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Covering an old and worn garage door with a fresh coat of paint—whether repainting a faded or peeling garage door or simply changing its color—can have a significant impact on a home’s curb appeal.
Along with choosing the perfect color, selecting an exterior paint for garage doors that can hold up to extreme weather and the constant up-and-down movement is essential. In this guide, we’ll explore the factors to consider when shopping for this type of paint and explain why these top picks are some of the best paint for garage doors on the market today.
- BEST OVERALL: Behr Ultra Stain-Blocking Paint & Primer
- RUNNER-UP: Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior Acrylic Paint
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Valspar StormCoat Acrylic Exterior Paint
- BEST WEATHER-RESISTANT: HGTV Home by Sherwin Williams Weathershield Paint
- BEST FOR METAL: Behr Premium Direct-to-Metal Interior/Exterior Paint
- BEST PRIMER: Kilz 3 Premium Interior/Exterior Primer
- ALSO CONSIDER: Sherwin Williams Duration Exterior Acrylic Latex
How We Chose the Best Paint for Garage Doors
We considered several factors when choosing the best paint for garage doors. First, we tapped Mark Buskuhl, founder and CEO of Dallas-based Ninebird Properties, a company that buys, renovates, and sells dozens of houses every year, to help us determine which qualities to prioritize when selecting a garage door paint. Buskuhl says shoppers will want to consider durability and weather resistance. “Your garage door is constantly exposed to changing weather conditions, so it’s important to choose a paint that can hold up against rain, snow, and UV rays,” he says.
He adds that choosing the most suitable paint for the garage door material is also important. “Depending on whether your garage door is made of wood, metal, or vinyl, you may need a specific type of paint that works best with that material.”
Along with assessing paint for weather resistance and compatibility with various garage door materials, we also considered paint coverage and cost. Keeping these factors in mind, we compared the specifications and customer reviews for 20 exterior paints to determine our final list of the best paint for garage doors.
Our Top Picks
Our top picks for the best paint for garage doors include exterior paints that work with fiberglass, metal, vinyl, and wood garage doors.
Best Overall
Behr Ultra Stain-Blocking Paint u0026 Primer
Product Specs
- Type: Enamel paint and primer
- Coverage: 250 to 400 square feet per gallon
- Low volatile organic compound (VOC): Yes
Pros
- Paint-and-primer combination that provides a large coverage area
- Greenguard Gold certification means the paint produces low chemical emissions
- Quick-drying formula is rain-resistant in about 1 hour
- Versatile primer enamel formula is suitable for a broad range of garage door materials
Cons
- Some customers note that it doesn’t cover as well as advertised
Behr Ultra exterior paint, with its ability to adhere to just about any garage door material while providing excellent coverage and long-lasting durability, is the best all-around option for painting a garage door. This paint includes additives that help it resist stains and hold up against the inclement weather and sunlight that garage doors encounter. It’s compatible with wood, vinyl, metal, and fiberglass. A gallon of this paint-and-primer combination covers up to 400 square feet, depending on color and the type of surface. It also dries quickly and will resist rain in as little as 1 hour after application. And since Behr Ultra is Greenguard Gold certified, it also has low chemical emissions.
Get the Behr Ultra paint for garage doors at The Home Depot.
Runner-Up
Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior Acrylic Paint
Product Specs
- Type: Acrylic paint
- Coverage: 350 to 450 square feet per gallon
- Low VOC: No
Pros
- Excellent coverage with 1 gallon covering up to 450 square feet
- Color Lock technology resists fading and other effects of harsh weather
- Special additive prevents streaks from accumulating on the surface
Cons
- One of the pricier garage door paints on the market
While Benjamin Moore Aura is one of the pricier exterior paints, it’s well suited for garage doors due to Color Lock technology, which resists fading while making the paint more resistant to rain, snow, and ultraviolet (UV) rays. An additive also helps prevent the streaks that sometimes occur on exterior painted surfaces. Overall, this paint offers excellent adhesion properties and dries in about 1 hour, allowing users to apply several coats in a short time period. It also boasts excellent coverage, with 1 gallon covering up to 450 square feet.
