The Best Gloss Paints For Achieving The Perfect Finish
Six gloss paints for skirting boards and doors and stair spindles that need a crisp shiny finish.
Our quick verdict
Our pick of the best gloss paint is the Dulux Quick Dry Gloss, because you can do a whole house of skirting without the solvent smell, and Dulux says the white won't yellow. For busy hallways, doors and banisters, the Johnstone's Hardwearing Non Drip is the better choice, as its tough solvent-based finish stands up to regular knocks.
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Our Picks At A Glance
- Check price of Dulux Quick Dry Gloss
Best Overall
Dulux Quick Dry GlossInterior woodwork and metal where low odour and fast drying matter
- Check price of Johnstone's Hardwearing Non Drip
Best For Durability
Johnstone's Hardwearing Non DripBusy hallways, doors and banisters that take regular knocks
- Check price of Leyland Trade High Gloss Paint
Best High Gloss
Leyland Trade High Gloss PaintTrade-style high shine on banisters doors and skirting
- Check price of Dulux Once Gloss Paint
- Check price of Rust-Oleum All Surface
- Check price of Ronseal Weatherproof
Bedroom skirting and a hallway banister need different glosses. Woodwork in quieter rooms suits a water-based paint that dries fast and keeps its white, while doors and banisters that take daily knocks justify the longer wait and stronger smell of a solvent-based gloss. Outdoor timber wants a paint made for the weather, and one-coat claims only hold up over sound, primed woodwork.
The six below cover indoor, outdoor and mixed-surface glosses, including one that'll go on plastic and ceramic.
How We Tested These Gloss Paints
Across the rentals and Airbnbs we manage, gloss goes on something almost every time we decorate. Skirting boards, architraves, internal doors, stair spindles and banisters all get a fresh coat, and when a brand brings out a new formula, we try it on the next job that comes up.
For each paint we looked at the finish, how easily it brushed out, how many coats it needed, the drying time, how strong the smell was and how the finish held up afterwards. Non-yellowing was a big one for us, because nothing makes a freshly decorated room look tired faster than yellowed white woodwork.
White is our favourite colour for gloss because of the clean, contemporary look it gives, but most of these paints come in other shades too. Whichever colour you choose, a good brush makes more difference to a gloss finish than to any other paint. Our guide to the best paint brushes covers brushes for woodwork, and a small foam roller from our paint roller roundup speeds up flat door panels.
We also weighed up surface compatibility, colour choice, coverage and value for money. Drying times, coverage and guarantees come from the brands unless we've said otherwise.
Watch Our Test
Skirting Board Paint: Satin, Gloss, Eggshell or Stained? We've Tested Them All To Find The Best!
The Best Gloss Paints We Recommend
Five of these are for interior woodwork and metal, and Ronseal Weatherproof is for outdoor timber. We've noted where a paint needed a second coat on our jobs.
Best Overall
Dulux Quick Dry Gloss
Best for: Interior woodwork and metal where low odour and fast drying matter
Check Price On AmazonQuick Dry Gloss is Dulux's water-based gloss for wood and metal, and it's a good pick when you need a room back in use quickly. It's low odour, which makes a big difference when you're painting a whole house of skirting boards. Dulux also says it's touch dry in an hour, self-undercoating and non-yellowing.
The finish is a high sheen. On our woodwork it needed two coats, and we left 6 hours between them for the best result, so it's a two-visit job rather than a one-hour one. There's a huge colour range, and it comes in 750 ml and 2.5 litre tins.
What we like
- Touch dry in 1 hour according to Dulux
- Water-based and non-yellowing
- Low odour while painting
- Self-undercoating on wood and metal
- Huge range of colours
- 750 ml and 2.5 litre tins
What to know
- Needed two coats on our woodwork with a 6 hour wait between them
Our verdict
Low smell and a white that Dulux says won't yellow make Quick Dry the easiest gloss to live with while you decorate. It suits skirting, architraves and doors in a lived-in home, and the huge colour range covers anything beyond white. Plan the day around two coats, as ours needed both with a six hour gap between them.
Best For Durability
Johnstone's Hardwearing Non Drip
Best for: Busy hallways, doors and banisters that take regular knocks
Check Price On AmazonJohnstone's Hardwearing Non Drip is a solvent-based, non-drip gloss that doesn't run down door edges. It dries to a high sheen that's tough enough for hallways, stairs and doors in a busy house.
A tin goes a long way, with Johnstone's quoting up to 17 square metres per litre, the most of any paint here, and it can go outside as well as in. Being solvent-based, it takes much longer to dry than Dulux Quick Dry, with the brand giving 16 to 24 hours, so plan to keep the room clear overnight. The colour range is limited compared with Dulux.
