Stop the peeling! I tested 8 brands to find the best glass paint and paint that stays put on glass. See which one survived the dishwasher!
We’ve all been there, you spend so much time painting a beautiful piece of glass, only to have the paint peel off like a bad sunburn a few days later!
It’s beyond frustrating!
Welcome to Craft Lab, where I skip the fluff and give you my honest opinion on what actually works.
Today, We are putting the best glass paint contenders to the ultimate durability test. I grabbed eight different paint from my own shelves…mismatched colors, sprays, and brush-ons…to find the paint that stays put on glass.
The Secret to Success: How to Paint Glass
Before you even pick up a brush to determine the best glass paint, we have to talk about how to paint glass so it actually lasts. The first rule is simple:
If it isn’t clean, you’ve already failed.
For this experiment, I used 91% rubbing alcohol to scrub my glass panes completely clean. I also wore gloves throughout the process because even a tiny bit of natural grease from your fingertips can ruin the bond of the best glass paint.
If you want a paint that stays put on glass, you cannot skip the prep!
The Supply List: What I Tested
I tested a mix of popular brands and affordable alternatives. Whether you are looking for glass paint for a wine glass or a glass paint spray, I’ve got you covered:
Brush-On Contenders
- DecoArt Indoor/Outdoor (Dollar Tree): A budget multi surface paint that also states it is a glass paint for painting on glass.
- Murano Glass Paint: A transparent glass paint for a stained glass look.
- FolkArt Multi Surface: A thicker satin acrylic, which I often use.
- Delta Ceramcoat Multi Surface: Another multi surface acrylic contender that I have in my paint arsenal.
Aerosol (Spray Paint) Contenders
- Rust-Oleum 2X Ultra Cover: A classic paint that I use a lot. It does not specifically claim to be a glass spray paint.
- Krylon Fusion All-In-One: Known for strong bonding, it specifically claims to be able to paint on glass.
- Krylon ColorMaxx: Another in the Krylon line that claims it can paint on glass.
- Behr Premium Spray Paint: The wildcard of the bunch. I have never used it before, and it does not claim to paint on glass, but I thought we’d see how it does.
Prepping the Paint Samples
I’m so excited to figure out which one of these is the best glass paint.
Brush Ons:
I used a square pane of glass for the brush on paints. I sectioned the pane of glass with painters tape, so they each had their own space.
The brush ons received one coat of paint, so you could see the actual coverage. They were allowed to dry for a minimum of 24 hours, and then they were put into the oven to fully cure.
The directions were the same for all:
- Place the painted piece in a cold oven
- Set the temperature to 350ºF
- Once it hits the temperature, leave it to bake for 30 minutes
- After 30 minutes, turn off the oven and allow it to cool in the oven
*This, of course, is for glass pieces that have the ability to go into the oven.
Spray Paints:
For the spray paints, I used a round glass cutting board (because I accidentally smashed the original pane when I was shaking the spray paint bottles…oopsie!). I sectioned it off with painters tape as well.
I painted two to three coats for each, depending on how they covered. You can see more on that in the video.
Then, I allowed them to dry 24-36 hours before testing.
The Torture Tests
I didn’t take it easy on these paints in the tests because if you are looking for the best glass paint, you can’t go easy.
I put them through the wringer to find a paint that stays put on glass.
- The Scratch Test: I went at them with my fingernails and then a quarter.
- The Tape Test: I used heavy duty packing tape to see if any of the best glass paint would lift.
- The Dishwasher Test: I threw them all in the dishwasher to see if any were going to be paint that stays on glass and how well, so I could choose a paint that is dishwasher safe.
Watch the Full Craft Lab Testing Process for the Best Glass Paint!
Here’s the video. If you are looking for the best glass paint, I think you will find it very helpful!
Be sure to follow me on YouTube so you don’t miss any videos!
Testing to Search for the Best Glass Paint or Glass Paints
Round 1: The Scratch Test
I started with my fingernail scratch. I scratched as hard as I could, but my nails aren’t the strongest and didn’t do any damage, so I had to level up and grab a quarter to really dig in.
The Brush on Results:
- Murano Glass Paint: I had to really dig in, but I was able to get some paint off.
- DecoArt Outdoor Paint (Dollar Tree): This one performed better than I expected. I did have to dig in, but it came off easier than the Murano.
- FolkArt Multi Surface Paint: It would not want to come off.
- CeramCoat Multi Surface Paint: It did not want to come off, but I did get a chip.
The Winner: FolkArt Multi Surface and the Murano Glass Paint tied, but they have very different looks.
The Spray Paint Results:
- Behr Paint: It came off pretty easily with the quarter.
- Krylon ColorMax Paint: I had to work at this one. It was definitely harder to get off than the Behr Paint.
- Krylon Fusion Paint: This one was very hard to scrape off; it did not go directly to the glass.
- RustOleum 2X Ultra Cover: This one did well. It took some work to scrape it off. It was a bit easier to scrape off the Krylon Fusio,n but it was close.