Get the Benjamin Moore paint for garage doors at Ace Hardware.
Best Bang For The Buck
Valspar StormCoat Acrylic Exterior Paint
Product Specs
- Type: Latex paint
- Coverage: 350 to 450 square feet per gallon
- Low VOC: No
Pros
- An excellent value with a low price and good coverage
- Acrylic formula resists cracking and peeling
- Suitable for a variety of garage door types, including metal, wood, and vinyl
Cons
- Some customers report that it requires multiple coats
Valspar StormCoat exterior paint is a great option for shoppers trying to recoat their garage door on a budget. It costs far less than premium garage door paints yet still offers the features of quality exterior paint. The acrylic formula resists fading, cracking, and peeling while providing good coverage—and it’s mildew-resistant. This paint also ensures similar coverage to pricier paints, with a single gallon covering up to 450 square feet. Valspar StormCoat works well as a paint for vinyl garage doors, in addition to metal and wood. It dries to the touch in 1 to 2 hours after application.
Get Valspar paint for garage doors at Lowe’s.
Best Weather-Resistant
HGTV Home by Sherwin Williams Weathershield Paint
Product Specs
- Type: Latex paint and primer
- Coverage: 250 to 400 square feet per gallon
- Low VOC: No
Pros
- Primer-and-paint combination hides stains and dirt
- Resists mold and mildew, making it ideal for garages in shaded areas
- Rain-resistant just 1.5 hours after application
Cons
- Some customers note the paint is too thin
Weathershield from HGTV Home by Sherwin Williams is an exterior paint that combines excellent coverage with superior weather-resistant qualities that are ideal for garage doors. This product is a paint-and-primer combination, so it hides stains and dirt better than conventional exterior paint and also performs well on a variety of surfaces, including wood, metal, and vinyl. The acrylic formula adheres well to porous surfaces while resisting peeling and cracking, and an additive helps to prevent mold and mildew, a common problem with garage doors that spend a lot of time in the shade. Rain-Ready Technology ensures the paint is ready to withstand the elements just 1.5 hours after application.
Get HGTV Home paint for garage doors at Lowe’s.
Best For Metal
Behr Premium Direct-to-Metal Interior/Exterior Paint
Product Specs
- Type: Acrylic paint
- Coverage: 350 to 400 square feet per gallon
- Low VOC: No
Pros
- Adheres well to both porous and nonporous ferrous metal surfaces
- Dries to a durable finish that helps protect against rust and corrosion
- One of the more affordably priced direct-to-metal exterior paints
Cons
- Some customers report that it takes 3 coats to cover stains
With a formula that’s designed specifically for metal surfaces, Behr Premium Direct-to-Metal paint is the best option to repaint a metal garage door. It dries to a durable finish that helps to protect from corrosion and rust. While this paint is formulated to adhere to metal, Behr recommends that you scuff-sand and prime the metal before applying this paint for maximum durability and corrosion protection. A single gallon covers up to 400 square feet, and it dries to the touch in just 1 hour. Cleanup is easy with just soap and water.
Get the Behr Premium Direct-to-Metal paint for garage doors at The Home Depot.
Best Primer
Kilz 3 Premium Interior/Exterior Primer
Product Specs
- Type: Primer
- Coverage: 300 to 400 square feet per gallon
- Low VOC: Yes
Pros
- Thick formula hides a variety of colors and stains
- One of the more affordably priced exterior primers on the market
- Works on a broad range of materials, making it compatible with most garage doors
Cons
- Some customers report that it takes several coats to achieve good coverage
The excellent adherence and stain-blocking properties of Kilz make it the best all-around primer for garage doors. Not only is it one of the more affordable primers on the market, but since it blocks stains and colors, you won’t have to use as much paint to cover the garage door. Kilz has a quick dry time of just 1 hour, helping to speed up garage door painting projects. This primer is compatible with top coats of both latex and oil-based paints. And, since Kilz is water-based, cleanup with just warm water is a breeze.
