How to Paint Plastic

Plastic is a very difficult surface to paint. Unlike wood, plastic is smooth, so paint does not have much grip. However, with proper preparation, you will succeed in painting plastic. Note that depending on the paint and type of plastic you use, the paint will also peel off, especially after heavy or frequent use.

Table of Contents

Prepare the paint surface

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Choose plastic to paint. With the right preparation, you can paint anything. Items such as furniture, models, toys, containers, and decorations are great options. ^{[1] X Research Source}

Not all plastic surfaces are suitable for painting, including: vinyl/laminate floors, bathroom partitions or counters.

Clean plastic items with dish soap and warm water. This will clean the surface dirt and reduce the amount of work you will have to deal with in the next step. Use a soft cloth or sponge to clean smooth surfaces and a brush to clean patterned surfaces (such as outdoor furniture). Then use water to wash the plastic and dry it. ^{[2] X Research Source}

Gently sand the surface with 220 to 300 grade sandpaper. Work gently in a circular motion to avoid scratches. When done, wipe the surface clean with a gauze cloth. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Sanding is very important. Flat surfaces will have extra roughness for better adhesion.

Clean the surface with rubbing alcohol. This step is equally important to clean up the oil, which prevents the paint from sticking. If you skip this step, the paint will probably peel off soon after. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Handle plastic items with care. Keep your hands at the edge of plastic or wear disposable gloves .

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Cover the parts that you don’t want to paint over with paint-specific tape. This is a good practice even if you plan to paint plastic with a brush. Paper tape will help create a nice and clear boundary between the painted and unpainted part.

Paint a primer. You will need to apply a primer, so choose one that adheres well. This will smooth the surface of the plastic and give the paint a good grip. Spray paint is the easiest to use, but you can also use brush paint.

Let the primer dry completely before continuing.
If using a spray primer, be sure to cover the work area and paint in a well-ventilated area.

Surface paint

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Organize your work area. Choose a place with good lighting. Use newspaper or a cheap plastic tablecloth to cover the work surface. If using spray paint, it’s best to do it in a well-ventilated area; Being outdoors is the most rewarding. ^{[5] X Research Sources}

If there are areas on your plastic that you don’t want to paint, cover them with masking tape.

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Choose the right paint to paint the plastic. Spray paint is especially effective when used on plastic, but you can use acrylic paint or enamel/model paint. It is better to use paint specifically made for plastic. Look at the information on the label and look for words like “Plastic” or “Multi-Surface”.

Paint if needed. Some paints are ready to use, while others will need to be mixed. Before starting to paint, see the label on the jar or bottle of paint for specific instructions.

Shake the spray paint bottle several times. Doing so is to mix the paint evenly and the paint finish will be smoother.
Dilute acrylic paint with just enough water to have a creamy consistency. This way, the paint will be smoother on the plastic and the brush strokes will not be obvious.
Some model/enamel paints also need to be diluted. Most of the time you will need to use an enamel paint thinner; This product is usually sold in conjunction with other enamel paints.

Apply a thin, even coat of paint. Don’t worry that the first coat of paint won’t cover the entire surface; you will need to paint several layers. This is very important, whether you spray or use a brush to paint.

Keep the spray paint bottle about 30cm to 45cm away from the plastic surface. Spray paint by moving the paint bottle in a horizontal line.
Apply acrylic paint with a taklon, kanekalon, or mink brush.
Use a brush with stiff bristles to apply enamel/model paint. This brush is sold with other model paints.

Apply several thin coats of paint. Wait for each coat to dry before applying the next. Change the paint direction of each coat: paint side-by-side lines for the first coat, the second coat will paint from top to bottom, etc. The number of coats will depend on the surface you need to paint. Most of the time you will need about 2 to 3 coats of paint.

The time it takes for the paint to dry depends on the type of paint you use . With most paints, this should only take about 15 to 20 minutes . Let the final coats dry for about 24 hours.

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Wait for the paint to dry completely after applying the last coat. At this step, the plastic has been painted and is ready for use. If you want to add texture or topcoat, see the next section.

If you’ve put on paper tape before, you should peel it off now. Peel off the tape carefully so you don’t accidentally peel off the paint.

Surface retouching and painting

Use a paintbrush to tackle the flakes and gaps. Check the plastic carefully. If there are gaps or flakes, use a small brush to apply more paint. If you’ve used spray paint before, you’ll use acrylic paint of the same color to complete this step. ^{[6] X Research Source}

Add a few details, patterns or weather drawings if desired. This step is completely optional but will give life and character to your plastic, especially a model or statue. Here are some suggestions to help you do that:

Place the pattern on the plastic then paint it with spray or acrylic paint and a sponge brush.
Use a small, pointed brush to carefully paint over curves or textures.
Add highlights with paint lighter than the original paint color and shade with darker paint.

Apply a coat of ppyurethane over the surface to make the paint last longer if desired. You can use spray paint or a paint brush, but the spray will make the surface smoother. Apply a thin layer, then wait for at least 30 minutes to dry. You can apply an extra coat or two if needed, letting the paint dry for about 30 minutes between each coat. ^{[7] X Research Sources}

Choose your preferred surface finish: opaque, satin or glossy.
It is better to apply several thin coats than just one thick coat. If you paint too thick, the paint will be very sticky.

Wait for the topcoat to dry completely. Sometimes when you touch the paint it feels dry, but that doesn’t mean the paint is completely dry. See the information on the paint or paint bottle label to see how long it takes for the paint to dry and harden. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

Many enamel paints require several days to harden. During this time, the paint can become sticky and peel off easily.

Advice

If you are only painting a certain part of the plastic, you can skip the sanding step, otherwise the difference in surface between the two areas will be very noticeable.
If you’re only painting textures on plastic, such as flowers, choose a topcoat that’s the same as the plastic surface: glossy or opaque, for example.
Some paints will last longer than others. For best results, choose paints labeled specifically for plastics.
If you are painting an object with multiple faces, such as a box, paint only one side at a time.
If the spray paint is melted or spotted, you have applied too much. Hold the paint bottle further away from the plastic and spray in a circular motion.

Warning

Some plastics won’t “eat” paint, no matter how prepared you are. There’s not much you can do in this situation.
Always do this in a well-ventilated area to avoid inhaling toxic fumes from paint, surface coatings or white gasoline.
Objects that are used frequently will peel off the paint over time.

Things you need

Plastic
Tape paper
Paint wipes
Fine sandpaper
Towels bucket
Dish soap and water
Cleaning alcohol
Newspapers
Spray paint, acrylic paint or enamel paint
Paintbrush (if using acrylic paint or enamel paint)
Paper tape for painting (optional)
Primer (optional)
Surface coating (optional)

Steps