Rustoleum is a popular brand of paint known for its durability and rust prevention properties. If you’re looking for an alternative paint that offers similar performance and quality, there are several options to consider.
What Makes Rustoleum Paint Unique?
Before exploring Rustoleum paint alternatives, it’s helpful to understand what makes Rustoleum different. Here are some of the key features of Rustoleum paint:
- Durable finish that resists chipping, fading, and wearing away
- Contains rust inhibitors that prevent rust from forming on metal surfaces
- Oil-based formula provides good coverage and hides imperfections
- Available in a wide range of colors from neutrals to bright accents
- Can be used on wood, metal, concrete, masonry and more
- Provides long-lasting protection for outdoor and indoor use
Keep these performance characteristics in mind as you evaluate alternatives to find a comparable option.
Krylon
One of the most direct competitors to Rustoleum is Krylon spray paint. Here’s how Krylon compares:
- Very similar oil-based formula with rust inhibitors
- Provides maximum rust prevention and long-lasting finish
- UV-resistant to prevent fading and discoloration
- Low odor and fast drying time
- Wide range of colors from metallic to neon shades
- Can be used on metal, wood, plastic, wicker, concrete and more
- High quality results but slightly more expensive than Rustoleum
Krylon is an excellent choice if you’re seeking a durable, rust-preventing spray paint that is comparable to Rustoleum’s performance.
Montana Spray Paint
Montana spray paint is a high-quality brand popular with graffiti artists and professionals. Here’s how it stacks up against Rustoleum:
- Very rich, dense pigmented paint for exceptional coverage
- Unique wide fat cap design for greater paint flow
- Made in Germany with top-grade materials
- High pressure output for quick coverage
- Up to 12+ hours of drying time between coats
- Hundreds of matte, gloss, metallic, fluorescent colors
- Ideal for large scale murals, not small DIY projects
- Much more expensive than Rustoleum at $7-$10 per can
Montana spray paint delivers unparalleled coverage and vivid colors ideal for artistic applications. It’s not formulated for rust prevention.
Valspar spray paint
Valspar is another top contender for Rustoleum alternatives:
- Primer + paint all-in-one formula
- Provides rust protection for metal surfaces
- Enamel paint resists fading, chipping, and abrasion
- Use on metal, wood, plastic, wicker, masonry and more
- Fast-drying in as little as 15 minutes
- Available in popular colors like black, white, gold, silver
- Lower price point than Rustoleum
Valspar offers the rust preventing protection and broad surface use of Rustoleum while being more budget-friendly.
Rust-Oleum American Accents
Rustoleum’s own American Accents spray paint line is another great option:
- Ultra-smooth gloss finish resists weathering
- Stays vibrant without fading or yellowing
- Use on wood, metal, ceramic, glass, wicker, more
- Oil-based enamel formula
- Fast dry time about 10-30 minutes
- broader color selection than standard Rustoleum
- Prices very competitively with standard Rustoleum
American Accents offers the premium quality and protective performance of Rustoleum with a wider range of colors and finishes.
Hammered spray paint
Rust-Oleum’s hammered finish spray paint is another great alternative to replicate Rustoleum’s quality:
- Textured metallic hammered look
- Durable enamel paint won’t chip, crack, or peel
- Pearlescent colors like gold, pewter, silver, rose gold
- 8+ hour recoat time for proper drying
- For use on wood, metal, ceramic, glass and more
- Matches standard Rustoleum price
The hammered collection allows you to achieve a unique textured metal look with Rustoleum’s trusted performance.
Rustoleum Chalked paint
Rustoleum’s own Chalked ultra matte paint is an on-trend alternative to their original formula:
- Soft matte “chalk” like finish
- Goes on smoothly for an uneven, distressed look
- Water-based acrylic formula
- Low odor and fast 30 minute dry time
- Good durability for indoor and outdoor use
- Vintage inspired colors
- Available in cheaper the small “Chalk Mini” cans
Chalked paint from Rustoleum lets you achieve a trendy, vintage look with great versatility and low-odor convenience.
PPG Architectural Coatings
PPG manufactures quality commercial and industrial grade paints comparable to Rustoleum:
- Industrial enamel paint for metal, wood, concrete, more
- Alkyd-oil based formula similar to Rustoleum
- Withstands chemical and abrasion resistance
- Commonly used in factories, plants, refineries
- Up to 10 times the cost of consumer Rustoleum paint
- Must be applied by professional painters
PPG architectural coatings provide commercial grade durability and performance similar to Rustoleum at a much higher price point.
Behr Alkyd semi-gloss enamel
Behr’s alkyd enamel is suitable for similar applications as Rustoleum:
- Oil-based enamel paint
- Excellent adhesion and durability
- Rust preventative properties
- Semi-gloss sheen good for trim, doors, cabinets, furniture
- Quick 4 hour recoat time
- Can be applied with brush, roller or sprayer
- Much higher cost than Rustoleum
Behr’s premium alkyd enamel offers performance comparable to Rustoleum at a higher price point.
Zinsser Bulls Eye Shellac
Zinsser Bulls Eye Shellac is an alternative to Rustoleum for priming and sealing:
- Premium shellac-based primer and sealer
- Excellent stain blocking and adhesion
- Seals in odors and pet urine stains
- High hiding shellac formula
- Fast recoat time about 45-60 minutes
- For interior wood, drywall, plaster, metal and more
- More expensive than Rustoleum at $20+ per quart
Zinsser Bulls Eye Shellac is the top choice primer and sealer to prepare surfaces for painting when a shellac-base is preferred.
