The Best Garage Floor Paint
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Your hard work tidying up the garage has finally paid off. Every shelf, crate, and gardening tool have a place to call its own. But something about your garage still feels incomplete. Maybe the next step of your garage renovation is waiting beneath your feet. In fact, no garage is truly complete until it has been coated with a durable coat of professional quality garage floor paint.
While floor paint is not the most glamorous home renovation, it is perhaps one of the best when it comes to adding enhanced safety. Garage floor paint provides added traction to a smooth concrete garage floor, not to mention that it can add a pop of color to an otherwise monotone space.
By protecting your garage floor with a fresh coat of paint, you’ll also preserve this space against unprotected wear and tear from all of the automotive and foot traffic that will pass through it over time. In short, garage floor paint and similar garage floor coatings are a wise investment for protecting a well-worn portion of your home.
But before you apply anything to your workshop floor, you need to find the best garage floor paint for your needs and your budget. In this article, you’ll find side-by-side comparisons of many of the best garage floor paints on the market today, including some from leading brands like Rust-Oleum and KILZ.
Read on to learn about what garage floor paint performs best in the long term, as well as what key factors you should look for when purchasing garage floor paint. Each review contains a detail-by-detail rundown of many of the key specifications that set individual garage floor paints apart. The Buyer’s Guide will also help to define many of the key factors that influence a garage floor paint’s performance.
Whether you settle on garage floor epoxy or a different type of concrete paint, you can be sure that it is a worthwhile investment in the longevity of your home.
While Rust-Oleum EpoxyShield is not “paint” in the traditional sense, its epoxy polymer is exceptionally tough and provides outstanding adhesion. Oil leaks, gas spills, hard impacts – Rust-Oleum EpoxyShield can stand up to them all. Even if you live in an area where seasonal temperature fluctuations are common, you can expect this garage floor covering to not chip or peel.
If you pick up Rust-Oleum EpoxyShield, you won’t be disappointed in your garage floor coating’s performance – no matter how much wear and tear it sustains.
Types Of Garage Floor Paints
Much like traditional interior paint, garage floor paint comes in several different forms based upon their base component. While both forms provide various benefits and drawbacks when it comes to overall performance, it’s important to know the difference between standard pre-mixed garage floor paints and specialized epoxy paints.
Knowing the difference between these two types will help you to make an informed decision about which mixture will bond best with your existing garage floor. A quality bond can mean the difference between a long-lasting garage floor covering and one that flakes away after just a few seasons.
Standard Pre-Mixed Paint
Generally composed of a latex-acrylic mixture, standard pre-mixed paint is the most basic type of garage floor covering that resembles traditional interior paint in several regards.
First, this type of paint is generally cheaper than its epoxy-based counterparts and can be found at a wider variety of retail outlets. Second, pre-mixed paint tends to come in a wider variety of colors, allowing you to match your concrete paint to fit the aesthetic theme of your home.
Overall, pre-mixed paint is known to be more sensitive to changes in temperature and wear, causing it to degrade sooner than other types of garage floor covering. However, this may still be a worthwhile option for those renovating on a budget.
Epoxy Paint (two-part)
For many reasons, experts consider two-part epoxy garage floor paint (sometimes simply called “covering”) to be the superior solution, thanks in large part to its enhanced durability. In many cases, these two-part kits use a combination of epoxy resin and polyamine hardener to provide a superior level of protection to your garage floor.
Though these kits come in far fewer colors and carry a higher price tag, this acts as a tradeoff for what is generally a much stronger garage floor covering. Those looking for a long-term solution for their home or business garage should definitely put epoxy paints and coverings near the top of their list.
Worth noting, some standard pre-mixed paints contain epoxy as an additive. While this increases the durability of this low-end paint, it does not bring it fully in line with the reliability of epoxy-based garage floor covering solutions.
The Best Garage Floor Paints
Rust Bullet Duragrade Concrete Paint
- UV Resistant
- Comes in a variety of colors
- Low VOCs
- Does not require acid etching
- Does not require primer or topcoat
- Covers nearly 1500 sq. ft.
Known as one of the “premier” names in garage floor paint, Rust Bullet Duragrade Concrete Paint has become an industry standard when it comes to protecting garage floors. Its formula is able to create a slip-resistant surface that will last as well as provide aesthetic harmony with the rest of your garage.
