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Special paint is required to paint on plastic surfaces and achieve superior results 

Image credit: Shutterstock/New Africa

Welcome to the Thomas guide to the best paint for plastic 2024. Thomas has been connecting North American industrial buyers and suppliers for more than 120 years. When you purchase products through our independent recommendations, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Painting a plastic surface can go horribly wrong if the right paint is not used. This is because most plastics contain chemicals that prevent regular paint from adhering to it. To avoid disappointment when attempting a DIY project involving painting plastic, as well as painter’s mask, painter’s tape, overalls, and a protective plastic sheet, you’ll need paint that is suitable for plastic surfaces. Plastic-friendly paint can come in handy for a number of different DIY projects, from repairing the paintwork on plastic fencing, and upgrading outdoor plastic lawn furniture, to repainting storage containers.

There are even specially formulated paints for interior plastic car parts and miniature toys. Whatever the plastic item that you want to revamp, getting a good quality product will help to make painting plastic a breeze.

Thomas’ Top Picks for the Best Paint for Plastic 2024

Don’t paint plastic furniture with any old paint; grab one of the best paints for plastic from our top picks below.

Best Overall Paint for Plastic: Rust-Oleum Specialty Spray Paint for Plastic | Buy Now

Best Alternative Paint for Plastic: Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch Spray Paint | Buy Now

Best Spray Paint for Plastic: Krylon Fusion All-In-One Spray Paint | Buy Now

Best for Indoor and Outdoor Projects: BEHR Spray Paint and Primer | Buy Now

Best Automotive Plastic Spray Paint: Rust-Oleum Paint for Plastic Spray | Buy Now

Best Detailing Paint for Plastic: Zenacolor Indoor-Outdoor Acrylic Paint Set | Buy Now

Best Paint for Artistic Projects on Plastic: Neon Nights Glow-in-The-Dark Paint | Buy Now

Best Paint Pens for Small Plastic Items: Acrylic Paint Markers Set | Buy Now

Best for Army Toys: The Army Painter Miniature Painting Kit | Buy Now

Best Metallic Paint for Plastic: Krylon Premium Metallic Spray Paint| Buy Now

Best Brush-On Paint Option: Majic PAINTS Interior/Exterior Satin Paint | Buy Now

Best Budget Option: GLIDDEN MAX FLEX All Surface Spray Paint and Primer | Buy Now

Scroll down to read more about these top picks for the best plastic paint for refreshing plastic surfaces, according to many happy buyers.

*Prices listed in this article were as shown in US$ on amazon.com (USA) and homedepot.com as of January 2024

1. Best Overall Paint—Rust-Oleum Specialty Spray Paint for Plastic

Rust-Oleum’s oil-based paint spray is specially formulated for use on PVC, polypropylene, vinyl plastics, and more. With its superior adhesion properties, the spray paint easily sticks to a number of different plastic surfaces without the need to apply a primer coat to the plastic prior to painting it.

One can cover up to ten square feet, and so will be ideal for outdoor furniture such as tables, chairs, and even plastic fences. Available in a number of different colors, this spray has a gloss finish that will spruce up any old piece of furniture. “Great color, durable too,” wrote one happy reviewer. “Covered up two plastic resin side tables. They look great and it was very easy to spray them with this paint,” they added.

Specifications

• Surface: Plastic
• Size: 12 ounces
• Form: Aerosol

BUY NOW: US$19.95, Amazon

Also Available at: Sears

2. Best Runner-Up—Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch Paint Spray

To have your paint adhere quickly and efficiently, you’ll need a product like Rust-Oleum’s 2X Ultra Cover Paint spray. The paint acts as both a primer and a paint, and is ideal for multiple surfaces including plastic. The oil-based formula provides a long-lasting finish and is available in a range of colors and finishes too, including high gloss, semi-gloss, and matte.

“Surprised at how quickly this primer/paint combo adheres to surfaces,” wrote one satisfied customer. “Really happy with the coverage. I ordered a few more to finish the project. Highly recommend.”

Specifications

• Surface: Wood, plastic, plaster, metal, masonry, unglazed ceramic
• Size: 12 ounces
• Form: Aerosol

BUY NOW: US$6.29 (Was US$6.99), Amazon

Also Available at: Walmart, Ace Hardware

3. Best Spray Paint—Krylon Fusion All-In-One Spray Paint

Made for a number of different surface types, including PVC, the Krylon Fusion All-In-One spray will be able to tackle those difficult-to-cover plastic surfaces with its fast-drying formula. The anti-rust properties of the paint make it particularly ideal for outdoor furniture, and the paint can be easily applied, from any direction, with the large spray tip.

“This worked perfectly to give new life to my eight-year-old patio set,” wrote one happy customer. “It bonded well and has a nice shine,” they explained, and “the set now looks brand new.”

