14 Best Paints For Glass: Top Brands And Types In 2023
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The best paints for glass are a tricky topic to tackle. Many different factors go into choosing the best paint, and it isn't easy to know where to start. Suppose you're looking for a guide on the best paints for glass. It will cover all of the basics, including what type of paint might work best, depending on your needs.
Our Top Picks
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Best Overall - FolkArt Gloss Finish Acrylic Enamel• Convenient size |
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Best Glass Paint - Pebeo Vitrea 160 Glossy Glass Paint • Professional-grade glass paints |
Best Acrylic Paint Pens - Artistro Acrylic Paint Pens• Highly pigmented acrylic ink |
1. FolkArt Gloss Finish Acrylic Enamel - Best Overall
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What Customers Have To Say
Some glass artists proudly posted their projects made using the FolkArt Gloss Finish Acrylic Enamel Craft Set. They recommend using denatured alcohol to clean the mess. It's not too runny, and once oven-cured, it lasts a very long time.
Why We Think It's Great
The FolkArt Gloss Finish Acrylic Enamel Craft Set is an excellent paint set specially formulated for painting glass, glazed ceramics, and porcelain. It is durable and scratch-resistant with a gloss finish. It becomes safe to wash in the top rack of the dishwasher after oven-curing it at 300oF for 20 minutes.
Each bottle of FolkArt acrylic paint has 2 ounces for easier use. The set includes white, yellow, orange, pink, red, purple, blue, sky blue, turquoise, lime green, evergreen, brown, burnt umber, black, metallic silver, and metallic gold.
Who Should Buy It
This set is best for professional artists who love reverse glass painting, etched glasses, and similar glass art.
2. Pebeo Vitrea 160 Glossy Glass Paint - Best Glass Paint
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What Customers Have To Say
Numerous artists claim that the Pebeo Vitrea is the best glass paint they had the opportunity to use. Some paints have an iridescent effect.
Why We Think It's Great
The Pebeo Vitrea paint formula is a non-toxic, transparent water-based liquid in various colors and finishes. You can use it to create stained glass or tinted windows and mix the colors for more options.
Pebeo Vitrea 160 is heat-resistant and food-safe with a unique waterproof formula that you can use on all surfaces. If you don't want to cure it in the oven, leave it to air dry for 2-3 weeks before using. Baking it for 30 minutes at 300oF renders the paint inert and dishwasher safe.
Each bottle in the 10-bottle set consists of 45 ml glass paint in assorted colors: Sun Yellow, Paprika, Pepper Red, Lazuli, Turquoise, Sandalwood Green, Emerald, Earth Brown, Veil White, and Ink Black.
Who Should Buy It
This glass paint set is best for crafters who prefer working with various porous and non-porous surfaces like glass, crystal, ceramic, porcelain, china, glazed earthenware, terracotta, metal, enameled sheet steel, and copper.
3. Artistro Acrylic Paint Pens - Best Acrylic Paint Pens
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What Customers Have To Say
One enterprising mom hosted a wine glass painting party and used these paint pens as supplies. Her guests were elated with the results, and everyone enjoyed their drinks after curing their glasses. A grandma used these paint pens to bond with her granddaughter while drawing bugs and flowers on rocks for their garden.
Why We Think It's Great
The Artistro Acrylic Paint Pens has an opaque color even with just one coating. The 3mm tip is small enough for fine details, and you can use it to write, color in, and create stunning designs on almost any surface. It works on textile, rocks, paper, glass, glazed ceramics, metal, and wood.
No more guessing with the transparent paint barrel as you can see the contents easily. The set comes with 12 pens with two metallic colors (gold and silver) and the basic colors (black, brown, orange, green, yellow, white, pink, red, blue, purple). It is resistant to fading and scratches, and it is best sealed or oven-cured to render it water-resistant.
Who Should Buy It
Even professional artists and crafters will be happy with the Artistro Acrylic Paint Pens because it is easy to maneuver, especially if you're a rock painting artist.
