The Best Paint Primers, Tested and Reviewed

Hello, my friend, hello again; today we come together to talk about The Best Paint Primers, Tested and Reviewed and hope the blog can help you.

Paint primer helps paint adhere better on slippery surfaces and is a must for a paint color change.

Whether you’re painting the living room or a patio table, applying a prep coat of primer to the surface can improve adherence, prevent peeling, and reduce the number of coats needed to finish the job. While all primers contain more resins and less pigment than paint, formulas vary from product to product. We tested some of the most popular options to find out which primer works best for different situations.

The right primer for your project depends on the environment you’ll be working in, the surface you’ll be painting, and your preferences for the time frame of the job and its final look. Read on to find out what makes a quality paint primer and why the below options rank as our top favorites among the best paint primers we tested.

1. BEST OVERALL: Rust-Oleum Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Water-Base Primer
2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Kilz Original Interior Primer
3. BEST ALL-PURPOSE: Kilz 2 All-Purpose Interior/Exterior Primer
4. BEST FOR METAL: Rust-Oleum Clean Metal Primer
5. BEST FOR GLOSSY SURFACES: Kilz Adhesion Interior/Exterior Primer
6. BEST FOR ODOR BLOCKING: Kilz Restoration Interior Primer
7. BEST FOR EXTERIOR: Kilz 3 Premium Interior/Exterior Primer
8. BEST FOR INTERIOR WALLS: Sherwin-Williams SuperPaint Interior Acrylic Latex

How We Tested the Best Paint Primers

We tested each paint primer according to established rubrics, including how easy it was to apply, how well it adhered to various surfaces, and its stain- and odor-blocking abilities. We rated each primer based on these rubrics on a scale between 0 and 4 to determine a score. Lastly, we tested the primer’s durability and how attractive the final finish appeared on each surface.

We applied each primer to metal, masonry, drywall, and wood surfaces. The drywall surfaces included water stains, mildew, and lingering smoke odors. We applied two coats of primer to each surface and allowed it to dry for an hour, and then followed up with a flat white top coat to determine if there was any bleedthrough of stains and to judge the smoothness of the top coat.

Our Top Picks

We spent hours narrowing the paint primer market and testing the top-rated products. One or more of these recommendations for the best paint primer may suit your specific needs.

Best Overall

Rust-Oleum Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Water-Base Primer

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Rust-Oleum is well known for its protective paints and coatings. Its Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 water-base primer is an all-purpose primer-sealer that sticks to various surfaces without sanding and works with any top coat. The brand is regarded as one of the top producers of rust-preventive paints.

The primer is low odor, low in volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and provides excellent coverage on interior and exterior surfaces. It’s made from water-based acrylic and is designed to resist blistering, peeling, and mold and mildew growth. The primer is tintable and available in white or gray. It’s also available in spray-paint form.

We tested this primer on multiple surfaces, including drywall, wood, metal, and plastic. It readily stuck to all of those surfaces and provided a textured finished surface that easily held onto a top coat of paint. The primer did not completely block the water stain on drywall, but we expected that—most white primers do not. We thought the paint was thin and needed two coats on all surfaces to ensure an even, smooth top coat. Overall, we liked this primer’s versatility of use on multiple surfaces, making it our top choice.

Product Specs 

• Interior/exterior: Both
• Recoat time: 1 hour
• Base material: Water-based acrylic

Pros

• Low-VOC and low-odor formula; safe to use in homes with children and pets
• Mold- and mildew-resistant for long-term use and peace of mind
• Works on multiple surface types including drywall, wood, metal, and plastic

Cons

• Thin viscosity; second coat may be required for proper coverage

Get the Rust-Oleum Zinsser paint primer at Amazonor Ace Hardware.

Best Bang for the Buck

Kilz Original Interior Primer

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Kilz is a trusted paint brand, especially for primers. Kilz Original interior primer is the company’s flagship primer designed to block most heavy interior stains on wood, drywall, plaster, paneling, wallpaper, masonry, brick, and painted metal. It also works on properly prepared glossy surfaces.

The primer is oil-based but can be used as a base coat for latex and oil paints. Kilz is our go-to primer for tough stains in our household. Previously, we had only used the spray-can version but found that the can version works just as well. We tested the primer on water stains on our drywall and as a base coat on various materials, including wood, brick, and metal. The primer adhered well to porous surfaces, but we did need to sand the metal before priming.

The white primer paint did a decent job blocking light-colored stains. However, in our experience with trying to hide stubborn stains on drywall, the primer works best at hiding stains when tinted gray.

Although it is available in a lower-VOC formula, it is not low VOC and the odor was strong. We recommend using a respirator or working in a well-ventilated area when using this primer. Overall, Kilz Original is a solid performer, and we highly recommend it for any ventilated interior primer application.

Product Specs 

• Interior/exterior: Interior
• Recoat time: 2 hours or less
• Base material: Oil

Pros

• Effectively blocks stains and odors for long-term durability and peace of mind
• Applies smoothly and evenly for added convenience while applying
• Lower-VOC formula is also available to meet multiple users’ preferences

Cons

• Strong odor may be annoying to some users while applying
• Not a low-VOC formula; may not be ideal for the chemical-conscious consumer

Get the Kilz Original paint primer at Amazonor Ace Hardware.