Rust Bullet’s unique formula provides it several worthwhile advantages over other garage floor covering options. First and foremost, it doesn’t require any type of special primer or topcoat. To this same end, acid etching is not required in order for this concrete paint to reach maximum adhesion.
Hot tires won’t cause this paint to chip or melt, either, thanks to its unique UV resistance. As an added bonus, Rust Bullet comes in a variety of colors that can be further supplemented with color flakes. This formula is also low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), so it safe to use in all 50 states.
As a tradeoff, though, this product generally requires you to apply two even coats in order to attain the desired result. This can potentially raise the overall cost of use, especially if you have a large garage floor to cover.
Rust Bullet’s formula isn’t just practical for garage floors, either. You can apply this concrete paint to a variety of ground-based surfaces, including pool decks, patio floors, driveways, sidewalks, and more. All of these surfaces will benefit from the increased adhesion provided by Rust Bullet.
Though you can further supplement this formula’s performance with other Rust Bullet paint-on products, this garage floor paint also performs well on its own. Current users agree that its minimal preparation and moderate price tag makes it an easy pick for those looking to spruce up their garage floor
Rust Bullet Duragrade Concrete Paint is available from Amazon.
- Proven 5x stronger than standard floor paint
- “Burst pouch” technology allows for easy mixing
- Glossy finish
- Requires only one coat
- Includes epoxy formula, concentrated concrete cleaner, and concrete etch
- Ready for light traffic in 12+ hours
Rust-Oleum EpoxyShield Garage Floor Coating has rapidly become a consumer favorite when it comes to protecting garage floors and other similar surfaces. Much of this hype derives from its superior adhesion and protection qualities that last for decades on end. For long term durability, there is no better option than Rust-Oleum EpoxyShield.
This formula sets itself apart from the competition immediately with its inclusion of unique epoxy polymers that increase adhesion beyond regular boundaries. These polymers additionally act as a hardening agent, allowing the surface to be traffic-ready in just about 12 hours. Hot tires and hard impacts stand no chance at chipping or warping this garage floor coating, as well.
Unlike some garage floor paints that use epoxy as an additive, epoxy takes center stage in this formula, allowing its maximum potential to shine through. This will become apparent in time as Rust-Oleum EpoxyShield’s formula is proven to be 5 times as protective as standard concrete paints.
Many epoxy floor coverings are derided for being difficult to mix, often because they involve separate cylinders of specialty-made chemicals. This hassle is not present with Rust-Oleum EpoxyShield, which uses “burst pouch” technology to simplify preparation. In addition, this formula only requires one coat in order to attain the desirable glossy finish.
Even for its simplified preparation method, this formula still takes considerably more effort to implement than standard concrete paints. In order to properly apply this epoxy paint, you’ll need to apply a specialized floor cleaner and acid etcher in order to reach maximal adhesion (both included in this kit).
With marginally more expensive overall cost, this solution may not be ideal for first-time floor painters. But even so, those looking for a long-term investment that provides peak levels of protection will find Rust-Oleum EpoxyShield to be positively unbeatable.
Rust-Oleum EpoxyShield is available from Amazon.
Slip Doctors Dura Grip
- Weather resistant formula
- Synthetic grip that is easy on feet and paws
- Designed for multi-surface use, including steel, fiberglass, concrete and more
- Comes in quart, gallon, and 5-gallon pails
- 2-year warranty and money back guarantee
Slip Doctor’s Dura Grip epoxy paint is also an up-and-coming name in the world of garage floor paint. With a weather-resistant surface that is friendly to all kinds of automotive and foot traffic, this formula provides a unique type of performance that is geared towards everyday living. Be ready to put Slip Doctor’s Dura Grip on more than just your garage floor after you experience its great capabilities.
First and foremost, Slip Doctor’s Dura Grip weather-resistant surface is a true asset to those living in weather-intensive parts of the country. Whether it is snow in Minnesota, sleet in Massachusetts, or torrential rain in Florida, this unique surface coating ensures that your shoes and vehicles remain in full contact with the ground.
While this weather-resistant surface performs well in the adhesion category, it also performs well in the lifestyle compatibility category. Unlike some garage floor paints and coverings that are rough on bare feet, Slip Doctor’s Dura Grip surface is gentle on exposed skin. This family-friendly quality extends to your pets as well. Their paws are safe when running over this garage floor covering.