What we like
- Non-drip formula that won't run on vertical surfaces
- Hard-wearing high sheen finish
- Up to 17 square metres per litre according to Johnstone's
- Suitable for interior and exterior use
- Stands up to heavy traffic
What to know
- Limited colour choice
- 16 to 24 hours drying time
Our verdict
Choose Johnstone's Hardwearing Non Drip for doors, banisters and skirting in busy areas where toughness matters more than drying time. It covers a lot of woodwork per tin. If you'd rather avoid the solvent smell and long wait, Dulux Quick Dry is easier to live with.
Best High Gloss
Leyland Trade High Gloss Paint
Best for: Trade-style high shine on banisters doors and skirting
Check Price On AmazonLeyland Trade is well known among decorators for good paint at a fair price, and its High Gloss gives a deep, durable shine. It's thick and covers well on a range of surfaces, and it works inside and out.
The drawback we found is its high VOC content, so open the windows and give the room a good airing. Our guide on getting rid of paint smells has tips for that. There are five colours to choose from.
What we like
- Deep high-shine finish
- Thick paint that covers well
- Interior and exterior use
- Five colours
What to know
- High VOC content in our testing
- Needs good ventilation while painting
Our verdict
Banisters, internal doors and skirting with a proper high-gloss shine are where Leyland Trade comes into its own. It's thick, easy to apply and leaves a durable finish once dry. Ventilation is the price you pay, given the high VOC content, so keep windows open, and anyone sensitive to smells will find Dulux Quick Dry far gentler.
Best Value
Dulux Once Gloss Paint
Best for: Brilliant white woodwork in one coat over a primed surface
Check Price On AmazonDulux Once is a one-coat gloss, and our skirting boards bore that out. We primed first, then laid the gloss on in a thick, even coat, and it didn't need a second. That saves a full day on a big job. The tin in our photo is the Pure Brilliant White we used.
It works on wood and metal, and it can go on radiators as long as the heating is switched off, which makes it a handy alternative to a dedicated radiator paint. Dulux quotes 12 square metres per litre and 16 hours to dry fully. It gave off a fair amount of odour while we were painting, so keep a window open.
What we like
- One coat covered our primed skirting boards
- High gloss white finish
- 12 square metres per litre according to Dulux
- Suits wood, metal and radiators
- Saves a second coat on big jobs
What to know
- Takes 16 hours to dry fully
- Noticeable odour during application
Our verdict
Dulux Once is good value for anyone painting a lot of woodwork white who wants to finish in one coat. Prime first and lay it on thickly. If smell or drying time is a problem, Dulux Quick Dry is the better choice, though it needs two coats.
Most Versatile
Rust-Oleum All Surface
Best for: Gloss on mixed surfaces like plastic, ceramic, metal and wood
Check Price On AmazonRust-Oleum's All Surface gloss goes onto wood, metal, plastic, ceramic and even rust, which makes it useful for odd jobs like a plastic planter, a metal handrail or a ceramic plant pot. It's a paint and primer in one, though Rust-Oleum recommends a separate primer on non-ferrous or galvanised metal.
The brand says it's touch dry in 2 hours and hard in 8. There are 14 gloss colours, and it comes in 250 ml and 750 ml tins, which suits small projects. Coverage is lower than the other gloss paints, at 9 square metres per litre, so it's less economical for a whole house of woodwork.
What we like
- Paint and primer in one
- Works on wood, metal, plastic and ceramic
- 14 gloss colours
- Touch dry in 2 hours according to Rust-Oleum
- Small 250 ml tins for one-off jobs
What to know
- Only 9 square metres per litre
- Non-ferrous and galvanised metal still need a primer
Our verdict
Rust-Oleum All Surface is the gloss for small jobs on awkward surfaces, and the 250 ml tin means you're not paying for paint you won't use. Keep a tin for plastic, ceramic and metal odds and ends. For skirting boards and doors across a whole house, Johnstone's Hardwearing covers far more per litre.
Best Exterior
Ronseal Weatherproof
Best for: Outdoor timber like doors, window frames and fascias
Check Price On AmazonRonseal Weatherproof is an exterior gloss for wood, and it's the one in this list to use outside. It goes onto bare or previously painted timber, and Ronseal says it's weatherproof an hour after application, which helps when the British weather changes its mind mid-job.
Ronseal guarantees it for up to 10 years and quotes 12 square metres per litre. Colours include red, grey and blue. Plan for two coats for the best result. For more options on outdoor timber, our pick of the best exterior wood paints covers sheds, cladding and garden furniture.
What we like
- Weatherproof in 1 hour according to Ronseal
- Up to 10 year guarantee
- Goes on bare or painted wood
- 12 square metres per litre
What to know
- Needs two coats for the best result
- Smaller colour range than Dulux
Our verdict
Ronseal Weatherproof is the gloss to take outside. Being weatherproof an hour after it goes on matters on a front door or window frame when the forecast is unsettled, and a guarantee of up to ten years means fewer trips up the ladder. Sand and prime any bare patches on old frames first, and allow for two coats.