4. Liquitex BASICS 48 Tube Acrylic Paint Set
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What Customers Have To Say
Many artists and crafters enjoyed using the Liquitex BASICS 48 Tube Acrylic Paint Set because they don't need to mix colors to get the shade or tint for their projects. It's also very affordable, making it perfect for beginners.
Why We Think It's Great
The Liquitex BASICS, 48 Tube Acrylic Paint Set, works on glass, canvas, paper & board, wood, masonry, metal, styrofoam, stone, ceramics, and textiles. It has a medium viscosity, making it easy to apply with a brush, palette knife, or with your fingers.
Each plastic tube contains 22 ml of high-quality acrylic paint that you can adjust to use as an undertone, tint, or shade. The manufacturer included reinforced ceramic beads to improve brightness, strength, and application to get the vibrant colors for this acrylic paint.
The set includes 4 shades of yellow, 8 shades of red, pink, 2 shades of magenta, 4 shades of violet, 8 shades of blue, 5 shades of green. It also includes bronze yellow, yellow oxide, Naples yellow, raw sienna, red oxide, burnt sienna, raw umber, burnt umber, unbleached titanium, gray, 2 blacks, silver, gold, bronze, and copper.
Who Should Buy It
We recommend this paint set to newbies who don't mix their colors yet or prefer working with pre-mixed colors.
5. FolkArt 12 Color Paint Set
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What Customers Have To Say
Customers like the price point and that this paint works best with FolkArt brushes or any other brush type. The colors also dry to a matte finish.
Why We Think It's Great
Each 2 oz plastic bottle contains high-quality acrylic paint in white, bright pink, red, orange, yellow, turquoise, medium gray, bright green, yellow-green, cobalt blue, violet, and sky blue.
The Festival pack has 12 bottles, each of which makes for a great, small project. You can use them on glass, wood, ceramic, and even fabric since they are water-based paints.
Who Should Buy It
The FolkArt Festival Acrylic Paint Set is best for artists looking for an excellent matte finish for their glass painting projects.
6. Happlee Non-Toxic Acrylic Paint Set
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What Customers Have To Say
Many artists think that the Happlee Non-Toxic Acrylic Paint Set is an inexpensive paint set that you can use outdoors without much issue about discoloration, especially if you use the excellent colorfast paints, indicated by 3 plus (+) signs.
Why We Think It's Great
This acrylic paint has an ASTM D-4236 and EN71-3 (CE) certification, is eco-friendly and durable. It conforms to all safety testing making it a perfect craft painting kit for everyone, even younger kids, to enjoy. You can use this acrylic paint on glass, canvas, ceramic, wood, fabric, clay, walls, crafts.
The packaging is relatively small, though, at 12 ml per squeezable plastic tube. The label includes a pigment code, lightfastness code, and opacity code. The paints have varying lightfastness and opacity, as indicated by these codes.
If the label has 3 plus (+) signs, it means it has excellent resistance to discoloration when exposed to light, while 2 plus (+) means good lightfastness. On the other hand, opacity uses white square for opaque, black square for transparent, and black and white square for translucent paint.
Who Should Buy It
This set is the perfect choice for young and beginner artists because of its inexpensive set and good quality. Glass artists who work with etching cream also love adding colors to their work using this acrylic paint set.
7. Paint Mark Quick-Dry Paint Pens
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What Customers Have To Say
Crafters love these paint pens, though they are smaller than expected. They are a better alternative than more expensive paint pens, and they also work on various surfaces, which is a good plus for any crafter.
Why We Think It's Great
The Paint Mark Quick-Dry Paint Pens is a versatile paint pen that you can use for simple art and industrial applications. You may also use it on glass, metal, wood, and plastic. It is resistant to fading and water, making it an excellent paint pen for glass projects.
The paint pen set has Black, Blue, Brown, Dark Green, Light Blue, Orange, Red, and White pens. It also has Yellow, Gold, Silver, Metallic Blue, Metallic Green, Metallic Pink, and Metallic Violet pens. Thanks to the permanent oil-based ink used in these marker pens, it is also colorfast and resistant to smearing.
Oven-curing the painted ceramics at 425oF for 30 minutes and glasses at 300oF for 20 makes the painted pattern inert and permanent. However, be sure to let the painting dry overnight before over-curing for best results.