Unlike most epoxy paints, which come in drab greys and whites only, Slip Doctor’s Dura Grip comes in 10 semi-glossy colors, including safety yellow, safety red, and sand. As a result, there is certainly a shade of Slip Doctor’s Dura Grip to fit your specific project needs.
Slip Doctor is certain that this product will meet your expectations for performance. But to add extra assurance to your investment, Slip Doctor offers a 2-year warranty on their product in case of unexpected chipping or degradation. In addition, Slip Doctor offers a 30-day money back guarantee if you are not entirely satisfied with their product.
One considerable drawback of this product is its availability only in industrial-sized volumes. As expected, this also means that it carries a very hefty price tag, higher than nearly any other formula. For some, though, this may be precisely the amount needed to perform a large-scale job, like coating a mechanic shop floor.
Slip Doctors anti slip floor paint is available from Amazon.
- Non-shrinking formula
- 2.5x thick layers in one coat
- Includes texture flakes
- 500 sq.-ft. of coverage per kit
- 12-hour dry time
- Lifetime guarantee
With a unique epoxy additive, the Epoxy-Coat Full Garage Floor Paint Kit demonstrates how industrial-level performance can be brought back to the home garage. This non-shrinking formula is one of the best for tackling sizable floor painting jobs. In all, the Epoxy-Coat Full Garage Floor Paint Kit is definitely a worthwhile choice.
The Epoxy-Coat Full Garage Floor Paint Kit centers around its unique formula, which provides a different level of protection for garage floors and other similar surfaces. The main ingredient in this formula is 100% solids cycloaliphatic epoxy, meaning that it provides enhanced levels of durability when compared to other cycloaliphatic-free formulas.
This additive also makes the Epoxy-Coat formula non-shrinking in nature, an ideal detail for those living in particularly cold parts of the country. Standard garage floor paint is known to chip and degrade when the ground beneath it drops in temperature, causing it to constrict. Even when snow and ice chill the ground outside, you can be sure that this formula will remain supple and optimally adhered to your cement garage floor.
You also get more coverage for less with the Epoxy-Coat Full Garage Floor Paint Kit. In fact, this kit provides a 2.5 times thicker coating in one single layer than other epoxy paints. Even better, this single layer is 5 times thicker than standard garage paint layers, allowing your floor an exceptional extra layer of defense.
As expected with an industrial-grade product, this formula comes only in large-volume containers. These can be expensive and excessive for those trying to complete small-tier jobs. While Epoxy-Coat does boast a lifetime warranty on this product, buyers should be aware that this requires extra steps on their part. Previous buyers report the need to send in the warranty claim form within 10 days of purchase, which can be a hassle for DIY-ers.
All in all, the Epoxy-Coat Full Garage Floor Paint Kit is worth using in order to further improve your garage or work space. Once you throw in the texture flakes and wait 12 hours, you’ll have a textured, aesthetically pleasing floor that will keep everything that crosses it safe.
The full garage floor paint is available from Amazon.
KILZ Garage Floor Paint
- Trusted paint brand
- Designed for concrete covering
- Satin finish
- Comes in 1-gallon pail for convenience and small jobs
- Covers 400-500 sq. ft. per pail
- Dry in 2 hours
A trusted brand in interior and exterior paint, KILZ provides some of the best surface covering products available. Their Garage Floor Paint is another solid addition to this legacy, with its quick-drying formula and optimal volume per pail making it a true asset to those looking for a simple upgrade.
Like many KILZ paints, this garage floor paint won’t scuff, fade, crack or blister easily. In fact, it is able to stand up well in high traffic areas. Designed with concrete floors in mind, this formula is able to adhere to garage floors without the need of special primers or cleaners. With a crisp satin finish that dries in just two hours, this garage paint really makes your garage shine when completed.
KILZ Garage Floor Paint is also exceptionally cost effective and convenient. Sold in 1-gallon pails, this sizing allows you to purchase exactly as much as you need without unused leftovers. Just one of these 1-gallon pails will cover 400-500 sq. ft. of space, allowing you to be much more frugal about its usage.
