Alkyd Paint for Cabinets and Furniture

Water-based hybrid alkyd paint has emerged as one of the most popular paints for painting cabinets and furniture due to its ease of use and durability.

Water-based alkyds and urethanes are the newest version of paint on the market in 2024. It’s made to mimic the finish of oil-based paint without all the harmful VOCs and nasty clean up.

This makes alkyd enamel paint easy to apply and clean, but it still creates an extremely durable and professional-grade finish without the need for a topcoat.

In this post, I’ll compare the different brands that make this paint and review each brand based on the side by side test I performed. (Video review coming soon!)

Overview of Hybrid Alkyd Paints

Before the creation of hybrid paints, alkyds and urethanes were solvent-based paints. The first benefit to these paints were the resin binders that make the paints dry to a durable finish. The second were the thinners used in the paint that made them flow and level well (resulting in a smooth finish). Of course, this came at the price of a paint that was not environmentally friendly with high VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and requiring messy clean up.

Now, every major manufacturer of paint has a hybrid version of this alkyd/urethane paint, blending the ease of use of a water-based paint with the durability and flow of an oil-based paint.

Alkyd enamel applies like a water-based paint but dries like an oil-based product. (Imagine an oil molecule wrapped in a water molecule. As it dries, the water evaporates and the oil molecule is left behind.)

Benefits to Hybrid Alkyds – In a Nutshell

• Levels beautifully – Basically, it levels when it dries, which means that you won’t be able to see any brush strokes once the paint dries.
• Dries to a tough, durable finish – Because the enamel finish is durable, it is easy to clean, which is essential in a kitchen.
• No need for a topcoat – The tough finish means that you don’t need a topcoat. Even if you choose a matte finish in alkyd, it is still tough enough to be wiped clean without a topcoat.
• Easy water clean-up – This paint is water-based and all supplies can be easily cleaned with water.
• Tinted to ANY color – Every brand of alkyd paint can be tinted to any color swatch. Plus, you can bring a color swatch from another brand (even from another store) and have it color matched in the type of paint you’re using.

The downside to alkyd paint is that it does have a longer dry time than other types of paint. It can take up to 30 days to fully cure (due to it’s oil-based properties). All paints take more time than listed on the can to cure, but alkyd paint is longer.

Different Names for Water-based Alkyds

Due to the many different companies that make paint, there are slightly different variations in the name of this type of paint that you’ll see on paint cans. All of them have basically the same properties and would be considered a hybrid alkyd (or urethane) paint.

• acrylic alkyd enamel
• urethane alkyd enamel
• oil-enriched enamel
• waterborne interior alkyd
• water-based alkyd enamel
• urethane acrylic

Where to Buy Paint for Kitchen Cabinets

A few years ago, there were only two paint companies that manufactured this type of paint in a water-based finish.  Now, every major paint manufacturer has a version of this alkyd enamel paint. You can find it at all of the major home improvement stores.

I have personally used all of these types of cabinet paint on wood cabinets in real homes and campers.

The Side by Side Test of Water-based Alkyds

I used each of these alkyd paints in a side by side to test their application, adhesion and durability.

I primed my cabinet door with synthetic shellac first (because I always recommend priming your kitchen cabinets before painting, as do all the professional painters I’ve asked). Then, I brushed and rolled half of the door with two coats of each paint. On the other half, I sprayed each paint with two coats of each color.

I waited for them to dry 24 hours to perform an initial scratch test. Then, I waited 30 days for all of the paints to fully cure to perform another scratch test, along with a cleanability test and stain test.

Now that I’ve used these paints in my home AND put them in a side by side test, I can share with you my personal recommendations on the best alkyd paint for cabinets! The following paints are listed in order from the best to the worst.

1. Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel

Where it’s sold: Sold at Sherwin Williams stores and at some Lowe’s stores

Cost: $45.99 per quart, $108 per gallon

PROS

• Applies nicely with even flow when brushing, rolling and spraying.
• Levels extremely well when brushed or rolled. Both are almost as smooth as the sprayed version.
• Durable finish – impossible to scratch with my fingernail at 24 hour dry time and 30 day dry time
• Fast recoat time (4 hours)

CONS

• Most expensive paint (but watch for sales at Sherwin Williams to save up to 40%)
• Note: Satin sheen is slightly more matte than Advance or ProClassic or Insl-X

Emerald paint performed the best in my test, and has also performed the best on the cabinets and furniture I’ve used them on in my own home. In fact, after testing chalk paints and all-in-one paints, Sherwin Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel is my top pick for the best paint for cabinets, of ALL of them!

I can’t recommend it enough – it has yet to let down. It is the most expensive paint, but I only buy it when it’s on sale at Sherwin Williams. They sometimes run 40% off sales, and this is always when I buy it. That sale price makes it comparable (and often cheaper) than the “budget-friendly” brands.

2. Sherwin Williams ProClassic Waterbased Acrylic-Alkyd Enamel

Where it’s sold: Sold at Sherwin Williams stores and at some Lowe’s stores

Cost: $38.69 per quart, $102.49 per gallon

PROS

• Applies nicely with even flow when brushing and rolling.
• Levels very well (dries to a smooth finish).
• Durable finish – impossible to scratch with my fingernail at 24 hour dry time and 30 day dry time.
• Fastest recoat time (3-4 hours)

CONS

• Started to dry a little faster than others which causes brush to drag if you need to touch up an area (but those areas still leveled well and dried to smooth finish)
• A little more difficult to spray evenly (I had to use medium/high pressure and an open nozzle setting, but then it sprayed fine.)