Who Should Buy It
Crafters who love using industrial-grade paint pens for permanent designs on their glass projects will appreciate having these pens in their craft shop.
8. Krylon Stained Glass Paint
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What Customers Have To Say
Some crafters used this paint to create stained glass art for their homes. They are happy with the results from this paint because it helps them transform plain clear glass into beautiful translucent pieces of artwork in minutes. Others used them to add a tint to their LED lamps to achieve a warmer tone and ward off bugs.
Why We Think It's Great
The pressurized can has 11.5 ounces of high-coverage spray paint that dries in a short time. It is available in different colors such as, canary yellow, cobalt blue, cranberry red, royal purple, summer green, smoke gray, soft blue, and tangerine orange (sold individually).
Add two or more layers to achieve the translucence you want. The more layers you add, the darker is your stained glass, but it keeps a level of transparency you want from sea glass. If you want to add more layers, be sure that the first layer is dry to touch.
To use it in places with high moisture, as in bathrooms, add a layer or two of acrylic topcoats to make it more resistant. Hold it about 12 inches from the surface you want to paint and spray it in one direction.
Who Should Buy It
Crafters want to make a sea glass effect on their glass decors and turn a clear shower door into a colorful privacy glass.
9. Gallery Glass 16076, Classic Black Liquid Leading for Lines
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What Customers Have To Say
Newbie users love the Gallery Glass Liquid Leading for lines because it is easy to apply and dries after 24 hours. It needs a full week to cure, though fully. The bottle is easy to squeeze, even for arthritic hands.
Why We Think It's Great
Transform a bland window into artistic faux stained glass in minutes with the Gallery Glass liquid leading and glass paints. The bottle holds 4 ounces of high-quality liquid leading that you can apply horizontally or vertically, without fear of bleeding. Let it dry for 2-4 hours before exposing it to the elements.
The liquid leading corrals the stained glass paint within the pattern so it won't run onto the rest of your glass. It is best to use it with textured glass or frosted glass, but not recommended for solid clear doors. This liquid leading also has smooth coverage and good opacity, making it compatible with both flat surfaces and vertical ones.
Who Should Buy It
The Gallery Glass 16076, Classic Black Liquid Leading for Lines, is best for artists who make faux stained glass. It is also available in 8oz bottles of black liquid leading and 2 oz bottles of gold liquid leading.
10. Plaid Gallery Glass Window Color, Assorted Colors
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What Customers Have To Say
One customer had Plaid Gallery Glass Window Color on her bathroom window, done by her mother 20 years before, but the color remained vibrant. She changed the purple to white, but not with ease because even after two decades, the paint is still steadfast. Another crafter added yellow to make her LED light cast a warmer light.
Why We Think It's Great
Although it is more expensive than other glass paints, the Plaid Gallery Glass Window Color is an excellent investment if you want permanent stained glass art on your windows. It can stay on for decades without visible or physical degradation, even when exposed to moisture.
Each bottle, sold individually, holds 2 ounces of the Plaid Gallery Glass Window Color. However, it is still the No. 1 bestseller in stained glass panels on Amazon as of this review. Aside from amethyst, there are 17 other colors, including black, amber, copper, cocoa brown, emerald green, green shimmer, orange, red, pink, white, and crystal clear.
Who Should Buy It
If you want to do faux stained glass art on your windows and have enough budget, Plaid Gallery Glass Window Color is the best choice to create amazing window art.
11. DecoArt Americana Acrylic Paint Value Pack
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What Customers Have To Say
Many crafters and artists prefer using this paint set on their mandala projects on terracotta and glass. Others think it's very economical to use, even with its higher price point, because a little goes a long way. The quality is great, even for professional artists.
Why We Think It's Great
DecoArt Americana Acrylic Paint Value Pack is an excellent paint set for glass, clay pottery, or terracotta. The best part is that you can also use it on wood and canvas! Just be sure to work with a primer first to improve coverage, adhesion, and water resistance.
Many crafters and artists concur that DecoArt is one of the best craft paints that they have tried. It is also safe enough for kids to use.