Like many standard garage floor paints, this formula contains several drawbacks. In general, pre-mixed garage floor paint is known to chip easier when exposed to adverse conditions, like cold. Also, this particular formula is water-based, meaning it contains less of the active protecting polymers that make epoxy-based formulas more effective.
Also, KILZ Garage Floor Paint likely requires multiple coats in order to reach peak protection performance. This may in turn drive up the cost of using it over a large space. However, this formula is still one of the most cost effective on the market, putting it easily at the top of many DIY-er’s lists.
KILZ concrete and garage floor paint is available from Amazon.
- 20x as strong as epoxy paint alone
- Self-leveling properties
- Comes in a number of designer colors, including brilliant blue, cherry bomb red, and amaretto
- Extra-glossy metallic finish
- Covers 125 sq. ft. per kit
- Virtually zero VOCs and noxious odors
Rust-Oleum provides a further improvement on its already reliable garage floor covering capabilities with the RockSolid Metallic Garage Floor Kit. This kit is designed to help you implement an unforgettably colored floor covering that is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also exceptionally functional.
Using a polycuramine base, this epoxy covering will coat your garage floor in a self-leveling finish that is reportedly 20 times stronger than epoxy paint alone. This makes ideal for high traffic areas, especially those regularly occupied by large or oversized vehicles on a regular basis.
Perhaps RockSolid’s most distinguishing characteristic is its implementation of pallet of color options. With colors like brilliant blue, cherry bomb red, gunmetal, and amaretto, RockSolid almost certainly offers a color that will catch your eye. Epoxy paints and coverings rarely come in colors other than grey or white, so this distinction is worth noting for those who want more visual pop in their garage.
Each of these designer colors comes with an extra glossy finish. In addition, many of these colors are metallic in nature, giving your garage floor an unmistakably unique appearance, that dull-colored competitors cannot compare to.
All this being said, RockSolid has a few drawbacks that can really burn a whole in your wallet. Most notably, each kit is designed to only cover 125 sq. ft., meaning that you’ll need two kits to cover an average one-car garage. If you have a two-car garage, you may have to double or triple that quantity. In the end, this kit may end up costing you an exorbitant amount if you intend to cover a large space.
Though there is a considerable financial drawback, the RockSolid kit can provide an unmatched visual appeal for those looking to branch out from the standard color options offered by epoxy floor paints.
The Rust-Oleum RockSolid Metallic Garage Floor Kit is available from Amazon.
Rust Bullet Duragrade Concrete Paint
- UV resistant
- Available in an exceptional variety of colors, including emerald green, wine red, and lilac
- Quart-sized for convivence and small jobs
- Significantly cheaper than high volume pails
Like its high-volume counterpart, this iteration of the Rust Bullet Duragrade Concrete Paint matches its brand’s praise as a “premier” leader in the industry. Unlike its counterpart, however, this iteration comes packed with added convenience and savings that can make a big difference for budget-minded DIY-ers.
Rust Bullet’s unique formula creates a slip-resistant surface that is ideal for protecting floors and enhancing safety in the garage. This covering is designed to last and remain durable, even under pressure from foot traffic and vehicle tires.
Special primers or topcoats won’t be necessary for this garage floor paint; only a paint roller to easily apply this to any concrete surface in need of greater traction. With a low VOC formula, you can also be sure that you and those around you will remain safe while you apply this concrete paint.
Unique to this quart-sized packaging, Rust Bullet packs added convenience into a smaller paint pail. This allows you to get exactly as much concrete paint as you need, rather than buying too much and having it go to waste. This additionally saves you money, especially if you intend to only cover a compact space.
Still, like its large-volume counterpart, this formula may require multiple coats to be applied before a full-bodied finish appears. While this may end up costing a bit more, this overall budget burden is minimized by the per unit cost, which is far cheaper than competitors.
Though the formula remains the same, the quart-sized pack for this iteration of Rust Bullet’s Duragrade Concrete Paint really adds an extra bit of value that you wouldn’t otherwise get with a high-volume alternative.
Rust Bullet Duragrade concrete paint is available from Amazon.
- Two-part waterborne epoxy coating system
- Includes cleaner, epoxy coating system, anti-slip aggregate, decorative floor flakes, and stir stick
- No acid etching required
- Covers 200-250 sq. ft. per kit
“Rolls on like paint, wears like steel,” says Supercoat and indeed, their Epoxy Floor Coating lives up to the motto. Resilient to automotive chemicals and foot traffic wear, this formula will work to enhance any garage floor in just a few hours of work.