Specifications

• Surface: Wood, plastic, metal, PVC, tile, vinyl, wicker, glass, plaster, ceramic, iron
• Size: 12 ounces
• Form: Aerosol

BUY NOW: US$6.98, Amazon

Also Available at: Walmart, Ace Hardware, and Michael’s

4. Best Indoor/Outdoor—BEHR Spray Paint and Primer

Due to its chemical-resistant, oil-based formula, the BEHR PREMIUM spray paint is another excellent, reasonably priced paint, that will adhere to many surfaces, including wood, plastic, glass, and even concrete. Reviewers particularly appreciated the ergonomically-designed bottle, which makes painting plastic a little bit easier.

One shopper advised to “follow directions, and as always have your prep work done and it does exactly what it’s supposed to.” They also added that “for the price, I’d say it’s extremely high quality.”

Specifications

• Surface: Wood, plastic, glass, terracotta
• Size: 12 ounces
• Form: Aerosol

BUY NOW: US$6.98, The Home Depot

5. Best Automotive—Rust-Oleum Paint for Plastic Spray

Made to freshen up worn and dull-looking plastic car parts, Rust-Oleum’s paint for plastic is the perfect paint for many DIY car paint jobs. The spray is designed specifically for indoor and outdoor automotive plastics, so anything from the car lenses to the interior plastic door panels can be restored.

“The results are as good as any factory paint job,” wrote one satisfied shopper. “Saved me a ton of cash. Nice and shiny, fantastic coverage, and no need to even wet sand the final coat as they came out perfectly smooth and flawless.”

Specifications

• Surface: Automotive plastics, polypropylene, polystyrene, resin, PVC, fiberglass
• Size: 12 ounces
• Form: Aerosol

BUY NOW: US$18.80 (Was US$19.99), Amazon

Also Available at: Walmart

6. Best for Detailing—Zenacolor Indoor-Outdoor Acrylic Paint Set

Anyone who has lived in their own home understands the agony of having a small area of plastic materials peel off and only needing to find the correct color to fix it. But do you always have the necessary materials on hand? You’re covered with Zenacolor’s Indoor-Outdoor acrylic paint set. These acrylic paints are certified by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) as safe and durable for use on a wide variety of surfaces, including plastic, in addition to being scuff-proof and suitable for indoor and outdoor use.

Acrylic paints are available in 20 vibrant colors that will not fade over time, have a high viscosity for flawless coverage, and can be mixed to create the exact color for your detailing needs. This craft paint set includes three brushes of varying sizes. A customer explained, “Dries super quickly and only one coat is needed, unlike some paints that I’ve purchased. The colors are true to what is pictured, if not better! and so far all colors have held up to the elements (rain, heat, humidity). Extremely satisfied.”

Specifications

• Surface: Plastic, fabric, glass, metal, wood
• Size: 23-piece set of 2 ounces
• Form: Tubes

BUY NOW: US$24.99 (Was US$26.99), Amazon

7. Best for Art—Neon Nights Glow-in-The-Dark Paint

The Neon Nights Glow-in-the-Dark paint set is a fantastic addition to your gift list for the artist in your life, whether they are you or a friend. This neon paint is ideal for any arts and crafts project because it is visible both during the day and at night. These phosphorescent neon acrylic paints charge quickly in sunlight and emit a brilliant, eye-catching glow that is sure to capture the attention of anyone who sees them, and contain eight individual bottles of color.

The general consensus of this set is that it is a valuable addition to your plastic paint set, but as one customer underlined, “…after highlight-painting the raised edges of our outdoor nativity scene angel figurine and installing a USB powered LED UV-lamp shining down on her, the effect was pretty dramatic,” you can even use it to win your neighborhood’s decoration contest.

Specifications

• Surface: Plastics, canvas, wall, wood, metal, stone
• Size: 8-piece set of 0.7 ounces
• Form: Tubes

BUY NOW: US$12.25 (Was US$13.99), Amazon

Also Available at: Michaels

8. Best Paint Pens—IRIS & OLIVIA Acrylic Paint Markers Set

If working with much smaller plastic surfaces, it may be best to opt for acrylic pens. The IRIS & OLIVIA acrylic paint marker set features 12 highly pigmented acrylic paint pens that stick well to many surfaces, and are perfect for precision painting work like painting onto plastic cups or glasses.

The pens are easy to use and do not require excessive shaking or pressing down of the tip to get the paint out. “Love these markers,” wrote one happy customer. “They worked great for painting plastic doll shoes, some of the colors are thicker or heavier than others. For example, the yellow takes several coats to show up bright but overall they are just what I was looking for.”

Specifications

• Surface: Clothes, rock markers, ceramic, glass, plastic, wood, metal
• Size: 10 ounces
• Form: Pen

BUY NOW: US$9.99, Amazon

9. Best for Army Toys—The Army Painter Miniature Painting Kit

Painting plastic miniatures, toys, and game pieces will require a much more specialized set of paints like the Army Painter Miniature painting kit. This set has an impressive selection of high-quality acrylic paints, with a variety of colors. The kit includes a selection of war paint colors, metallics, effect paints, and a detail paint brush along with a useful painting guide.

