The Best Fence Paints To Transform Your Outdoor Space
Paints that bring a faded garden fence back to life and keep the weather off it for years.
Our quick verdict
Our pick of the best fence paint is the Cuprinol Ducksback Fence Paint, because in our testing it went on cleanly without drips and stretched slightly further than Ronseal Fence Life Plus. For a shaded fence that rarely dries out, the Ronseal Fence Life Plus is the better choice, as it can go onto damp wood and costs a little less.
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Our Picks At A Glance
- Check price of Cuprinol Ducksback Fence Paint
Best Overall
Cuprinol Ducksback Fence PaintMost garden fences and sheds needing lasting colour and water repellency
- Check price of Ronseal Fence Life Plus
- Check price of Ronseal One Coat Fence Life
- Check price of Johnstone’s Woodcare Fence Paint
Best One Coat
Johnstone’s Woodcare Fence PaintFences and sheds where you want to finish in a single coat
- Check price of T.A Paints Multi Purpose Fence Paint
Best Colour Selection
T.A Paints Multi Purpose Fence PaintPainting a fence in a specific colour to match the house or garden
- Check price of West Lancs Garden Fence Paint
Best Value Runner-Up
West Lancs Garden Fence PaintLong boundary fences where a big tin keeps the cost down
Fence length and timber type narrow this list quickly. Rough-sawn panels soak up thin fence paint, smooth-planed slats need a paint labelled for both surfaces, and a long boundary makes a 20 litre tin worth the storage space when a few panels barely dent a 5 litre one. Going from a dark old finish to a pale colour adds a coat, so allow for that in how much you buy.
We've painted a number of fences at our rentals and Airbnbs. Here are six paints, covering one-coat formulas, bulk tins and a gloss with a wide colour range.
How We Tested These Fence Paints
With several rentals and Airbnbs to look after, we've got multiple garden fences to maintain, and that's given us the chance to try a range of fence paints on both new and weathered panels.
The two photos below are from a recent job at one of our properties. The weathered red-brown fence was painted a dark charcoal grey to sit behind the grey decking, and it was a quick and easy way to change the look of the whole garden.
We put each paint on both by brush and with a sprayer, because the two methods show up different strengths. Brushing tells you how well a paint gets into rough-sawn grain and along the top rails, while spraying shows whether it's thin enough to atomise without clogging and how much drifts onto plants next door.
New panels got the same treatment. The photos below show a Ronseal brown going onto fresh pressure-treated boards and a pale Cuprinol Garden Shades colour, which isn't one of our six picks, on a couple of boards of a new fence.
Every paint was scored on the same points:
- Application: how it brushed and sprayed, and how much mess it made
- Coverage: how far a tin went and whether the colour looked even after one coat
- Drying time: how soon it was showerproof and ready for a second coat
- Finish: the depth of colour and how it looked against brick, decking and lawn
- Durability: how the colour held up between repaints
Where we haven't had a paint on our own fences for long enough to judge its lifespan, we've used the brand's figures for protection, coverage and drying times and said so. We also looked at colour range and value for money.
The Best Fence Paints We Recommend
All six paints suit rough-sawn and smooth-planed timber fences. We've noted where a paint needed a second coat or behaved differently through a sprayer.
Best Overall
Cuprinol Ducksback Fence Paint
Best for: Most garden fences and sheds needing lasting colour and water repellency
Check Price On AmazonIn our testing, Ducksback came across as a higher quality paint than its rivals. Cuprinol adds wax to the formula for a water-repellent finish, which Cuprinol says is why it stands up to UK weather for so long.
It's a non-drip paint that goes on cleanly by brush and is thin enough to spray, and in our side-by-side use it stretched slightly further than Ronseal Fence Life Plus. Cuprinol says it's touch dry in an hour and quotes up to 5 years of protection, with up to 10 fence panels from a 5 litre tin. It's low odour and safe around pets and plants, and the six colours work just as well on a shed.
