The Best Garage Door Paints For Wooden And Metal Doors
Six paints that stand up to rain and sun on a tired garage door made of steel or timber.
Our quick verdict
Our pick of the best garage door paint is the Hammerite 5092848 Garage Door Paint, because it proved itself on our own vandalised roller door and suits both steel and timber doors. For a steel door with rust patches, start with the Ronseal No Rust Metal Paint, as it brushes straight onto rust without taking every spot back to bare metal.
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Our Picks At A Glance
- Check price of Hammerite 5092848 Garage Door Paint
Best Overall
Hammerite 5092848 Garage Door PaintSteel and timber garage doors that need a tough gloss finish
- Check price of Rust-Oleum All Surface Paint
Most Versatile
Rust-Oleum All Surface PaintPainting the door plus gates, trims and plastic fittings in one colour
- Check price of Dulux Weather Shield
Best All-Rounder
Dulux Weather ShieldTimber or metal doors where long weather protection matters most
- Check price of Fascinating Finishes Satin
- Check price of Ronseal No Rust Metal Paint
- Check price of Johnstone’s Weatherguard Exterior Gloss
Best Value Runner-Up
Johnstone’s Weatherguard Exterior GlossWood, metal or plastic doors in a wide choice of colours
What the door's made of settles most of this. Steel up-and-over and roller doors want a paint that grips metal and holds rust back, while timber needs an exterior wood and metal paint that copes with the seasons, and aluminium won't take most paints without a suitable primer. Prep counts just as much, because loose rust or flaking paint left underneath will bring the new coat away with it.
Only a handful of paints are made just for garage doors, so the six here include exterior and multi-surface paints that'll also do gates and railings.
How We Tested These Garage Door Paints
We've painted a number of garage doors at properties and units we own. Each paint was judged on how easily it went on, how well it covered, how many coats it needed, how the finish looked once dry and how it held up afterwards.
The photos below show one of those jobs. We have a garage that backs onto a lane, and the green steel roller door had been covered in graffiti. We painted it with Hammerite Garage Door Paint, which was very easy to apply, and the after photo shows the tags covered.
Beyond our own doors, we compared each paint's coverage, colour range, the surfaces it's made for and its value. Where we're quoting coverage, drying times or protection periods, those come from the brand and we've said so.
The Best Garage Door Paints We Recommend
Every paint below works outdoors on a garage door. Check whether your door is steel, aluminium or timber before you buy, as a couple are better suited to one than the other.
Best Overall
Hammerite 5092848 Garage Door Paint
Best for: Steel and timber garage doors that need a tough gloss finish
Check Price On AmazonHammerite's Garage Door Paint is one of the few paints made specifically for the job, and it's the one we used to cover the graffiti on our lane-side roller door. It was very easy to apply, and the before and after photos above show the result.
It works on metal and wooden doors and dries to a hard-wearing high gloss. Hammerite says it resists flaking and discolouration and helps stop rust building up. There are six colours, including the Chestnut shown in our featured photo, and brushes clean up with white spirit. The catch is that it only comes in 750 ml tins, so a double door means buying several.
What we like
- Made specifically for garage doors
- Covered graffiti on our steel roller door
- Suits wooden and metal doors
- Hard-wearing high gloss finish
- Resists flaking and discolouration according to Hammerite
- Six colours available
What to know
- Only sold in 750 ml tins, so larger doors need several
- Brushes need cleaning with white spirit
Our verdict
Hammerite Garage Door Paint is our first choice for most doors, steel or timber, because it's made for exactly this job and went on with no fuss over a door covered in tags. It isn't the cheapest paint here. If you want to skip the primer on bare surfaces, go for Rust-Oleum All Surface Paint, and for a door with active rust, start with Ronseal No Rust Metal Paint.
Most Versatile
Rust-Oleum All Surface Paint
Best for: Painting the door plus gates, trims and plastic fittings in one colour
Check Price On AmazonRust-Oleum's All Surface Paint is a paint and primer in one, so it goes straight onto wood, metal, plastic and other surfaces without a separate primer coat. That makes it handy for a garage door with plastic trims or a side gate you'd like in the same colour.
It's touch dry in 2 hours according to Rust-Oleum, but it takes 7 days to reach full hardness, so go gently with the door that first week. Plan on a second coat too, as one didn't give the best finish in our testing, and leave 16 hours between them. The brand quotes up to 9 square metres per litre. There are 10 colours, which is a wider choice than Hammerite's dedicated paint.
What we like
- Paint and primer in one
- Works on wood, metal, plastic and more
- Up to 9 square metres per litre according to Rust-Oleum
- Touch dry in 2 hours
- 10 colours to pick from
What to know
- Needed two coats for the best finish in our testing
- 16 hours between coats and 7 days to reach full hardness
Our verdict
A steel door with plastic trims and a timber side gate is the kind of mixed job Rust-Oleum All Surface handles in one colour, with no separate primer to buy. The 10 colours give you more to choose from than most paints here. Patience is the cost, as it needed two coats in our testing and each one wants 16 hours before the next.