The Winner: Krylon Fusion Paint
Round 2: Tape Test
I used a heavy duty packing tape and burnished it on to get the best grip before pulling it off. This is to test the adhesion onto the glass.
The Brush on Results:
- Murano Glass Paint: No paint pulled off
- DecoArt Outdoor Paint (Dollar Tree): No paint pulled off
- FolkArt Multi Surface Paint: No paint pulled off
- CeramCoat Multi Surface Paint: No paint pulled off
The Winner: All paints performed equally well and held on during the tape test.
The Spray Paint Results:
- Behr Paint: No paint pulled off
- Krylon ColorMax Paint: No paint pulled off
- Krylon Fusion Paint: No paint pulled off
- RustOleum 2X Ultra Cover: No paint pulled off
The Winner: All paints performed equally well and held on during the tape test.
Round 3: Dishwasher Test
This is the ultimate test, especially if you are going to wash something you paint. Whether wine glasses, cutting boards, or any glass you may want to wash. It’s also a great durability test.
I put them in the top rack of the dishwasher and did it on a high heat wash.
The Brush on Results:
Let’s start with the brush ons. As mentioned earlier, these were all baked, per the directions, and all of these mentioned top rack dishwasher safe.
- Murano Glass Paint: No paint
- DecoArt Outdoor Paint (Dollar Tree): No paint pulled off
- FolkArt Multi Surface Paint: No paint pulled off
- CeramCoat Multi Surface Paint: No paint pulled off
The Winner: All of the brush ons came out of the dishwasher unscathed. All tied as a win for these.
The Spray Paint Results:
None of these mentions being dishwasher safe, so let’s see what happened.
- Behr Paint: This paint definitely took the hardest hit and most definitely is not dishwasher safe.
- Krylon ColorMax Paint: This paint did have different areas of visible wear.
- Krylon Fusion Paint: This paint did okay, but did start to peel on one side. It almost looks like it melted a bit.
- RustOleum 2X Ultra Cover: This was the standout. The only barely visible areas re where I can see additional wear are where I had already scraped
The Winner: For the dishwasher test, I have to give a high score to the Rust Oleum 2X Ultra Cover. The definite stands out.
The Overall Result and Shimmer Scale Ratings
Are you ready to see which paint(s) were determined to be the best glass paint?
All these paints probably have a place in the craft world. It just depends on whether you are budget-conscious, how durable you need it to be, and the look or finish you are after.
My specific goal for today’s Craft Lab test was to see which paint stays put on glass. I was looking for durability, and of course, a paint that is dishwasher safe would be might just be the best glass paint.
Here are my Shimmer Scale Ratings:
Craft Lab Shimmer Scale:
10 = Worth It
1 = A Waste
Brush On Ratings
- Murano Glass Paint Rating: 10
- It is clear and has a different look from the other ones. It’s durable, and I like the way it went on.
- DecorArt Outdoor Paint (Dollar Tree) Rating: 7
- I think it performed pretty well. I would say it didn’t cover as well as others, but it’s still a strong option.
- CeramCoat Multi Surface Paint Rating: 9
- This one performed well, covered well, but scraped off a bit easier than the FolkArt. Definitely a strong contender.
- FolkArt Multi Surface Paint Rating: 10
- This is the gold standard; it covered the best and was the most durable. I wouldn’t hesitate to continue using this one on projects in the future.
Spray Paint Ratings
I would like to say one last time, the spray paints were never advertised as being dishwasher safe, and Behr and Rust-Oleum never specifically mention glass on their labels. I wanted to test them despite that to find the best durability.
- Behr Spray Paint Rating: 5
- It did a decent job covering and holding on. The finish wasn’t as smooth as the others, and it didn’t hand onto the glass as well as the others. I imagine it would be a fine paint for wood and other surfaces.
- Krylon ColorMax Spray Paint Rating: 7
- This was a strong contender until the dishwasher.
- Krylon Fusion Spray Paint Rating: 9
- After the scratch test, I really thought this was going to be the best glass paint for the spray paint category. However, it lost its edge in the dishwasher, but I would not hesitate to use this on many other projects.
- Rust Oleum 2X Ultra Cover: 10
- This one performed well in all of the challenges and held up remarkably well in the dishwasher, earning the best glass paint rating.
I would not hesitate to use the Rust Oleum 2X Ultra Cover, the Murano Glass, and the FolkArt Multi Surface paints in future projects because I believe they are able to hold up under harsh conditions and wear and tear.
I have to give those three the title of The Best Glass Paint.
More Fun Glass Projects with Surprising Results
- Very Merry Martini Glasses Craft Tutorial
- Glass Pumpkin Decorations for Halloween
- Glass Ornaments Made Easy: Decorating with Paint [Video]
- Acrylic Paint Pouring on Vases DIY: Transform your glassware in 5 easy steps
Thanks for stopping by! Remember: Life’s too short not to shimmer, so grab your glue gun and your glitter!™
Mona