Supercoat’s two-part waterborne epoxy coating system makes it easier to mix the desired coating with minimal hassle. With optional decorative texture flakes packed in, you can even add a few pops of color to your new floor.
Many epoxy paints require acid etching for proper concrete adhesion. Supercoat forgoes this potentially harmful process in order to protect your floor’s long-term viability. Once applied, moisture and ground vapor pass right through, preventing blistering and chipping over the life of your garage floor.
You won’t need to spend extra money for set-up materials with this kit, either. Everything you need to prepare and apply this epoxy paint is packed into the box – just supply your own paint rollers.
Unfortunately, you may end up needing to spend more money for extra kits. The Supercoat kit only covers 200-250 sq. ft. per kit, meaning that you’ll likely need to purchase more than one to complete an average-sized garage.
While Supercoat’s Epoxy Floor Coating may not be the most stand-out option in its field, it is nonetheless a solid option when you decide it’s time to renovate the garage floor.
Supercoat epoxy floor coating is available from Amazon.
What To Consider When Choosing A Garage Floor Paint
Being informed will help you to make the best decision with regards to selecting the best garage floor paint for your needs and budget.
These are just a few of the prime specifications you should consider when selecting a concrete paint for your upcoming garage renovation project.
Harmful Additives
Be sure to read the label carefully to check for harmful additives, such as VOCs. The volatile organic compounds are known to be dangerous to human health and should be avoided whenever possible. Though some concrete paints and epoxies contain trace amounts, your direct contact with them should be minimized while completing your project.
Hot Tire Pick Up – Heat Problems
Some cheaply made garage floor paints are prone to warp and dissolve when heat and pressure are directly applied. This is very likely to occur when a warm vehicle tire rests upon it after a long-distance drive on hot asphalt.
The end result is a wheel-sized patch of torn off paint, which in turn sticks to your tire. This result is undesirable in all regards, so be sure to check that the concrete paint you are purchasing ensures against hot tire pick up.
Appearance
Appearance and aesthetic appeal can play a considerable roll in garage floor paint selection. Like paint for inside or outside your home, you are able to select a neutral paint to cover a surface or spring for a more vibrant hue that expresses your personality. Garage floor paints come in a wide variety of colors and finishes, so it’s worth taking the time to find one that matches your overall design goals.
Durability
Simply put, you don’t want a garage floor paint that chips, scuffs, blisters, or otherwise falls apart as a result of wear and tear. The primary goal of a garage floor coating is to protect the original concrete surface, so it is imperative that you select a paint that is durable against a wide range of exterior forces.
One primary place to gather information about real-world durability is from online customer reviews. Here, you are able to see how the individual formula faired out in the real world, providing you with comparison points to inform your shopping.
Chemical Resistance
Because your garage floor coating will likely come in contact with automotive fluids at some point, you should strongly consider purchasing a formula with stated chemical resistance. Otherwise, you may find patches of uneven coating around your garage soon after applying it, especially around where your vehicle rests.
What tools will I need?
In general, you will only need paint rollers and a paint stir stick in order to prepare your chosen garage floor paint. Epoxy paint kits often include almost everything you will need to get started.
There is a great guide on how to apply epoxy floor paints here.
You may also consider wearing a facemask while applying the coating, in order to minimize inhalation of noxious paint fumes.
How long will it take to do? How long until I can use my garage again?
This depends largely on how much space you need to cover and how many coats you’ll need to apply. More space and more coats are likely to increase initial work times.
In addition, each concrete paint includes a “dry time” before it is safe to come into contact with it. Heed these dry times carefully or you may risk damaging your completed paint layers.
What preparation should I do to the floor?
This also largely depends on the what type of garage floor paint you’ve chosen. It is always best practice to remove all non-permeant objects from the premises before commencing with painting. Also, you should scrub down the floors to remove all unwanted dust and debris.
Epoxy paint kits often provide specific instructions for preparation, including the use of packed-in condensed cleaners. Acid etching may be necessary in some cases as well, in order to open the concrete’s pores and maximize adhesion of the coating product.