How To Choose A Gloss Paint
Gloss paints look similar in the tin, but the base, the finish and the prep they need all affect how your woodwork looks a year later. These are the things we think about first.
Water-Based Or Solvent-Based Gloss
Water-based gloss, such as Dulux Quick Dry, dries fast, smells less and stays white for longer. Brushes wash out in water. Solvent-based gloss, such as Johnstone's Hardwearing or Leyland Trade, gives a deeper shine and a tougher finish, but it takes hours longer to dry and white solvent gloss can yellow, especially in darker rooms. Our guide to stopping gloss paint going yellow explains why.
Gloss Or Satin Finish
Gloss gives the highest shine and is the easiest to wipe clean, but it shows every dent and brush mark. Satinwood has a softer sheen that hides imperfections and looks more modern. If you're changing from one to the other, our guide on painting satinwood over gloss covers the prep.
Prep And Undercoat
Sand old gloss with fine sandpaper to take the shine off, wipe off the dust and fill any dents. Seal knots in bare wood so they don't bleed through, and prime bare timber. Self-undercoating paints like Dulux Quick Dry save a step, but a primer or undercoat still gives a better finish on bare wood.
Brushes, Rollers And Technique
A good synthetic brush is essential for water-based gloss, while natural bristle suits solvent-based paint. Load the brush, lay the paint on, then finish with light strokes in one direction along the grain. Don't keep going back over areas that have started to dry. Mask the wall edge if your hand isn't steady, and our tips on how to paint skirting boards walk through the process step by step.
Colour Choice For Woodwork
Brilliant white is the safe choice for skirting, doors and frames because it goes with any wall colour. Coloured gloss on doors and banisters can look striking, but it shows every chip, so keep a small tin for touch-ups.
Drying Time And Ventilation
Water-based gloss is touch dry in an hour or two, while solvent-based gloss needs most of a day. Leave doors propped open while they dry so they don't stick to the frame. Keep the room ventilated, especially with high-VOC paints like Leyland Trade.
Gloss Paint Questions We Get Asked
Do you need undercoat before gloss paint?
Bare wood needs a primer or undercoat before gloss, but sound painted woodwork only needs a light sand and a wipe. Self-undercoating glosses, such as Dulux Quick Dry, can go straight onto previously painted surfaces. On our skirting boards, priming first let Dulux Once Gloss cover in a single coat.
Why does white gloss paint go yellow?
White gloss goes yellow mainly because solvent-based paints contain oils that darken over time, especially in rooms with little natural light. Heat from radiators and fumes from cooking speed it up. Water-based glosses, such as Dulux Quick Dry, are non-yellowing and stay whiter for longer.
How many coats of gloss paint do you need?
Most gloss paints need two coats for an even finish, especially over a different colour or bare primer. Dulux Quick Dry needed two coats on our woodwork. One-coat products, such as Dulux Once, can cover in a single thick coat over a primed surface, as long as you apply it evenly and don't overbrush.
Can you use gloss paint on walls?
You can use gloss paint on walls, but it's rarely a good idea, because the high shine shows every bump, crack and filler repair. Gloss is made for woodwork and metal. For walls, an emulsion or a dedicated kitchen or bathroom paint gives a better result and is easier to touch up.
Is water-based or solvent-based gloss better for skirting boards?
Water-based gloss such as Dulux Quick Dry Gloss is the better choice for most skirting, as it's quick to dry, keeps its white and doesn't fill the house with fumes. Solvent-based gloss such as Johnstone's Hardwearing Non Drip earns its place where knocks are constant, with a deeper shine and a tougher finish, but it's far slower to dry and white solvent gloss can yellow.
Does Dulux Once Gloss really cover in one coat?
It did on our skirting boards. We primed them first and laid the gloss on thick and even, and one coat was enough. Dulux quotes 16 hours to dry fully, and it gave off a fair amount of odour while we were painting, so keep a window open. The tin we used was Pure Brilliant White.
Can you use gloss paint on a radiator?
Yes, Dulux Once Gloss can go on radiators as long as the heating is off, so you don't need a separate radiator paint for a white finish. It works on wood and metal, and Dulux quotes 12 square metres per litre. It has a noticeable odour while you apply it, so keep the window open.
Which gloss paint has the least smell?
Dulux Quick Dry Gloss is the one to pick. It's water-based and low odour, so it's the easiest to live with while a room is being painted. Leyland Trade High Gloss had a high VOC content in our testing, and Dulux Once Gloss had a noticeable odour, so open the windows if you choose either.
The Gloss Paint We'd Choose
Dulux Quick Dry Gloss is our top pick for interior woodwork, with low odour, fast drying and a white that doesn't yellow. Johnstone's Hardwearing Non Drip is the alternative for busy doors and banisters that need a tougher shine.
For a one-coat white over primer, Dulux Once is good value, and Ronseal Weatherproof is the one to use outdoors.
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.