Best All-Purpose

Kilz 2 All-Purpose Interior/Exterior Primer

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Kilz 2 all-purpose interior/exterior primer is a general-purpose primer well suited for use on various DIY projects. This water-based primer has a drastically lower VOC content than the Original Kilz Primer, and it works under or over water-based or oil-based paints. It blocks light to medium stains and mild odors, and it leaves a mildew-resistant finish.

Kilz 2 all-purpose primer works well for general-purpose priming and sealing needs. In testing, it left a smooth base coat on drywall and bare wood. It did a moderate job blocking dark stains on walls, but it effectively blocked lighter stains like pencil marks, minor scuffs, and markers. We recommend using Kilz 2 for priming old walls before repainting or for any exterior surface as a base coat for exterior paint. It’s also handy to use a primer for craft painting projects.

Product Specs 

• Interior/exterior: Both
• Recoat time: 1 hour
• Base material: Water

Pros

• Minimal odor compared to other options on the market
• The mildew-resistant finish provides long-term peace of mind
• Easy soap-and-water cleanup after use for added convenience
• Low-VOC formula is ideal for the eco-conscious consumer

Cons

• Only blocks light to medium stains; may not be durable in high-traffic areas

Get the Kilz 2 paint primer at Lowe’s, Ace Hardware, or The Home Depot. 

Best for Metal

Rust-Oleum Clean Metal Primer

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Rust-Oleum Clean Metal primer is formulated to cover lightly rusted metals as well as bare and previously painted metals. It’s weather- and corrosion-resistant and bonds tightly to exterior/interior surfaces like wood, metal, concrete, and masonry.

This primer is designed primarily for use on metal, but it works well on other surfaces. It did a good job blocking rust stains on a metal bench we refinished, and it provided a smooth surface for a top coat. The only real drawback of this primer was that the smooth surfaces required prep work before use—smooth, hard, or glossy finishes need sanding for the primer to adhere. However, after applying onto sanded metal, it did form a durable finish, and the top coat went on beautifully.

Product Specs 

• Interior/exterior: Both
• Recoat time: 24 hours
• Base material: Oil

Pros

• Prevents rust from growing in some areas; provides peace of mind in the long term
• Is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use for maximum versatility
• Weather- and corrosion-resistant formula provides excellent longevity

Cons

• Metal surfaces should be sanded before applying the primer

Get the Rust-Oleum metal paint primer at Amazon, Ace Hardware, or The Home Depot.

Best for Glossy Surfaces

Kilz Adhesion Interior/Exterior Primer

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Kilz Adhesion interior/exterior primer is formulated to bond to various tough-to-paint surfaces such as PVC, vinyl, glass, tile, and glazed brick. The water-based primer offers the same stain- and odor-blocking properties as the other Kilz primers. Unlike the other primers in the Kilz line, Adhesion does not require sanding a glossy surface before primer application.

Since this primer is virtually identical in its stain and odor properties to the others in the Kilz lines, we primarily tested its ability to stick to slick surfaces. We applied the primer to plastic, metals, and glazed ceramic. We did not sand the surface before application. It did adhere to the surfaces pretty well, but we did find that applying the primer in thin, multiple layers produced better results. Although it took at least two coats, we prefer to paint two coats rather than sanding the entire surface first.

Product Specs 

• Interior/exterior: Both
• Recoat time: 1 hour
• Base material: Water

Pros

• Bonds to glossy surfaces without sanding; easy to apply compared to some other options on the market
• Can be used on products containing xylene or other solvents
• Easy soap-and-water cleanup after use

Cons

• Not for floors or horizontal surfaces subject to prolonged water contact

Get the Kilz Adhesion paint primer at Amazon.

Best for Odor Blocking

Kilz Restoration Interior Primer

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Water, mold, and rust stains are tough to cover, but odors are even harder to conceal. Smoke, pet urine, and food odors often require using an oil-based or shellac-based primer to seal them into the surface before painting. However, Kilz Restoration interior primer offers the same performance as oil-based primers but with the easy cleanup convenience of water-based paint.

Like the other primers offered by Kilz, this primer did an adequate job of covering most light to medium stains. However, Kilz Restoration shines as an odor blocker. We tested this primer drywall in a room where smokers previously resided. The primer went on smoothly and sealed in the odor. Once the top coat was applied, there was no hint of the smell. It did a moderate job concealing old water stains, but we expected that.

Since this primer is mainly formulated for odor blocking, we suggest only using this primer for that purpose. Kilz Original primer is a better stain blocker.

Product Specs 

• Interior/exterior: Interior
• Recoat time: 1 hour
• Base material: Water

Pros

• Minimal odor and low-VOC formula is ideal for homes with children and pets
• Easy soap-and-water cleanup for added convenience after use
• Provides a smooth finish and covers medium to light stains

Cons

• Does not block or cover heavy or prominent stains

Get the Kilz Restoration paint primer at Amazon, Ace Hardware, or The Home Depot.

Best for Exterior

Kilz 3 Premium Interior/Exterior Primer