What we like
- Wax-enriched formula leaves a water-repellent finish
- Up to 5 years of protection according to Cuprinol
- Low odour and safe around pets and plants
- Covers up to 10 fence panels per 5 litre tin according to the brand
- Six colours to choose from
- Touch dry in 1 hour
- Brushes or sprays without dripping
- Doubles as a shed paint
What to know
- Only sold in a 5 litre tin, which is a lot for a few panels
- Costs more than Ronseal's Fence Life paints
Our verdict
Ducksback costs a little more than Ronseal Fence Life Plus, and in our testing it earned the difference by going on cleanly and covering more fence per tin. The wax in the finish keeps the rain out, and it doubles as a shed paint. For most garden fences it's the tin we'd put in the trolley, though a fence in deep shade is better off with Fence Life Plus.
Best All-Rounder
Ronseal Fence Life Plus
Best for: Fences that rarely dry out fully between showers
Check Price On AmazonFence Life Plus is the top formula in Ronseal's fence range, made thicker and tougher than the brand's One Coat version. Its standout feature is that it can go onto damp wood, which is handy on shaded fences that rarely get a full day to dry out.
Ronseal says it's showerproof in an hour and fully dry in 4 hours, with up to 5 years of protection against the weather and UV. Colours are sage, forest green and medium or dark oak. We found it noticeably watery when brushing, so it got messy, and it needs a dust sheet or some cardboard over plants and paving.
What we like
- Can be applied to damp wood
- Showerproof in 1 hour according to Ronseal
- Fully dry in 4 hours
- Up to 5 years of weather and UV protection
- Works through a sprayer as well as by brush
- Sage, forest green and two oak shades
What to know
- Watery when brushed on, so it splashed and ran onto nearby surfaces in our use
- Fewer colours than Cuprinol Ducksback
Our verdict
Fence Life Plus gives a similar finish and protection to Ducksback for a little less, and the team is split on which we prefer. Pick it for a shaded or damp fence, or if you're spraying. If you'd rather brush and want a wider colour choice with better coverage, Ducksback is the better buy.
Best Value
Ronseal One Coat Fence Life
Best for: Covering large rough-sawn fences quickly at the lowest cost
Check Price On AmazonOne Coat Fence Life is the cheaper sibling of Fence Life Plus. It's a thinner paint and gives fewer years of protection, but for a big run of rough-sawn panels where cost and speed matter most, it does a good job and covers ground quickly.
Ronseal says it's showerproof in an hour, and it protects the timber from greying. It goes on by brush or sprayer, it's pet and plant friendly, and colours are gold, red cedar and medium or dark oak. It suits a fresh fence that needs colour without a premium price.
What we like
- Showerproof in 1 hour according to Ronseal
- Protects against greying
- Brush or spray application
- Gold, red cedar and two oak colours
- Pet and plant friendly
What to know
- Thinner and less durable than Ronseal Fence Life Plus
- Made for rough-sawn timber rather than smooth-planed boards
Our verdict
Choose One Coat Fence Life when you've got a lot of fence to cover and want the job done quickly and cheaply. If the budget stretches, Fence Life Plus lasts longer and is worth the extra. For an even bigger area, West Lancs comes in a 20 litre tin.
Best One Coat
Johnstone’s Woodcare Fence Paint
Best for: Fences and sheds where you want to finish in a single coat
Check Price On AmazonJohnstone's Woodcare is a one coat fence and shed paint with wax in the mix for better water repellency, much like Ducksback. It's designed so a single coat gives an even colour, though there's nothing to stop you adding a second on very weathered boards.
Johnstone's quotes touch dry in 2 hours and up to 3 years of guaranteed protection against the UK weather, which is shorter than the 5 years Cuprinol and Ronseal give their top paints. It doesn't go as far either, at 6 square metres per litre against the 8 to 10 that T.A Paints quotes. The 9 litre tin earns its place on a long boundary, and there's a 5 litre size for smaller gardens.
What we like
- One coat formula for a quicker job
- Wax enriched for water repellency
- Touch dry in 2 hours according to Johnstone's
- 5 or 9 litre tins
- Resists all weather conditions
What to know
- 3 year protection guarantee is shorter than Ducksback and Fence Life Plus
- Lower coverage per litre than T.A Paints
Our verdict
Johnstone's Woodcare suits anyone who wants to get round a fence in one coat and likes the option of a 9 litre tin. The catch is the shorter guarantee for a similar outlay. For longer protection, Cuprinol Ducksback or Ronseal Fence Life Plus is the better spend.