Each bottle holds 2 ounces and includes green, yellow, orange, red, pink, white, aqua, mauve, purple, dark gray, light gray, and black. It is a bit runny for easier applications. It is best to use a base coat to improve opacity.
Who Should Buy It
This set is an excellent upgrade from the more common glass paints recommended by craft artists. If you're willing to add a few more dollars to your usual brand, this set is a steal.
12. Arteza Craft Acrylic Paint, Vintage
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What Customers Have To Say
This paint set has vibrant colors with a vintage vibe, and you can mix and match it. Users prefer it over more expensive brands because of its lovely colors and glossy finish.
Why We Think It's Great
The 2-oz squeezable bottle has a snap-on cap that prevents the acrylic paint from leaking or drying. The label has the color name and number.
You can apply it with a brush, palette knife or use it for finger painting. The set includes titanium white, camel, yellow, mustard, crimson, turquoise, lavender, plum, wine, raspberry, olive green, shamrock, jade, ultramarine, dark teal, metallic bronze, yellow ochre, terra cotta, cocoa brown, and dark brown.
Who Should Buy It
Users of Arteza will appreciate having this acrylic paint in their craft supplies, especially if they prefer working with various surfaces.
13. Bearals Glass Paint
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What Customers Have To Say
Avid users of Bearals glass paint claim that it's easy to use and comes with a good price. Others recommend mixing glue to the color to extend its use and limit the clumpiness in some paints. The jars are small and convenient to use too.
Why We Think It's Great
The Bearals glass paint is a non-toxic, water-based glass paint that is also UV-resistant and heat-insulated. It is easy to apply and has a transparent finish for lovely stained glass paintings. It dries in minutes and has high resistance to water and scratches.
You may use it on glass crafts and architectural handiwork. To improve colorfastness, bake the painted glass in the oven for 2 hours at 176oF.
Each set has 12 bottles of 25 ml each. Colors included in this set are lemon yellow, white, red cadmium, cobalt violet, light green, yellow ochre, crimson, Prussian blue, cobalt blue, burnt sienna, burnt umber, and black.
Who Should Buy It
Bearals glass paint is a good choice for crafters who want affordable glass paint for their glass projects.
14. Happlee Stained Glass Paint
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What Customers Have To Say
One DIYer restored her glass flowers that have faded after too much exposure to the sun, creating a lovely job. Some users find it bubbly, but they could use the glass paint without issues after thorough mixing. Generally, it is very easy to use and apply, which the crafters love.
Why We Think It's Great
The Happlee glass paint is available in mid-yellow, white, orange, red, cerulean, viridian, light green, violet, rose, deep blue, burnt umber, and black. The squeezable tubes have 12ml of glass paint that's perfect to use on wine glasses, drinking glasses, and other glass decors.
It has anti-UV and heat insulation. You need to cure it in the oven for 2 hours at 176oF. Do not preheat the oven and remove the cured glass only when it's cool. If you don't want to oven-sure it, let it air dry for 7 days. It is non-toxic and is safe for younger children to use.
Who Should Buy It
Happlee is one of the most trusted glass painting artists who want to make bright colors on their paintings.
Things To Consider Before Painting
Certain paints are much more resistant than those generally available under a broad spectrum of environmental conditions. For example, if you paint a window and leave it exposed to rain, you should use something like acrylic or oil-based paint so rain won't wash away. If you display artwork outdoors at night, you want a more translucent look to allow light to pass through.
A good solution would be either water-based paints or other enamel paint types. After you choose the paint you want to utilize, it's time for you to select your paint, where you'll showcase your art, and where you'll display your pieces.
How To Cure Glass After Painting
Once dried, acrylic can hold a large surface area and have good resistance for use. Apply two or three coats, then cure by airdrying for 24 hours. The second option is to oven the glassware to 300 F for 20-30 minutes, depending on the manufacturer's recommendation. The piece should be tough enough for washing in the top rack after 72 hours.
However, before you oven-cure a painted glass, make sure that the paint is suitable for oven or kiln-curing so you don't damage your project. Most solvent-based paints are not suitable for this method.
