Best Clear Coat Paint for 2023 (TOP 10)

Sometimes it might be quite difficult to find the best clear coat paint. With every niche market offering so many different products, it makes sense that this is the case.

Unfortunately, this very fact can make it incredibly difficult to find the item that best suits your needs, which is why we’ve put together this clear coat paint buying guide.

Our Favorites:

Our Favorite Clear Coat Paint Reviews:

Bestseller No. 1
FolkArt Acrylic Craft Paint Softtouch Top Coat, 2 oz, Clear
  • Give your craft projects a luxurious velvety-soft finish
  • Waterbased, non-toxic
  • Made in USA
Bestseller No. 3
Minwax 233334444 Polycrylic Protective Wood Finish, Clear Satin, ½ Pint
  • PROTECT WOOD SURFACES – Minwax Polycrylic Protective Finish protects and adds beauty to your interior wood projects, including woodwork, furniture, doors and cabinets. The clear top coat protects against scratches, spills, dirt and more.
  • CRYSTAL CLEAR FINISH THAT LASTS – The crystal clear finished offered in this protective coating is ideal for use over all Minwax Oil-Based and Water-Based Stains and colors, as well as all wood species including light woods like maple, ash and birch.
  • SATIN SHEEN – Give your wood projects a sleek finish with this satin clear varnish. It not only protects the natural beauty of the wood, but offers an attractive, classic sheen for a modern and subtle look. It’s non-yellowing, non-ambering and low odor.
  • ULTRA FAST DRYING – Get more done with this protective poly coating. It’s a fast-drying clear coat, which allows for quick recoats after 2 hours, letting you get projects done faster. Be sure to apply with a high-quality synthetic bristle brush.
  • EASY CLEAN UP – This water-based wood finish allows for easy soap and water clean-up, so you don’t have to stress about spills and big messes.
SaleBestseller No. 4
Minwax 356100000 One Coat Polyurethane, Quart, Gloss
  • DRIES IN TWO HOURS – Complete your wood projects 3x faster. Minwax One Coat Polyurethane Protective Finish is a crystal clear, protective top coat that dries in just two hours and cleans up easily with soap and water.
  • PROTECT WOOD SURFACES – The advanced formulation in this clear top coat provides the same level of durability in one coat the is comparable to three coats of a conventional polyurethane. Use it to easily protect and add beauty to your wood projects.
  • GLOSS SHEEN – Give your wood projects a sleek finish with this gloss clear varnish. It not only protects the natural beauty of the wood, but offers a shiny, sleek sheen for a modern look.
  • EASY CLEANUP – Get more done with this protective poly coating. It’s an ultra fast-drying crystal clear coat that is non-ambering, and cleans up easily with just soap and warm water.
  • A BRAND YOU CAN TRUST – Minwax is America’s leading brand of wood finishing and wood care projects. Since 1904, we have been inspiring consumers to Keep on Finishing. We offer consumers a complete line of products to meet every wood finishing need.
SaleBestseller No. 5
Rust-Oleum 287722 Ultra Interior Chalked Acrylic Paint 30 oz, 30 Fl Oz (Pack of 1), Clear Matte
  • Use on a variety of interior surfaces like wood, metal, ceramic, canvas and easily distress to create a vintage look
  • Low-odor/VOC formula allows for easy clean up with soap and water
  • Dries to the touch in just 30 minutes and covers up to 150 sq. ft.; one-coat coverage allows projects to be completed easily
  • Excellent adhesion and easy application with minimal prep
  • Protective topcoat that dries to an ultra-matte velvety, smooth finish
Bestseller No. 7
Mod Podge Spray Acrylic Sealer that is Specifically Formulated to Seal Craft Projects, Dries Crystal Clear is Non-Yellowing No-Run and Quick Drying, 12 ounce, Gloss
  • CONVENIENT SIZE - This 12 oz clear acrylic sealer is a must-have to your art supplies
  • GLOSSY, CRYSTAL CLEAR FINISH - When dry, this easy-to-use formula dries to a glossy, clear finish that will make your arts and crafts glisten
  • USE ON MULTIPLE SURFACES - This easy to use spray sealer works great on wood, metal, canvas, terra cotta and so much more
  • EASY CLEAN UP - After completing project, turn can upside down and spray to keep nozzle from clogging
  • TRUSTED BRAND - For over 50 years Mod Podge has been America's favorite glue, sealer, and finish. Mod Podge Gloss Acrylic Sealer is proudly made in the USA
Bestseller No. 8
KBS Coatings 8304 DiamondFinish Clear Coat - 1 Pint, Coats up to 50 sq ft
  • Direct To Metal Application - No Additives Needed
  • Apply directly to Painted Surfaces
  • Single Part Formula which is Tougher and Harder than 2 Part Clear Coats
  • Seals both Paints and Metals and is Self Leveling (No brush Marks)
Bestseller No. 9
Sargent Art 22-8808 16-Ounce Acrylic Gloss and Varnish, Other, 1-(Pack)
  • AP certified; non-toxic and safe
  • Dries to a permanent, waterproof, protective finish
  • Mix with acrylic paint or use as a clear coat
  • Acid free
  • Made in USA
Bestseller No. 10
Rust-Oleum 249117-6 PK Painter's Touch 2X Ultra Cover, 6 Pack, Gloss Clear, 6 Can
  • Ideal for use on interior/exterior surfaces including wood, plastic, plaster, metal, masonry and unglazed ceramic
  • Oil-based formula is low odor, resist chips and provides long-lasting protection
  • Dries to touch in 20 minutes and covers up to 12 sq. ft. per can
  • Durable formula provides excellent hide and goes on smoothly
  • Gloss finish provides a fresh, new look for surfaces

