Best Exterior Wood Paints in 2024

Ideal for interior or exterior wood or metal from a brand you know, it has the capacity to cover 16 metres squared per coat and the can will cover around 40 metres square with one coat. It is available in 750ml should you want less and requires no undercoat saving some money. It takes around 6 hours to dry and you should not close newly painted doors or windows until the paint is completely dry. It is available in over 20 colours so you can paint your wood whatever colour you prefer. The finish sheen varies on the colour and it is wipeable making it great for radiators too. Though it is usable on metal do not use it on things which will get incredibly hot such as a chiminea or stove fan as it is not heat resistant enough to handle such temperatures.

Johnstone’s Garden Colours provide up to 4 years protection on most garden furniture such as sheds, fences, arbours, summer houses, trellis, tables and chairs. It is easy to apply and water based so it shows through the natural grain of the wood. It dries in 2 hours allowing you to add another coat if you want to add more colour for a bolder look.

The paint comes in around 20 colours and is available in 1L and 2.5L to meet your needs and colour requirements. It features great reviews and at a very low price though it is not necessarily the most popular on our list and does not offer the longest protection. For other items to improve your garden see our top picks for cordless strimmers.

Another from Ronseal is their Garden Paint to match those from the likes of Cuprinol and Johnstone’s, it is a popular paint at a decent price showcasing good reviews. It is great for wood but can also be used on other materials such as metal (primer may be needed) terracotta, brick and stone. Following painting the surface is waterproof in 1 hour and can resist any cracking or peeling. It offers a high solid content giving longer lasting protection and is available in a range of colours, around 20+.

This woodstain from Everbuild is a quality low solevent wood stain which will enhance the natural qualities of your wood and provide protection through waterproofing, crack, peel and ultraviolet resistance. It can be expected to provide protection for up to 5 years and touch dry in 30 minutes and overcoat after 4 hours.

This colour is dark oak but if you scroll down to also viewed you can see a variety of colours though limited to only wood colours since it is a stain. It is relatively cheap, from a good brand and is available in 250ml, 750ml and 2.5 litres depending on how much you need. While you’re improving the wood in your garden consider a lawn scarifier to thicken your grass.

This popular garden shades paint from Cuprinol is available in over 50 colours so you can paint your exterior wood basically any colour you want. Available in sizes of 1L, 2.5L and 5L though some colours are only available in certain sizes. It offers long lasting colour and protection and is suitable for all garden wood.

The finish is opaque matt so it retains the texture of the wood grain and it is water based so it is harmless to pets and animals. It can be sprayed or brushed on whichever you prefer. Cuprinol Garden Shades has been purchased many times and has great reviews. Spruce up your garden in other ways, see our top picks for cantilever parasols.

The Rust-Oleum Universal paint can be used directly on wood, metal, plastic, ceramic and even rust offering a paint and primer in one in around 20 colours. Though if you do want to use it for stain block particularly for nicotine and tanning bleed you should prime it first with Universal Stain Block Primer.

Also, if you want to use it on non-ferrous or galvanised metal prime with some metal primer. The Rust-Oleum has a coverage of up to 9 metres squared per litre which is on the slightly lower side. It is touch dry in 2 hours and handle after 8 hours. You can apply a second coat after 16 hours and full hardness after 7 days. However, don’t apply it in damp conditions. See our decking paint guide for proper paints for the surface.

This dark grey satin paint from The One is a quick drying, multi surface water-based paint including metal, wood, plastic, UPVC, brick, masonry, stone, glass and more. It doesn’t require any undercoat or primer saving you money and in most cases, it only needs one coat. It is a water based paint with low VOCs meaning you can easily clean it up after with water soapy water.

It is available in 12 different colours and 3 different finishes matt, satin and gloss so you can pick. Though it is not the cheapest option by any means on our list as you will see by the table at the top. For other paint guides see our guide on masonry paints.

This paint from Ronseal is ideal for only wood, that is bare or has previously been painted and it flexes with the movement of the wood making it resistant to any cracking, peeling or blistering for 10 years guaranteed. Following painting it is weatherproof in only 1 hour and it is specially developed to ensure that the paintwork isn’t spoiled in changing weather conditions.

It has a coverage of 13 metres square per litre and requires 2 coats allowing it to maintain longer gloss levels than traditional gloss paint. You can purchase it in a fair few colours if you look around on amazon though it is not necessarily the cheapest paint. See our guide on artificial grass for some unique garden picks.

Another from Ronseal, essentially the same as the one above but this time in satin. It is ideal for bare or previously painted wood, flexing with the wood movement making it resistant to any cracking, peeling and blistering for a guaranteed 10 years. Following painting it is weatherproof after only 1 hour and is specially designed so the paintwork isn’t spoiled in changing weather conditions.

It covers 13 metres square per litre of paint, requiring 2 coats and provides a great satin finish. You can find a range of colours if you look around Amazon though just for this review we used satin white. For other items set on improving your garden see our robotic lawnmower picks for the ultimate connivence. 

This satin black paint from Rustins is ideal for interior or exterior use on wood or metal and offers a matt finish on both materials. It offers low VOC and is water based so it is easy to wash off just use some soap and water. People have said it is a lovely and smooth paint and it is quick drying so you can apply your second coat shortly after the first. For other items set to improve your garden see our picks for edging shears.