Get the Kilz paint for garage doors at Lowe’s, The Home Depot, or Walmart.
Also Consider
Sherwin Williams Duration Exterior Acrylic Latex
Product Specs
- Type: Self-priming acrylic latex paint
- Coverage: Up to 300 square feet per gallon
- Low VOC: Yes
Pros
- Self-priming formula requires fewer coats than conventional exterior paints
- Crack- and peel-resistant technology holds up well in extreme weather
- Includes additives to reduce mold and mildew growth
Cons
- Some customers note that it does a poor job of blocking on bare wood
Sherwin Williams Duration is an acrylic-based latex paint that checks all the boxes DIYers will want out of an exterior paint. Since this paint is self-priming, it will coat a garage door in one or two coats, although it does offer less coverage than other exterior paints. One gallon will cover up to 300 square feet. The paint is also mildew-resistant—which is key for garage doors—and is formulated with PermaLast Technology to protect from cracking and peeling.
Get the Sherwin Williams paint for garage doors at Sherwin Williams.
Jump to Our Top Picks
Our Verdict
While using an exterior paint doesn’t pose the same health risks that come with painting indoors, it’s still a good idea to choose a low-VOC paint when possible. Low-VOC paints produce fewer toxic fumes than traditional paints, thus having less of a negative impact on air quality and the ozone layer.
What to Consider When Choosing Paint for a Garage Door
Understanding what type of paint for garage doors to select, along with color and finish, is crucial when choosing the correct paint. Keep reading to learn more.
Type
Exterior paints for garage doors come in acrylic, latex, oil-based (or enamel). Acrylic paint can expand and contract in changing temperatures without cracking or peeling. However, acrylic paints can also be more expensive and require more coats to cover a surface. Latex paint is affordable and covers a surface in fewer coats, but it can cause the grain to swell in wood garage doors and doesn’t adhere well to metal surfaces. Oil-based paint for garage doors dries to a hard shell for excellent weather resistance, but it’s also less flexible and more prone to cracking and peeling.
Color
Coming up with paint ideas for garage doors can be fun. There are several ways to consider coordinating the color of the garage door with your home. Painting a garage door the same color as the home’s exterior helps it to blend in, directing attention away from it and to more attractive architectural features or adjacent landscaping. For a bold statement, go with a complementary color, which is opposite the home’s color on the color wheel. Or choose an analogous color—a slightly darker or lighter version of the home’s color—to create a more subtle look. Avoid choosing a color that makes the garage door the home’s focal point.
Finish
When choosing the finish for a garage door, it usually makes sense to choose gloss or semi-gloss. “These finishes provide a sleek and reflective surface that can withstand outdoor conditions and are easy to clean,” Buskuhl says. “They also have higher levels of durability and weather resistance compared to flat or matte finishes.”
However, that doesn’t mean glossy paint is always the right choice as it can more easily reveal cracks, chips, and other imperfections in a garage door’s surface due to its reflective nature. Surface preparation is crucial before applying gloss and semi-gloss paint to mitigate these effects. A satin finish may be the best option for painting an older garage door.
How to Paint Garage Doors
After you’ve chosen a paint, follow these tips for painting a garage door.
- Prep a garage door for painting by repairing any damage and sanding the surface to create a rough exterior that will allow the paint to adhere to it more easily.
- Clean the door thoroughly by scrubbing it with soapy water and rinsing it with a hose or a power washer.
- Allow the door to dry, and then tape off the panels to protect the trim.
- Apply a coat of primer if not using a paint-and-primer combination.
- Apply a single coat of paint to painted surfaces or two coats of paint to unpainted surfaces.
Why Trust Bob Vila
Bob Vila has been America’s Handyman since 1979. As the host of beloved and groundbreaking TV series including “This Old House” and “Bob Vila’s Home Again,” he popularized and became synonymous with “do-it-yourself” home improvement.
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