Last update on 2023-03-28 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

How to find the best clear coat paint?

Here, we’ll be going over a number of factors that you can use to ensure that you’re purchasing the best clear coat paint for you.

Regardless of which type of item you’re looking to buy, chances are that there are existing buying guides on the internet, all of which aim to give you good clear coat paint recommendations.

Despite these recommendations, however, it’s always a good idea to do your own research. In addition to this research, asking yourself the following questions is also super helpful:

  • What features does the clear coat paint need to have to be perfect for my needs?
  • What is my budget?
  • Do I need to purchase a certain brand?

Once you’ve answered these questions and have a good idea of what you’re looking for and the buying process becomes much easier. Keep in mind that when looking for the best product, there’s no need to rush. In fact, very rarely are the ideal products found by choosing the first one you see or by basing your decisions on only one factor. Take your time and enjoy the process!

Now, with the answers to the previous questions in mind, we urge you to use our upcoming buying guide for clear coat paint to find what you’re looking for:

Brand

In some cases, the brand of clear coat paint is very important. For example, if you’re looking for an item that works in tandem with another, you might very well need both products to be the same brand. If this is the case, it’s vital to pay attention to this factor, as choosing the wrong product can mean the difference between wasting your money and buying a great product that functions as it should.

Features

The features in any given clear coat paint are important because they can dictate which version of an item you need and how much money you need to spend. Consider all the key features that you want your item to have and don’t settle for anything that doesn’t check at least ¾ of your boxes.

Reviews

Customer reviews about clear coat paint are crucial – especially when you’re buying a product that costs a lot of money or serves a big importance. Luckily, most products can be found online, which means that it’s common for there to be scores of customer reviews from those who have already purchased any given product.

Pay attention to these reviews. Take note of the pros and cons that they mention, and factor these into your big decision. In some cases, you’ll be forced to sacrifice one con in order to gain a particular pro, but being aware of the potential con is going to be beneficial in either case.

Quality

Of course, quality is key. You don’t want to purchase a low-quality product. If you do, you run the risk of your item breaking, not working properly, or otherwise proving to be very disappointing, as well as a waste of money.

You can compare clear coat paint quality by researching what your potential purchases are made from, contrasting the individual items against each other to discern which one is made of the best materials.

Warranty

Warranty isn’t always going to be important, but it definitely can be. This is especially true if the item in question is tech-related or expensive. A good warranty will be valid for an extended time after purchase and cover a variety of problems ranging from item defects to random accidents, water damage, and other miscellaneous events that could ruin your product.

Conclusion

The quest to find the best clear coat paint can be daunting – but it doesn’t have to be. It can be made much easier by asking yourself a few simple questions and then thinking critically about the items you want to buy. Consider their features, quality, brand, warranty, and customer reviews and you’re more likely to make a great purchase.