Can You Paint Stainless Steel?

Stainless steel is a popular finish choice for appliances, fixtures and furniture. If you love a stainless steel item but would like to give it a fresh look, you may have wondered, “Can you paint stainless steel?” You’ll find the answer to this question below, as well as techniques and tips.

Can You Paint Stainless Steel?

Valued for its strength, durability and rust resistance, stainless steel’s smooth, nonporous surface can be painted. But it requires specific preparation and application steps for best results.

Typical latex or oil-based primers will not adhere well to stainless steel due to the oxidative coating on its surface. Because this coating repels water and stains, it will repel most primers. You’ll need a metal primer that adheres specifically to stainless steel.

How To Paint Stainless Steel

The steps are similar to painting any type of furniture. Work slowly and carefully during each step.

Stainless steel can be primed and painted with a brush, roller or air sprayer, depending on the desired finish. A paintbrush creates textured strokes. A paint roller will leave a pebbled finish. And an air sprayer will create the smoothest finish.

Exterior projects like auto parts or large fences should be painted by professionals with access to commercial-grade primers and paint.

Prepare the surface

You’ll need to scuff the smooth surface before applying paint. Wear a dust mask and gloves, then protect any nearby areas with drop cloths.

An orbital sander with 100- to 120-grit paper or a stainless steel wire brush will dull the surface without scratching. Scratches will show on the painted surface. Begin on an inconspicuous area to make sure you’re getting the desired effect.

Once finished, wipe away any dust with a rag and clean the area with a degreaser like Simple Green. Once the surface dries, proceed to the next step.

Apply primer

Benjamin Moore offers a stainless steel primer, Corotech High-Performance Water Borne Bonding Primer, for brush, roller and air sprayer applications.

Rust-Oleum also sells one. “For heavy traffic areas or items that will see a lot of wear, we recommend Stops Rust Universal Bonding Primer,”  says Kathy Brock, senior product manager for Rust-Oleum. “It provides an extra level of adhesion to extend your beautiful finish.”

If applying paint with a brush, use one with synthetic bristles. For roller applications, use a 3/16- to 1/4-in. nap or a foam roller. An airless sprayer works well for paint gun applications.

Whatever method you choose, use it for priming and painting. Follow the primer manufacturer’s recommendations for the number of coats and dry times.

Paint the surface

All paint application methods require two thin coats, allowing for the manufacturer’s dry time between coats. If using a brush, work carefully to apply paint evenly and avoid drips. Keep strokes in the same direction for a more professional look.

If using a paint roller, you may need a brush to paint surface edges. Remove stroke lines by immediately going over the area with the roller.

If using an air sprayer, apply paint in a sweeping cross motion while holding the gun 12 to 18 inches from the surface. For smaller projects, go with a can of spray paint instead.

Types of Paint To Use on Stainless Steel

Virtually any type of paint can be applied to a properly prepared stainless steel surface, including latex, acrylic and alkyd oil products.

Latex or acrylic offers easy clean-up and fast dry times, but produces the least durable finish and requires regular maintenance on high-use surfaces. Any of the residential Benjamin Moore lines will work great, like Aura, Ben, or Regal Select.

Alkyd-based paint is more durable but has a longer dry time. Benjamin Moore’s Advance is a water-borne alkyd that provides a hard finish and great self-leveling abilities for a shiny, smooth surface.

Rust-Oleum also has an epoxy paint option called Appliance Epoxy. “This is durable and great for updating your appliances to a clean and modern finish,” Brock says.

“If you’re looking for a pop of color on other stainless steel projects, 2X Ultra Cover offers our largest selection of colors and sheens, and can be used over the Stops Rust Universal Bonding Primer for better adhesion on indoor and outdoor furniture.”