Best Colour Selection
T.A Paints Multi Purpose Fence Paint
Best for: Painting a fence in a specific colour to match the house or garden
Check Price On AmazonT.A Paints is the one to look at if the usual browns, greens and greys don't suit your garden. There are 37 colours to choose from, and it's a polyurethane oil-based paint that dries to a durable gloss, so the result looks quite different from the flat finish of a typical fence paint.
It can be used straight from the tin by brush, roller or sprayer, and the brand quotes 8 to 10 square metres per litre with touch dry in 90 to 120 minutes. Allow 12 to 24 hours before a second coat. Tins come in 1, 2.5 and 5 litres, which makes it practical for a small feature panel as well as a full fence. If the decking needs doing too, our pick of the best decking paints covers paints made for foot traffic.
What we like
- 37 colours to pick from
- Durable polyurethane gloss finish
- 8 to 10 square metres per litre according to T.A Paints
- Brush, roller or spray straight from the tin
- 1, 2.5 and 5 litre tins
- Touch dry in 90 to 120 minutes
What to know
- One of the dearer fence paints here per litre
- 12 to 24 hours between coats stretches the job over two days
- Gloss finish won't suit anyone after a natural timber look
Our verdict
Pick T.A Paints when colour is the deciding factor and you'd like the fence to tie in with a door, shed or decking. It costs more and takes longer between coats. For a traditional fence finish at a lower price, Ronseal One Coat Fence Life or West Lancs makes more sense.
Best Value Runner-Up
West Lancs Garden Fence Paint
Best for: Long boundary fences where a big tin keeps the cost down
Check Price On AmazonWest Lancs sells its fence paint in a 20 litre tin, which is the main reason it's here. If you've got a long boundary, a run of panels at a rental or several fences to do in one go, buying in that quantity keeps the cost per panel down and means you're not running out halfway along.
It's a water-based paint in grey, dark oak, forest green, redwood and rustic brown. The brand says it's touch dry in 45 minutes, animal and plant friendly, and gives up to 6 years of protection. Plan for two coats, because one coat doesn't give the best finish.
What we like
- Large 20 litre tin for big fencing jobs
- Water-based formula
- Touch dry in 45 minutes according to West Lancs
- Up to 6 years of protection
- Animal and plant friendly
What to know
- Needs two coats for the best finish
- Only five colours
- 20 litres is far more than a small garden needs
Our verdict
A long boundary or several fences done in one weekend is where a 20 litre tin of West Lancs pays off. The water-based paint is touch dry in 45 minutes according to the brand, and up to six years of protection is a good figure for the money. Set aside time for two coats, and leave it on the shelf if you've only got a handful of panels.
Choosing A Fence Paint For Your Garden
Most fence paints look similar on the shelf, but the differences show once you're halfway down a long fence. These are the things worth weighing up before you buy.
Rough-Sawn Or Smooth-Planed Timber
Most garden fence panels are rough-sawn, with a fibrous surface that soaks up paint. Thinner fence paints work well here because they sink into the grain and don't sit in the fibres as thick blobs. Smooth-planed boards, such as on a modern slatted fence, take paint less readily and show brush marks more, so a paint that's described as suitable for both is the safer choice.
Check the label before you buy. Ronseal One Coat Fence Life is made for rough-sawn timber, while Fence Life Plus covers both.
Brushing Or Spraying
A fence sprayer gets round a long fence much faster than a brush, and it reaches into the overlaps on featheredge and lap panels where a brush struggles. The trade-off is overspray, so cover plants, paving, cars and anything else nearby, and don't spray on a breezy day. Thin, water-based fence paints suit sprayers best.
Brushing is slower but more controlled, and it's better for the top rails, posts and gravel boards. Spraying the panels and brushing the edges gets you the best of both. A wide block brush from our pick of the best paint brushes holds plenty of paint for rough timber.
Colour And How Much Paint You Need
Dark browns and oaks hide dirt and weathering well, while greys and sage greens suit modern gardens and composite decking. A pale colour over a dark old finish takes more coats, so try it on a couple of boards first, like the Cuprinol Garden Shades shown above. Whatever colour you choose, the sunniest run of fence fades first, so that's the stretch to check each spring.
For quantity, count your panels and compare them with the brand's figure, then add extra for a second coat and for thirsty, weathered timber. A 20 litre tin of West Lancs makes sense for a long boundary, but on a short fence a 5 litre tin of Ducksback will be plenty. Leftover paint keeps for touch-ups, and our guide to how long opened paint lasts explains how to store it.