Best Paint for Glass Buying Guide
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Type
Acrylic paints are highly adaptable, and you may use them on various surfaces, including paper, wood, canvas, glass, and other materials. Acrylics, however, are prone to scratching, so it is best to cure painted glass or use an acrylic fixative to seal in the paint.
Acrylic enamels, unlike traditional enamels, are water-based and have special additives that improve better adhesion to glass, including mason jars and light bulbs. They also have high scratch resistance and dry quicker than ordinary enamel.
Professionals frequently choose Solvent-based paint since it has an extremely long shelf life. You may use it on glass, ceramic, and metal surfaces. They are poisonous, easily catch fire, and produce toxic fumes, though. They don't work well in kiln or oven-drying as acrylic and acrylic enamels are.
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Form
Glass paint comes in various forms - in bottles, tubes, spray, and paint pens. You can use paintbrushes to apply paint in bottles and tubes. It takes a certain level of expertise and practice to use the paintbrush well so you can transfer your ideas to the glass you want to paint.
You may also use a flow medium to make it flow better and apply it using a needle-tip glue applicator. This method is best when making faux stained glass.
Spray cans are best to cover large areas to make frosted glass, sea glass, mirror, and metallic finish. Paint pens are best for adding fine details to your designs or when you're not comfortable using a paintbrush for your designs.
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Finish
You can choose from a satin, matte, glossy, frosted, or metallic finish for the paints you want to use on your glass projects. Acrylic and acrylic enamels are generally translucent to opaque. Still, a few brands have a transparent finish. Glass paints, specified on the product label, are mostly transparent pigment inks best used when working on faux stained glass projects.
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Safety
Few craft paints are food-safe, even if they are labeled non-toxic. When using paint on drinking glasses or wine glasses, leave enough space around the rim so that the lip does not touch the painted part. On glass plates, paint on the underside.
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Permanence
Glass paints may also be permanent or temporary. We recommend tempera paints for temporary designs because they are opaque and can withstand outdoor display but are easy to clean off.
Acrylics are more resilient, so it is immediate between tempera and acrylic enamels in terms of permanency. If you want to use it to stay longer on painted glass, you can either oven-cure it or seal it with a fixative. To improve the adhesion of ordinary acrylic paint, use an acrylic medium.
Acrylic enamels have special additives to improve adhesion and permanence on painted glass. However, it also needs oven-curing to make it durable enough to withstand washing in the top rack of the dishwasher.
Best Paint for Glass FAQ
1. What should I consider when choosing the best paint for glass?
Be sure to use paint specified for glass. For example, FolkArt has specially formulated enamel glass paint and multi-surface acrylic paints for glass painting.
2. How do I paint glass jars?
Always start with a clean glass jar. This principle also goes for other glasses - wine glasses, glass bottles, glass panels. Clean the surface well with alcohol and a paper towel or dishwashing liquid and water. Wipe off the wet surface with a lint-free rag until fully dry. You can now follow the reference image you want to paint on your glass jar.
3. Which glass is best to paint?
It is best to use new glass for glass painting, especially if you want to cure it in the oven. Recycled glass has a lower expansive coefficient than new glass and is prone to cracking.
Thick glass is not very flexible, so it tends to crack while expanding. Thinner glass, on the other hand, is easier to maintain and more resistant to temperature increases. If painting on glass at home, it is best to work on smaller items, one that would fit your oven.
4. How do you make the paint stay on glass?
If you want your paint to last for a long time, use a durable variation of color or seal your finished piece with primer. Choose a glossy finish instead of a matte finish which gives a better-looking and more polished finish.
Conclusion
We love glass paints because of how it transforms an ordinary glass bottle or mason jar. Our best overall paint for glass is the FolkArt Gloss Finish Acrylic Enamel Craft Set because it has a convenient size, glossy finish, and is easy to clean up.
Another good glass paint is the Pebeo Vitrea 160 Glossy Glass Paint. It is lovely to use in making stained glass effects on glass windows. It is non-toxic and is a professional-grade glass paint. We vote for the best acrylic paint pens for the Artistro Acrylic Paint Pens because of their highly pigmented acrylic ink, quick-drying, and colorfast.