Suitable for both experienced and novice wargame painters, the easy-to-apply paint requires no primer and comes in a cleverly designed bottle that allows the exact amount of paint to be administered, minimizing waste. “Really good set,” wrote one reviewer. “I’m new to Warhammer and painting miniatures. I got a starter set of Citadel paints which I thought were pretty decent, but this set of paints applies much better and much smoother.”

Specifications

• Surface: Metal
• Size: 0.6 ounces per bottle
• Form: Bottle

BUY NOW: US$139.99 (Was US$149.99), Amazon

Also Available at: Walmart

10. Best Metallic—Krylon Premium Metallic Spray Paint

With the Krylon Premium metallic spray, a dull plastic item can be transformed into something really expensive looking for a fraction of the price of having to buy it new and can add those all-important finishing touches to any interior decor project. Whether it’s mirror frames, light switches, sockets, or door handles, the Krylon metallic spray adheres well to most surface types and leaves a deep, high-gloss finish resembling actual metallic plating.

Reviewers mentioned that, for the best results, it is better to use thin coats of this interior paint instead of attempting to paint one thick layer. “Easy to use and the color was exactly what I wanted,” wrote one happy reviewer. “Shockingly good,” wrote another reviewer, who used the paint to faux-chrome plastic car trim pieces.

Specifications

• Surface: Wood, metal, plastic, paper mache, glass, plaster ceramic, paper, wicker
• Size: 8 ounces
• Form: Spray

BUY NOW: US$13.39, Amazon

Also Available at: Walmart, Ace Hardware

11. Best Brush-On—Majic PAINTS Interior/Exterior Satin Paint

Painting with a spray can be a little tricky for a novice DIYer. Using Majic PAINTS brush-on paint, however, allows for a little more control when painting, taking some of the pressure off. This RePurpose acrylic interior and exterior paint is also ideal for those who prefer to see brush marks on the painted plastic item, for a more rustic look and feel.

With its superior adhesion properties, the product is suitable for most plastics on an interior or exterior surface, and, without the need to sand or prime, it can be applied in an easy, one-step process. “Very good, high-quality paint,” wrote one happy buyer. “I painted a piece of furniture with this and couldn’t believe how beautiful the finish came out.”

Specifications

• Surface: Wood, metal, brick, drywall, glass, steel, tile, vinyl, aluminum, most plastics, copper, masonry
• Size: 946ml
• Form: Brush-on

BUY NOW: US$14.99, Amazon

Also Available at: Walmart

12. Best Budget—GLIDDEN MAX FLEX All Surface Spray Paint and Primer

If you’re looking for a budget paint option that will provide a flawless finish to any plastic object, the GLIDDEN MAX-FLEX paint, with its unique spray pattern, is an ideal choice. This paint not only leaves a factory-like finish, but it is extremely durable and provides excellent coverage. This product requires slightly more prep work compared to other paints but will dry in a rapid five minutes without drips or streaks.

“This Glidden spray paint is of the highest quality,” wrote one reviewer. “It applies just as it claims, with no dripping or running. One coat is all that is needed due to the added primer, and the satin finish gives the coat that subtle sheen that catches the sunlight just right.”

Specifications

• Surface: Wood, metal, plastic
• Size: 12 ounces
• Form: Spray

BUY NOW: US$7.98, The Home Depot

The Best Paint to Paint Plastic Surfaces—Summary

To summarize, if you are looking for a great overall paint specifically made for plastic, we recommend Rust Oleum’s Speciality spray paint for plastic (US$19.95, Amazon). Alternatively, for a brush-on option for those not as confident when it comes to using a spray can, Majic PAINTS satin paint is great for a number of different surfaces, in addition to plastic (US$14.99, Amazon).

The Best Paint for Plastic—Buying Guide

When it comes to choosing the right paint for the plastic painting project at hand, there are a few considerations to keep in mind first.

Surface size: Perhaps the first important thing to consider is the size of the plastic surface that is going to be painted. Most plastic-friendly paints will be in the form of spray paints which are great for large surface areas. For smaller items though, spray paints might not be as ideal and it would probably be better to use a brush-on paint.

Preparation: Like with any paint project, preparation is key. When choosing a paint, it would be useful to consider whether the plastic surface will need to be prepared first. Some paints require plastic surfaces to be sanded first with fine-grit sandpaper or a liquid sander, which ensures that the paint sticks to the surface well.

It is also always important to ensure the surface is completely dry and clean before attempting to paint on it. Rubbing alcohol can help with this. Finally, safety is very important when it comes to painting, especially as many multi-surface paints are oil-based and contain solvents with high VOCs that can be harmful if inhaled. Always paint in a well-ventilated area, and wear the correct PPE.

We hope our review of the best paint for plastic has been helpful. For more suppliers of related products, including acrylic sealer, spray painting accessories, or rollers, painter’s tape, painter’s masks, disposable gloves, paint brushes, and regular paints, consult our additional guides, or visit the Thomas Supplier Discovery Platform.

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