Rustoleum Cabinet Transformations
For painting kitchen or bathroom cabinets, Rustoleum Cabinet Transformations offers similar performance to original Rustoleum formula:
- All-in-one system for painting cabinets
- Includes deglosser, bonding primer, decorative glaze
- Ultra smooth factory-like finish
- Won’t chip, peel or fade over time
- Soap & water clean up, low odor
- 10+ colors like white, gray, taupe
- More expensive than regular Rustoleum
Cabinet Transformations allows you to refresh cabinets with a durable, factory-like painted finish using Rustoleum’s trusted coating system.
RestoBright Enamel Spray Paint by Rustoleum
RestoBright spray paint from Rustoleum offers excellent auto paint performance:
- Acrylic enamel formula
- Ideal for car, truck, automotive applications
- Gloss, metallic and custom finishes
- Chips and scratch resistant
- Superior coverage and corrosion resistance
- Gas, oil, abrasion resistant
- High heat resistance up to 200??F for engines
RestoBright automobile spray paint restores and customizes cars, trucks, and engines with a durable, glossy automotive finish.
Rust-Oleum High Heat
For high temperature applications, Rust-Oleum High Heat spray paint is an excellent alternative to their standard formula:
- Withstands temperatures up to 1200??F
- Prevents rust and corrosion
- Good for grills, wood stoves, radiators, engines, more
- Gloss black and aluminum finishes
- Oil-based formula provides lasting protection
- Faster drying than typical Rustoleum
Rust-Oleum High Heat spray paint is specifically engineered to withstand extremely high temperatures while preventing rust.
Rustoleum Universal spray paint
Rustoleum Universal spray paint offers optimal versatility comparable to their regular paints:
- Bonds to virtually any surface including plastic and vinyl
- Excellent adhesion and durability
- Oil-based acrylic enamel
- Use on wood, metal, concrete, masonry, laminate, wicker and more
- Apply directly to rust for strong corrosion resistance
- Available in many colors and finishes
Universal spray paint from Rustoleum is the ideal choice when an all-purpose paint is needed for a wide variety of surfaces.
Kilz Adhesion High-Bonding Interior/Exterior Latex Primer/Sealer
Kilz Adhesion primer is comparable to Rustoleum primer:
- Sticks to slick surfaces where paint won’t adhere
- Excellent for metal, plastic, glossy finishes, tile, glass, more
- Bonds paint to surface for long lasting finish
- Water-based latex formula for low odor
- Tintable to match top coat color
- Comparable price to Rustoleum primer
Kilz Adhesion helps paint stick to surfaces that standard primers struggle with while offering similar quality and value as Rustoleum.
Rustoleum 2X Ultra Cover
2X Ultra Cover paint + primer from Rustoleum offers twice the coverage speed and protection:
- Paint + primer in one
- Only 1 coat needed for full coverage
- Thick formula hides imperfections
- Resists chipping and fading
- Use on interior and exterior surfaces
- Soap and water cleanup
- Comparable cost to their standard paint
2X Ultra Cover allows you to get the job done fast and efficiently with less coats needed and the trusted quality of Rustoleum.
Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch
Painter’s Touch paint from Rustoleum is another good alternative to their original formula:
- General purpose enamel paint
- Low VOC water-based acrylic
- For interior and exterior use
- Dries to touch in 20 minutes
- Soap and water cleanup
- Many colors and finishes available
- More affordably priced quart cans
Painter’s Touch by Rustoleum offers quality performance with low odor and fast dry time in more budget-friendly options.
Rust-Oleum Stops Rust
Stops Rust protective enamel from Rustoleum prevents and stops rust:
- Contains rust inhibitors
- Stops existing rust from spreading
- Durable oil-based enamel finish
- Use on automobiles, appliances, equipment, more
- Excellent adhesion and rust protection
- Available in quarts for large jobs
Stops Rust lives up to its name by preventing existing rust from advancing while providing long-term protection across many surfaces.
Rustoleum Professional Grade
Rustoleum’s Professional Grade spray paint offers heavy duty industrial performance:
- Acrylic enamel formula
- Superior chip, fade, and abrasion resistance
- Ideal for industrial, commercial applications
- Corrosion and rust inhibiting
- High output nozzle for increased spray efficiency
- For metal, wood, concrete, masonry and more
Professional Grade provides commercial-level durability while resisting rust and corrosion like Rustoleum classic.
Dupli-Color Perfect Match Automotive Paint
Dupli-Color Perfect Match is an ideal Rustoleum alternative for automotive paint:
- Precision color match for vehicles
- For use on cars, trucks, fleet vehicles
- Acrylic enamel formula
- Gloss, metallic, and custom finishes
- Great adhesion and durability
- Resists fading, chipping, rust
Dupli-Color auto paint offers OEM-quality results for painting cars, trucks, and fleets with durable finishes.
Montana Black Spray Paint
Montana BLACK is a premium Rustoleum substitute for artistic applications:
- Distinct flat, matte black finish
- High coverage with intense pigmentation
- Smooth, consistent application
- Fast drying time
- For creative, artistic projects
- Many colors beyond just black
Montana BLACK delivers striking flat black results perfect for street art, murals, creative designs.
Krylon Dual Superbond Paint + Primer
Krylon Dual is an all-in-one R