Drying Time And The Weather
Fence paint needs a dry spell to do its job. Several of the paints here are touch dry or showerproof within an hour, according to their brands, which gives some breathing room if a shower blows through. Fence Life Plus can go onto damp wood, but soaking-wet boards will still give a patchy finish.
Oil-based paints such as T.A Paints take longer, with 12 to 24 hours before a second coat. Plan the job around the forecast and start early so the paint has time to dry before the evening dew.
Prep Before Painting
Fence paint won't stick well to green algae, moss or loose, flaking old coatings. Give the fence a scrub or a gentle pressure wash first, using the method in our guide to cleaning green algae off a fence, then let the timber dry fully. Replace any rotten boards and check the posts are sound, since paint won't save a fence that's leaning. If you're replacing posts anyway, our comparison of concrete or wooden fence posts covers the pros and cons.
Fence Paint Questions We Get Asked
Can you paint a fence when it's damp?
You can paint a damp fence with a paint that's made for it, such as Ronseal Fence Life Plus, but most fence paints need dry timber to soak in and bond. Wet boards dilute the paint and leave a patchy finish. Wait for a dry day after rain where possible and avoid painting if heavy rain is due within a few hours.
How many coats of fence paint do you need?
Most fences need one or two coats of fence paint, depending on the paint and the state of the timber. One coat products such as Johnstone's Woodcare are designed to cover in a single coat, while West Lancs needs two for the best finish. Weathered, grey timber and a big change from dark to light both call for a second coat.
Is it better to spray or brush fence paint?
Spraying is quicker on long fences and reaches into the overlaps of featheredge and lap panels, while brushing gives more control and less mess. Spraying the main panels and brushing the top rails, posts and edges gives you speed and a neat finish. Use a thin, water-based fence paint in a sprayer, cover nearby plants and paving, and avoid windy days.
Do you need to clean a fence before painting it?
Yes, a fence needs to be clean and dry before painting, or the new coat won't bond properly. Brush or wash off dirt, cobwebs, moss and green algae, and scrape away any flaking old paint. A pressure washer on a low setting works well, but leave the timber to dry for at least a day afterwards.
Is Cuprinol Ducksback worth paying more than Ronseal Fence Life Plus?
Cuprinol Ducksback is worth the extra if you'd rather brush and want a wider colour choice. In our side-by-side use it gave slightly better coverage than Ronseal Fence Life Plus, with a cleaner, non-drip application. The team is split on which we prefer, though. Fence Life Plus gives a similar finish and protection for a little less.
Is Ronseal Fence Life Plus too runny to brush?
We found Ronseal Fence Life Plus noticeably watery when brushing, so it got messy and splashed onto nearby surfaces. Put a dust sheet or some cardboard over plants and paving before you start. Its strengths are that it can go onto damp wood, which suits shaded fences, and that it works through a sprayer as well as by brush.
Which fence paint would you use for a long boundary?
West Lancs Garden Fence Paint is the one for a long boundary, as it comes in a 20 litre tin that keeps the cost down and stops you running out halfway along. Plan for two coats. If you want the job done quickly and cheaply, Ronseal One Coat Fence Life covers large rough-sawn fences, though it's less durable than Fence Life Plus.
Can you paint a red-brown fence a dark grey?
Yes. We painted a weathered red-brown fence dark charcoal grey to sit behind grey decking, and the darker colour changed the feel of the garden for very little effort. Going darker is the easier direction, because a pale colour over a dark old finish takes more coats, so test a pale shade on a couple of boards first.
Our Fence Paint Recommendation
Cuprinol Ducksback is the fence paint we'd pick for most gardens. The wax in it keeps the rain out, and in our testing it went on more cleanly and stretched a little further than Ronseal Fence Life Plus. That Ronseal is still the one for shaded fences that rarely dry out, as it can go onto damp wood.
For a long boundary on a budget, the 20 litre tin of West Lancs keeps the cost down, and T.A Paints is there when you want a colour nobody else makes.
Eddie spent five years as a self-employed painter and decorator before going part time to become one of the main writers at DIY Works. From garden fences to mist coats on fresh plaster, painting and decorating is his speciality.