Best All-Rounder
Dulux Weather Shield
Best for: Timber or metal doors where long weather protection matters most
Check Price On AmazonDulux Weather Shield is an exterior gloss for wood and metal that Dulux backs with up to 10 years of weatherproof protection, the longest guarantee of any paint here. It's easy to brush out and touch dry in 2 hours, with nine colours to choose from.
To get the most from it on a garage door, put a primer on first, then two coats of Weather Shield, letting each one dry fully. That's more work than a self-priming paint, and it's one of the dearer options in this list, but the long guarantee makes sense on a door you don't want to repaint for a good while.
What we like
- Up to 10 years of weatherproof protection according to Dulux
- Touch dry in 2 hours
- Nine colours
- Brushes out easily on timber and metal
What to know
- Needs a primer before the two top coats
- One of the dearer paints in this roundup
Our verdict
Dulux Weather Shield is right for anyone happy to prime and put on two coats in return for a long guarantee. It suits timber doors in particular. If you'd rather get the job done with fewer steps, Rust-Oleum All Surface skips the primer, and Hammerite Garage Door Paint is made for the job.
Best Value
Fascinating Finishes Satin
Best for: Modern anthracite grey garage doors on a budget
Check Price On AmazonFascinating Finishes makes this satin paint for front and garage doors, and it comes in anthracite grey. If you're after that modern grey look to match new windows, it's a cheaper way to get it than a respray.
It's self-priming and used straight from the tin by brush or roller. The brand quotes 6 to 7 square metres from a 500 ml tin, showerproof in 2 hours and up to 5 years of protection. The satin finish is more forgiving of small dents in a metal door than a high gloss, which shows every ripple. It's also a good match if you're giving the house door a fresh coat, and our guide to the best front door paints covers more options.
What we like
- Popular anthracite grey colour
- Self-priming and ready to use
- Satin finish hides small dents better than gloss
- Showerproof in 2 hours according to the brand
- Up to 5 years of protection
What to know
- Limited colour choice
- 500 ml tins mean buying several for a double door
Our verdict
Anthracite grey on a budget is the whole point of Fascinating Finishes. It's self-priming, goes on by brush or roller straight from the tin, and the satin finish is kinder to a dented steel door than a high gloss. The colour range is very limited, though, so for another shade Johnstone's Weatherguard gives you nine to choose from.
Best For Rust
Ronseal No Rust Metal Paint
Best for: Treating rust spots on steel garage doors
Check Price On AmazonRonseal No Rust goes straight onto rust, which saves you taking every spot back to bare metal. Ronseal quotes up to 6 years of rust protection and recommends brushing it on, with 1 to 2 hours between coats and two or three more coats if needed.
The downside is coverage. It's sold in 250 ml tins and covers 5 square metres per litre, so painting a whole garage door with it gets expensive. We'd use it on the rusty patches along the bottom edge or around the lock, then paint the full door with Hammerite or Rust-Oleum once it's dry.
What we like
- Brushes directly onto rust
- Up to 6 years of rust protection according to Ronseal
- Dries in under 2 hours between coats
- Smooth finish according to Ronseal
What to know
- Only sold in 250 ml tins
- 5 square metres per litre is low coverage for a whole door
Our verdict
Think of Ronseal No Rust as a repair paint rather than a whole-door paint. It goes straight onto rust and Ronseal quotes six years of protection, which makes it the right tin for bubbling patches along the bottom edge or around the lock. The small tins and low coverage make it a costly way to do the full door, so treat the patches and then finish with Hammerite Garage Door Paint.
Best Value Runner-Up
Johnstone’s Weatherguard Exterior Gloss
Best for: Wood, metal or plastic doors in a wide choice of colours
Check Price On AmazonJohnstone's Weatherguard is an exterior gloss that goes onto wood, metal and plastic, so it covers most garage doors and the trims around them. Johnstone's says it protects against blistering, cracking and peeling for up to 6 years when applied properly.
There are nine colours and the high gloss finish looks smart on a timber door. In our testing it gave off a strong smell while drying, so it's not one to use in a closed garage, and it needed two coats for the best finish. Do the job with the door open and a dry day ahead.
What we like
- Nine colours
- Up to 6 years of protection according to Johnstone's
- Suits wood, metal and plastic
- High gloss finish
- Easy to apply by brush
What to know
- Strong odour while drying in our testing
- Needed two coats for the best finish
Our verdict
Johnstone's Weatherguard is good value for a garage door that needs a colour change, and it handles timber and plastic trims too, as long as you paint with the door open. If you'd prefer a paint made for garage doors, choose Hammerite, and for the longest guarantee on timber, Dulux Weather Shield is better.
Choosing The Right Paint For Your Garage Door
The right garage door paint depends on what the door's made of, its condition and how much prep you're willing to do. Here's what we look at before buying.
