The 8 Best Deck Paints for 2024

If you love spending time outdoors, your deck is the place to be. It’s a great spot for entertaining, playing, or just relaxing. But having a deck comes with its own set of responsibilities, including maintenance. One of the biggest decisions you’ll have to make regarding your deck is how to finish it.

Painting your wood deck is a great finishing option because you can choose any color or style that matches your taste. Paint can spruce up old or damaged wood, and it also protects the wood beneath it from further sun and weather damage. But how do you pick the best wood deck paint? We’ll discuss a few of the top choices below.

Best Overall Deck Paint: Montage Signature Interior/Exterior Paint

At the top of our list is Montage Signature Interior/Exterior paint. This option may very well be the best deck paint due to the sheer amount of colors available (currently, 15 colors). It’s great for a variety of surfaces and is mold- and mildew-resistant, providing the perfect finishing touch on your deck.

This paint is also scrubbable, which means you can clean up scuffs and marks easily without damaging the finish. Best of all, Montage guarantees that all of their paints are eco-friendly, so you can rest assured that you’re making the best possible choice for the environment while making your deck look amazing.

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Best Deck Paint for Old Wood: KILZ Enamel Floor Paint

Breathe new life into a much-loved deck with  Enamel Floor Paint. What makes this among the best deck paint choices for old wood is that it’s extremely durable and resists fading, peeling, and cracking. Even if you’ve painted or stained your deck in the past, this paint’s low-lustre finish will look great on any outdoor space.

KILZ Enamel Floor paint features a mildew-resistant film and can stand up to even the harshest weather conditions.

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Best Deck Paint for Slippery Surfaces: Fixall Skid Grip Anti-Slip Paint

Painted wood surfaces can sometimes get slippery when wet, especially if it rains often or you have a nearby pool or hot tub. Finding the best non-slip deck paint can prevent accidents and injury.

Keep your guests and family safe from slips and falls with Fixall Skid Grip Anti-Slip Paint. This textured paint creates a non-slip surface and is a great option for high-traffic areas like stairs.

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Best Budget Deck Paint: INSL-X Sure Step Acrylic Anti-Slip Coating Paint

Even if you’re on a tight budget, you can still revitalize your deck without breaking the bank. INSL-X Sure Step Acrylic Anti-Slip Coating paint is our pick for the best budget deck paint, as it offers all the benefits of other deck paints at an affordable price. Not only is it fast-drying, but it creates an anti-slip coating that comes in a variety of different colors and is sure to bring new life to your deck or porch. 

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Best Oil Based Deck Paint: Diamond Brite All-Purpose Paint

Oil-based deck paints were once the gold standard. They aren’t as durable and are more difficult to clean than water-based paints, but they are great for all climates and tend to be affordable.

Our choice for the best oil-based deck paint is Diamond Brite All-Purpose Paint, as it stands up to high-traffic use and can be used on wood, concrete, and other surfaces.

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Best Water Based Deck Paint: Prestige Paints Exterior Paint and Primer In One

Water-based deck paints are popular because of their durability and the fact that they’re quite easy to apply. Over time, water-based deck paints wear well. Having a primer and paint in just one product is a great way to not only make the application process easier, but also saves time. Prestige Paints Exterior Paint and Primer In One is a great water-based deck paint that offers excellent coverage on wood, cement, and masonry.

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Best Deck Paint for Weatherproofing: Rust-Oleum 206999 Topside Paint

Looking for a deck paint that stands up to even the toughest weather conditions? Rust-Oleum 206999 Topside Paint is the pick for you. It’s built for marine use, which means it’s waterproof, resistant to mold or mildew, and protects against UV damage that can fade colors.

This formula dries within a few hours and offers a smooth, glossy finish, so you don’t have to wait to enjoy your newly-painted deck.

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Longest Lasting Deck Paint: Allflor California Paints Porch, Patio and Floor Paint

We get it, most people don’t want to have to worry about painting their deck every year. Painting your deck is a time-consuming project, so it’s a great idea to choose a paint that will last for years, making your deck maintenance routine a lot more manageable.

Allflor California Paints Porch, Patio and Floor Paint is an acrylic latex paint fortified with epoxy that resists fading and wear so it will look like you just painted it even a year later.

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How to Choose the Best Deck Paint for You

With so many available deck paint options, it can feel a little overwhelming when trying to choose which is right for your needs. To narrow down your choices, there are a few factors that you should keep in mind, including the paint’s type, how durable it is, and how it will look when it dries.

Type of Paint

When deciding between acrylic and oil-based paints, there are several factors to consider.

• Acrylic paints are budget-friendly, environmentally friendly, and have less of an odor than oil-based paints.

• Acrylic paint dries quickly, so it is easier to apply two coats in one day.

• All it takes to clean up after applying acrylic paint is soap and water.

• Oil-based paints are more durable.

Durability

When thinking about which deck paint is right for you, consider how you use your deck. Do you hang out there every moment you get a chance, or is it a place for special occasions? Do your kids use it as a playground, or is it a quiet place to drink your coffee on Sunday mornings?

If your deck gets a lot of traffic, you’re going to want to look for something that can take a beating. In addition, keep the weather in mind. Frequent storms, high winds, and heavy rain or snow can damage deck paint, but if you choose something that’s extremely durable, it should last for years and withstand wear and tear.

Type of Finish

You can choose from a flat (matte), semi-gloss, satin, or glossy finish – and each one offers a different aesthetic. Glossy finishes tend to show dirt more but offer a luxurious luster. Flat finishes hide dirt better, so if you choose a lighter color, a flat finish might be the best way to go.

Coverage

How big is the area you’re trying to cover? Measure the area of your deck before buying any paint. As a general rule, a gallon can cover up to 400 square feet of space, but it will be less if you’re painting bare wood. Wood is porous and absorbs paint, so a single gallon might only cover 200-300 square feet of bare wood.

You’ll most likely want to do at least one additional coat on top of your first, and you may need a bit of extra paint to touch up small areas.

Get Started with Your Deck Painting Project

Painting your deck can be a fun weekend project, and can bring a totally fresh aesthetic to your outdoor space. For more DIY deck projects, check out our other articles and get inspired today.