3. Benjamin Moore Advance Waterbourne Interior Alkyd

Where it’s sold: Sold at Ace Hardware and Farm & Fleet

Cost: $30.99 per quart, $74.99 per gallon

PROS

• Applies nicely with even flow when brushing and spraying.
• Levels very well (dries to a smooth finish).
• Durable finish – impossible to scratch with my fingernail at 24 hour dry time and 30 day dry time.
• If you want a matte finish, this is the only brand that makes it!

CONS

• Long dry time between coats (16 hours)
• I’ve had some problems with micro bubbles in my paint when rolling this paint (two different cans had this happen, three others haven’t)

I’ve used Advance many different times and am always very pleased with the durability of this paint. It flows and levels beautifully and is easy to use with any application.

However, there is one issue I’ve encountered with this paint on two different occasions – tons and tons of tiny bubbles when rolling (no matter which type roller I used).

I originally used this paint in my best paint roller comparison test on a piece of laminate, but every roller was making tons of tiny bubbles that were not breaking on their own. I switched to a second can of Advance paint I had at home, and the same thing happened! I then switched to Sherwin Williams Emerald to make sure I wasn’t going crazy and there were no bubbles when rolled.

Something was happening with the Advance paint to cause this on the laminate (it didn’t happen with the same colors on wood). They were both cans with a deep base. Also, I had these cans of paints for about a year before using them (but still had them shaken at the paint store before my test). It should be noted that I also had SW Emerald for a year as well, also in a deep base, and that rolled fine.

I’ve used three other cans of Advance without this microbubble issue (none of those were deep base). If this has ever happened to you, sound off in the comments. I’m really interested to know!

4. Dutch Boy Cabinet, Door and Trim Water-Based Alkyd Enamel

Where it’s sold: Sold at Menards

Cost: $24.98 per quart, $55.94 per gallon

PROS

• Less expensive than most of the other brands.
• Easy to apply with great flow.
• Leveled to a smooth finish, even when brushing and rolling.
• Fast recoat time (4 hours)

CONS

• It’s a thinner paint than the others – just watch for drips when painting on vertical surfaces
• Stronger finish at full cure only – I was able to scratch away some of the finish with my fingernail at 24 hour dry time but NOT after the 30 day dry time.

For being one of the least expensive options, I’m pleased with the results of this paint. I used it on my camper cabinets two years ago and there is not a single scratch or ding yet. It levels well and is easy to use.

At the same price point, I prefer it over Behr Alkyd Enamel for both application and durability.

5. Insl-X Cabinet Coat Urethane Acrylic

Where it’s sold: Sold at Lowes

Cost: $22.99 per quart, $61.99 per gallon

PROS

• One of the least expensive hybrid paints
• Durable finish – impossible to scratch with my fingernail at 24 hour dry time and 30 day dry time.
• Excellent “scrubability” and did not stain.
• Although it’s thick, it still paints nicely with great flow from your brush.
• Levels to a smooth finish.

CONS

• Very thick paint
• Brushes and rolls better than spraying
• Recoat time is longer than others (6 hours)

I was very pleased with this paint when I used it for the first time in my side by side test. I will definitely be using it again on a project or two to see how it performs.

It almost won as my favorite budget-friendly alkyd paint, but Dutch Boy slightly edged it out only due to its ability to be sprayed. My can of paint was SO THICK. I even brought it back to the hardware store before using it to have it shaken up again just to be sure this wasn’t the cause. It still rolled and brushed beautifully, but it just didn’t spray as evenly as Dutch Boy (at least without thinning).

If you are planning to roll and brush your cabinets, I would highly recommend this paint as a cheaper alternative to Advance and Emerald. In fact, I might even recommend it over Dutch Boy if I was planning to only brush and roll!

6. Behr Urethane Alkyd Enamel

Where it’s sold: Sold at The Home Depot

Cost: $21.98 per quart, $44.98 per gallon

PROS

• Less expensive than most of the other brands.
• Stronger finish only at full cure – I was able to scratch away some of the finish with my fingernail at 24 hour dry time but NOT after the 30 day dry time.
• Recoat time (4-8 hours)

CONS

• Does not spray well – uneven and difficult to get a fine spray (even in different sprayers)
• Brush drags more quickly than other alkyd paints
• Doesn’t level to a smooth finish as well as others

This is the paint I used on my own kitchen cabinets seven years ago. They’ve held up okay, but I am now regretting that I didn’t use a different brand as I’ve seen those brands withstand wear better than Behr.

Plus, now that I’ve compared them all side by side, the application of Behr paint is one of the worst of them all when both spraying and brushing/rolling.

7. Valspar Cabinet and Furniture Oil-Enriched Enamel

Where it’s sold: Sold at Lowes

Cost: $28.98 per quart, $59.98 per gallon

PROS

• Lower price point option
• Greater durability after full cure
• Fast recoat time (4 hours)

CONS

• Inconsistent results in the two times I’ve used it
• It’s a thinner paint than the others – just watch for drips when painting on vertical surfaces
• Satin finish does not have much shine and is almost matte.
• I was able to scratch off some of the finish on the paint with my fingernail after 24 hours and 30 days.

I’ve had some mixed experiences with this paint. I used it on some camper cabinets and found it to be difficult to apply because it was so thin. (You can see the full review here.)

I used it again on a side table and in this side by side test it wasn’t as thin, but the finish was much more matte than the previous time I used it (both were satin finishes).

Another difference was the durability. The cabinets in my camper are more scratch resistant compared to the can of paint I recently used (even after the full 30 day cure time).

I’ve had some people swear that this paint is amazing, but I just haven’t experienced this in my two uses. It’s my least favorite of all the paints.

Thanks for much for being here! I can only hope this post was helpful to you in one way or another. Best of luck on your upcoming kitchen painting project. You’ve got this!