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How to Paint Your Front Door Like a Pro
Painting your front door a new color is a fast, easy way to update your entry and add to your home’s curb appeal. You’ll want to make a good first impression with a professional paint job – no drips or visible brush strokes. With the right paint, supplies, and a bit of patience, painting your front door is a DIY job you shouldn’t be afraid to tackle yourself. Planning ahead will make it easier to complete the project in a weekend. We’re here to help, with answers to common questions and a step-by-step guide to the best possible front door paint job.
What kind of paint is best for a front door?
In addition to being exposed to the weather, exterior doors take a beating with everything from kids and pets, to packages and bicycles going in and out. High-gloss, semi-gloss, and satin paint finishes are the best paint sheens for front doors because they provide a rich finish that stands up to washing.
For maximum durability, choose a premium paint formulated to withstand the wear and tear of an exterior door. At Ring’s End, we recommend Benjamin Moore ADVANCE High Gloss paint. This water-based alkyd paint is preferred by professional painters because of its outstanding quality and durability. ADVANCE paint dries slowly and levels evenly to minimize the appearance of brush marks.
Best Front Door Paint: Benjamin Moore ADVANCE
Formula: Waterborne Alkyd
Sheen: High-Gloss
Colors: 3,500+
If your project can't afford the 16-hour recoat time of ADVANCE, another option is Regal Select Exterior Low Lustre or Soft Gloss (1-hour dry time) or the ultra-fast drying Corotech Command paint in satin or gloss. Just keep in mind that it's harder to achieve a smooth finish with paints that dry quickly. These products require greater precision than ADVANCE paint to avoid brush or roller marks.
Preparing for Your Front Door Paint DIY
Skill with a paintbrush isn’t the only factor that will make your DIY front door paint job a success—preparation is key!
First, set up your work area and take note of your front door paint's dry time. Try to create a dust-free zone that’s neither too hot nor too cold, and never paint a door in direct sunlight or within 24 hours of rain (before or after). When the temperature is too hot or the air has very low humidity, the paint will dry before it has a chance to level itself (leveling is the paint’s process of smoothing itself out, which helps hide brush marks).
Ideally, you should remove the door from its hinges and place it on a table or sawhorses. While it is possible to paint a front door while it is hanging, it’s easier to achieve a beautiful smooth finish with a door that’s laying flat.
Front Door Painting Supply List
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4" mini roller with 3/8" nap
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Light, medium, and coarse grit sandpaper
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Drop cloths
Supplies and tools you'll need from home:
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Vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment
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All-purpose cleaner
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Rags
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Sawhorses or work table
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Denatured alcohol (not rubbing alcohol)
Painting a Front Door, Step-by-Step
1. Remove or Cover Door Hardware
To get the smoothest finish, we recommend removing the door from the hinges and placing it on a table or sawhorse. Since that is not always possible, you can paint while it is on the frame. Remove any hardware or cover it with painter's tape for easier painting. Also carefully cover any window trim that you want to protect with painter’s tape.
2. Clean the Surface
Front doors get dirty with dust, pollen, and oil from hands touching them, so it’s important to get the surface clean. Scrub the door with all-purpose cleaner, wipe thoroughly with water to remove all residue, and let it dry fully. Doing this the day before painting is ideal.
3. Sand and Scrape
If your door has any loose or peeling paint, remove it with a paint scraper. You'll also want to sand the old coating. Don’t worry about completely sanding off the previous coating — the purpose of sanding the door is to create a rough surface to which the primer and paint can adhere.
4. Apply Primer
Priming is an important step. A quality primer hides the old paint on your front door and gives the new paint a surface that it can adhere to. For an ultra-smooth finish, apply two coats of primer and sand the door lightly after each coat. Make sure there are no drips or pooling paint in either coat of primer, or they will show in the finished door. Follow the primer’s recoating instructions to make sure it is dry before moving on to paint. Our top primer recommendation for front doors is Benjamin Moore Fresh Start Exterior Wood Primer.
5. Apply Paint
For best results, we recommend using both a brush and roller for different parts of the door. A 2-2.5 in. angled brush is the best choice for detailed areas that are raised or recessed. Brush these detailed areas first, and then use a roller for the flat raised surfaces. We recommend a 4-inch mini roller, with microfiber or velour nap material. The nap should be 3/8 inch or less for smooth surfaces.
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Use the roller’s curved edge or the angled brush to paint the molding profiles around the panel edges
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Paint the center of the panel with the roller
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Paint the areas between panels with the roller following the grain, either horizontally or vertically
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Paint the areas along the side of the door, moving the roller vertically
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Paint the edges of the door last
Apply light coats of paint and watch for drips so you can clean them up with the brush as you go. You will need at least two coats, perhaps three, for a professional finish.
6. Let the Paint Dry Thoroughly
It’s important to let the first coat of front door paint completely dry before applying a second coat or before shutting the door. If using ADVANCE high-gloss paint, note that the dry time is 16 hours to recoat.
7. Install Door Hardware
Once everything is fully dry, remove the painter’s tape and carefully reattach the hardware. Grab a friend to help you lift the door into place and reattach the hinges; then stand back and admire your home’s new look!
Order Front Door Paint Online at Ring's End
Find ADVANCE high gloss paint and Fresh Start Exterior Wood Primer at Ring's End — in-store or online. We offer all Benjamin Moore paints for online ordering, shipping anywhere in the U.S.! Place your order online for fast and convenient shipping right to your front door.
Benjamin Moore ADVANCE Interior/Exterior
Formula: Waterborne Alkyd
Sheen: High-Gloss
Colors: 3,500+
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