budget may influence your choice between aerosol paint or brush-on paint.
Extensive steel surfaces are better brushed or painted with a roller, so go for brush-on paint. Though a single spray paint can is cheaper and easier to use, the need for too many spray cans gets expensive quickly if you’re covering a large area.
Spray paint would be ideal for small or medium steel items or objects with tight corners or irregular shapes where a brush or roller would be inadequate.
5. Drying Time
Oil paints and enamel paint generally dry much slower than water-based paints. However, this drying time also varies by brand.
Thanks to modern technology, there are now faster drying options. Therefore, if you are impatient or need to handle the steel sooner than later, compare the drying time for different brands before purchasing the paint.
The 7 Best Paints For Steel
Going through a myriad of products checking which ones are good for steel isn’t exactly fun. That is why we already did the research for you.
We narrowed down only steel-worthy paints so you can skip hectic research and head straight to shopping. Here are the 7 best paints for steel.
| Rank | Product | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Rust-Oleum Brush On Paint | Enamel, rust and fade resistant, durable |
| 2. | Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch Latex Paint | Water-based latex paint, low odor, dries fast |
| 3. | Krylon Spray Paint and Primer | Spray paint, anti-rust, superior adhesion |
| 4. | Rust-Oleum Hammered Spray Paint | Hammered finish, anti-rust, UV resistant |
| 5. | Rust-Oleum Enamel Spray Paint | Anti-rust, oil-based spray, fast drying |
| 6. | Rust-Oleum Universal All-Surface Spray Paint | Oil-based, rust and UV resistant |
| 7. | Rust-Oleum Painter's Touch | Oil-based spray, all-purpose, primer + paint |
1. Rust-Oleum Brush On Paint
The overall best paint for steel is Rust-Oleum protective enamel. It is everything you want in paint for your steel.
The high gloss oil-based paint formula is resistant to corrosion, weathering, fading, and abrasion. You can throw anything at it; moisture, UV light, mechanical stress, it won’t budge.
Rust-Oleum has endeavored to maintain the highest quality standards of incredibly durable paint. It prevents rust while looking bright for years.
In addition to its superior durability on surfaces, the wet paint itself has a very long shelf life. You can store any left over without worrying about it going bad for a while.
The brush-on paint is available in 32 fl oz and half-pint cans.
The color diversity is certainly satisfying; if you’ve been looking for rich, lively, and fun colors to spruce things up; Rust-Oleum has got it.
There is red, jade, burgundy, and sunburst yellow, to mention a few, in addition to the classic black, white, grey, and almond.
The paint loses a point when it comes to drying as it does so really slowly, as is expected of oil paints. It may take up to 4 hours to dry to the touch. However, unmatched durability is worth the wait.
2. Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch Latex Paint
If you are looking for a water-based option but are wary of its staying power on steel, this is the paint you need. Rust-Oleum’s Painter’s Touch is the best water-based paint for steel.
It has a long-lasting hold and can be used on indoor steel items and surfaces, lighting fixtures, or bedposts. Like other water-based paints, it is fast drying and low on odor.
The brush on paint goes on paintbrushes and rollers effortlessly and lays down very smoothly. That is because of its adequately thin consistency that you can airbrush too.
Painter’s touch is available in 32 oz cans with various colors and finishes. You can opt for reflective gloss, satin, or flat paint for the perfect finish
The color range includes classic white, black, navy, metallic grey, almond, apple red, and so many more.
3. Krylon Spray Paint and Primer
If you are not new to painting, the name Krylon should be enough to tell you that you are picking an amazing product. The brand has been listed among America’s favorite and most trusted paints for quality and variety.
Well, their Colormaxx line is our choice today for the best spray paint for steel. Though not necessarily a specialty paint for metal, the multi-surface paint goes perfectly on metals like steel. What’s more, it contains anti-rust capabilities.
The best selling point of the paint is perhaps that it’s a 2-in-1 paint plus prime, creating superior adhesion. It is ideal for both indoor and outdoor application, thanks to the resilience and durability of its coat.
If the thought of paint staying tacky for hours irritates you, you’ll appreciate this choice because it dries quickly, usually within 20 minutes for dry to touch and 1 hour to handle.
Covermaxx comes in 11oz spray cans designed to work effectively and ergonomically.
Moving on to colors, Colormaxx is the clear-cut winner in this review. It is available in over forty refreshing colors, including celery, rose, lilac, sea glass, aqua, and metallic colors like gold, silver, and black.
These are available in different finishes – gloss, satin, and matte.
4. Rust-Oleum Hammered Spray Paint
Want to give new life to an old beaten steel surface? What better way to conceal its imperfections than with this hammered paint?
This spray paint produces a hammered effect which acts as camouflage for metal imperfections. It gives the steel an authentic metal look while hiding dings and dents.
And like other Rust-Oleum paints, the spray paint formula produces the same excellent professional results.
It is anti-rust, corrosion resistant, and UV resistant so your painted steel is both protected and looking its best for a long time.
This paint takes about 2 hours to dry to the touch, which is significantly longer than other spray paints. But that’s the price you pay for superior durability.
It comes in a few terrific colors like gold, copper, bronze, black, grey, brown, silver, etc.
5. Rust-Oleum Enamel Spray Paint
Next to make it to the list is the Rust-Oleum professional enamel spray paint. This is not your ordinary craft spray paint but high-quality paint for ferrous metals like steel.
The oil-based spray paint is made thicker and more robust for professional results. It is corrosion and rust-resistant and withstands weathering, thus perfect for outdoor use.
Every spray can hold 15 oz of paint which is 4 oz more product than the standard Rust-Oleum spray cans.
It is available in a good array of colors and in gloss and matte finishes. This particular black gloss is highly reflective for that beautiful mirror-like appearance.
We also love that it is effortless to use, enabling painters to spray from whichever angle. It is fast drying and will dry to touch within 15 minutes.
6. Rust-Oleum Universal All-Surface Spray Paint
Another spray paint option you will love is the Rust-Oleum universal all-surface spray paint. As with other Rust-Oleum paint products, you can eat assured that the quality of this paint is top-notch.
The multipurpose spray is designed to be compatible with a variety of surfaces, metals like steel included.
In the 11oz cans is a tough oil-based paint formulated that is UV and rust-resistant. You can use it outdoors without fear of fading, chipping, or rusting after an encounter with harsh elements.
Whether it’s reviving the color of your beaten mailbox or keeping your staircase rails looking their best, this paint is up to the task. It is great for both indoor and outdoor use.
A coat of this paint dries to the touch in 30 minutes, after which you’ll truly fall in love with the results. The paint coat has a unique shimmer and texture like no other.
You get to choose from an array of colors, most of which are natural vintage metal colors like gunmetal, gold, brass, copper, nickel, etc.
Rust-Oleum universal spray paint is easy to use. The can supports spraying from any angle, minimizing hand fatigue associated with spraying from a single position.
7. Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch
Last but not least in line is the Painter’s Touch spray version. Unlike the brush-on version that is latex-based, this is an oil-based formula.
Therefore, you can expect the durability and strength of oil-based paint. It gives great coverage and produces pleasant results.
Although it is an all-purpose paint, the painter’s touch 2* ultra cover will adhere and protect steel adequately thanks to the incorporated primer. It is a duo paint plus primer formula maximizing adhesion.
Another reason to choose this paint is that it is significantly low on odor, so you don’t have to put up with nauseating smells. It dries to the touch pretty quickly too.
Each can is 12 oz and is available in many different colors and finishes.
Up Next: Can You Use Acrylic Paint On Metal?