Steel, Aluminium Or Timber Doors
Most up-and-over and roller doors are steel, and steel needs a paint that bonds to metal and holds back rust. Hammerite, Rust-Oleum and Ronseal No Rust are all made with metal in mind. Aluminium doors need a primer that's suitable for non-ferrous metal before most paints will stick, so check the tin.
Timber doors move with the weather, so an exterior wood and metal paint such as Dulux Weather Shield or Johnstone's Weatherguard is the safer choice. Treat any knots and bare wood first, as you would with any exterior wood paint job.
Dealing With Rust And Old Paint
Paint over loose rust or flaking paint and it'll lift again within months. Wire brush or sand the rusty areas back to a firm surface, then treat them with a rust paint like Ronseal No Rust. Where the old coating is peeling badly, it's quicker to strip it, and our roundup of the best paint strippers for wood and metal has options that work on garage doors.
Wash the whole door with warm soapy water to get rid of grime, then rinse and let it dry. A light sand over sound old gloss gives the new paint a key.
Gloss Or Satin Finish
Gloss is tough and easy to wipe clean, but it shows every dent and ripple in a metal door. Satin, such as Fascinating Finishes, hides small marks better and gives a more modern look. On a ribbed roller door, either works well because the profile breaks up the reflections.
Primer And Number Of Coats
Self-priming paints like Rust-Oleum All Surface and Fascinating Finishes save a step, though Rust-Oleum still needed two coats on our door. Dulux Weather Shield needs a primer underneath. Factor the extra coat and drying time into your plans, especially with Rust-Oleum, which needs 16 hours between coats.
Brush Or Roller
A good-quality brush works the paint into the grooves of a ribbed door and around handles and edges. A small foam or short pile roller speeds up flat panels and gives a smoother finish on smooth steel. Our guides to the best paint brushes and best paint rollers cover tools that suit gloss and satin paints.
More Questions About Painting Garage Doors
Do you need to prime a metal garage door before painting?
A metal garage door needs priming where there's bare metal or treated rust, unless you're using a self-priming paint such as Rust-Oleum All Surface. Sound, previously painted steel only needs cleaning and a light sand. Aluminium doors need a primer suitable for non-ferrous metal, because most paints won't bond to bare aluminium.
Can you paint over rust on a garage door?
You can paint over rust on a garage door with a paint designed for it, such as Ronseal No Rust Metal Paint. Wire brush off any loose, flaky rust first so the paint goes onto a firm surface. Standard paints won't stop rust spreading underneath, so treat the rusty patches before painting the whole door.
What is the best weather to paint a garage door?
Paint a garage door on a dry, mild day with no rain forecast for several hours. Avoid direct midday sun on a dark steel door, as the metal heats up and the paint dries too fast, leaving brush marks. Cold, damp mornings slow drying and can leave the finish dull, so start once any dew has gone.
Can you use masonry or fence paint on a garage door?
Masonry and fence paints aren't suitable for garage doors. Masonry paint is made for brick and render and won't bond well to metal or planed timber, and fence paint is too thin for a hard-wearing finish. Use a dedicated garage door paint or an exterior wood and metal paint instead.
Would you buy Hammerite Garage Door Paint again for a double garage door?
Yes, it covered the graffiti on our lane-side steel roller door and was very easy to apply. The catch for a double door is that it only comes in 750 ml tins, so you'll need several. It suits both steel and timber doors, and the six colours include the Chestnut in our featured photo. Brushes clean up with white spirit.
Can you paint a whole garage door with Ronseal No Rust Metal Paint?
You can, but it's costly. Ronseal No Rust is a repair paint that goes straight onto rust, and it's sold in 250 ml tins at 5 square metres per litre. We'd use it on rusty patches along the bottom edge or around the lock, then paint the full door with Hammerite Garage Door Paint or Rust-Oleum All Surface once it's dry.
Is it safe to use Johnstone's Weatherguard Exterior Gloss in a closed garage?
No, paint it with the garage door open. Johnstone's Weatherguard gave off a strong smell while drying in our testing, so it needs plenty of fresh air around it. Pick a dry day and allow for two coats, which is what it needed for the best finish. It goes onto wood, metal and plastic in nine colours.
Which garage door paint gives a modern anthracite grey?
Fascinating Finishes Satin comes in anthracite grey and is a cheaper way to get that look than a respray. It's self-priming and goes on by brush or roller straight from the tin. The satin finish hides small dents in a metal door better than a high gloss would, but the 500 ml tins mean buying several for a double door.
Which Garage Door Paint We'd Choose
Hammerite Garage Door Paint is our top pick for steel and timber doors, and it did a tidy job of covering the graffiti on our own roller door. Rust-Oleum All Surface Paint is the alternative when you'd rather skip the primer and match gates or trims in the same colour.
Treat any rust with Ronseal No Rust before you start, and choose Dulux Weather Shield if a long guarantee on a timber door matters most.
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.