Last Updated on March 14, 2024 by Masha Eretnova
Acrylic is highly versatile and works for almost any project, including glass, windows, and even stained glass. You can use acrylic paints on glass, but it won’t be as easy as canvas painting and you need special acrylics.
Acrylic for glass and acrylic enamel paints work best on glass and stick permanently. They can be waterproof and safe to wash in a dishwasher.
Lately, the manufacturers have also introduced acrylic markers or pens that also work with glass. I will list bestselling high-quality markers below, as well as acrylic paint you can use on glass.
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Table of Contents
Acrylic Paints That Work on Glass
- Folk art Enamel acrylic paint for glass is the best acrylic paint for glass [craft and medium level]
- Pebeo Vitrea 160 Glass Paint – Best Premium acrylic paint for glass
- Krylon Paint for glass – Best spray acrylic paint for glass
- Crafty Dab Window Writers Paint – Best acrylic paint for temporary projects on glass windows
- Gallery Glass – permanent but peelable paint for glass
- Artistro Paint Pens – Best acrylic marker for glass
- Magicdo Stained Glass Paint – Best acrylic paint for stained glass
Folk art Enamel acrylic paint for glass – The best acrylic paint for glass OVERALL
Folk art acrylic paint is a versatile brand – you can use this acrylic paint on wood, glass, canvas, ceramics, or fabric. This paint was created using non-toxic formula specifically for painting glass and ceramics.
The set includes 16 – 2 oz bottles of craft paint. The colors in this kit include Wicker White, Yellow Light, Pure Orange, Parisian Pink, Lipstick Red, Perfect Purple, True Blue, Calypso Sky, Turquoise, Lime Green, Evergreen, Coffee Bean, Burnt Umber, Licorice, Silver Sterling, and Gold.
The perfect paint for beginners who will use acrylic paint with glass.
Pros
- made specifically for glass and ceramics
- durable, scratch resistant
- gloss finish
- easy to clean
- can be cured in the oven
- dishwasher safe
- affordable
Cons
- may not be good for stained glass
- may feel too thick but you can easily thin it with acrylic or glass medium.
Read more: 10 Best Paints for Porcelain & Ceramic To Use [Full GUIDE]
Magicdo Stained Glass Paint – Best acrylic paint for stained glass
Magicdo paint is acrylic paint made for painting stained glass, windows, and glassware.
The set includes 12 colors: Violet, Crimson, Deep Blue, Orange Yellow, Light Green, Cerulean Blue, Black, Rose, Viridian, Burn Umber, Mid Yellow,
For best color lightfastness it is recommended to cure the painted glass in the oven at 176℉ for two hours.
Pros
- made for glass painting
- oven safe
- non-toxic
- great sheerness
- value for money
Cons
- not waterproof
- hard to buy, very few in stock
- may occur too transparent
Pebeo Vitrea 160 Glass Paint – acrylic paint for glass bottles and one of the best window paints
Pebeo offers high-quality paint for professional artists. Pebeo Vitrea 160 is glass paint created for painting on glassware, vases, lamps, and windows. The paint is fluid, easy to use, transparent, non-toxic, and thermo-hardening.
The colors available in a set of 10 tubes are Sun Yellow, Paprika, Pepper Red, Lazuli, Turquoise, Sandalwood Green, Emerald, Earth Brown, Veil White, and Ink Black.
Vitrea product line also offers a Frosted medium to create frosted or etched effects and an Iridescent Medium that can make colors change under light.
Pros
- permanent high quality paint designed for glass
- can be baked in oven
- dishwasher safe
- whole product line with Frosted, Iridescent mediums, and thinner.
Cons
- pricey ($55.85 for set of 10)
- not food-safe
Related: How to Paint Glass Bottles With Acrylic
Crafty Dab Window Writers Paint – Best cheap window paint for temporary projects on glass
Crafty Dab Window Writers Paint is a temporary paint for glass with great coverage. It works great for large areas and will be easy to remove after. You can paint your windows for Christmas with this paint or car windows for weddings.
Pros
- temporary
- good quite transparent coverage
Cons
- pricey ($55.85 for set of 10)
- not very good for small details (use the brush)
Krylon Paint for glass
Krylon Paint for glass is spray paint for painting on glass. 14 colors all can be purchased only individually. Every bottle contains 12 oz. Krylon paint is semi-transparent and has a powdery finish.
With Krylon paint, you can make window frost spray style painting that you can remove. But if you are looking to make a PERMANENT window frost spray that won’t come off, you should use Rust-Oleum window frost, people say it doesn’t want to come off whatever they do!
Pros
- permanent
- durable with strong adhesion
Cons
- it will be expensive to buy a whole set, as every bottle costs around $10.
- semi-transparent
- only sold individually
- hard to buy
Arteza acrylic paint for glass
The Arteza acrylic paint set of 20 bottles with liquid paint. Arteza is one of the biggest paint supplies brands on the market. This set is made for exterior projects and surfaces like glass, wood, and ceramics.
However, Arteza is considered student or craft grade paint and may not be the perfect fit for fine art.
Pros
- fast-drying
- made for glass
- well-known brand for beginners
- easy-to-use and clean paint for beginners
- affordable – a paint set of 20 colors only $25.
Cons
- student grade paint, may result in poor coverage
- matte finish (not a con maybe for your case)
- only 2oz bottles
Apple barrel acrylic paint for glass
Apple Barrel paints are universal craft paints for small projects. The brand itself produces paint since 1976.
The set contains 18 bottles of 2 oz each with the following colors: White and Black, Yellow Flame, Bright Yellow, Bright Magenta, Fuchsia, Jack-o-lantern, Flag Red, Purple Iris, Parrot Blue, Bimini Blue, Bright Blue, Too Blue, New Shamrock, Holly Branch, Nutmeg Brown, Melted Chocolate, and Pewter Grey.
All vibrant colors have a matte finish.
Pros
- cheap
- easy to paint and clean
- TOP-5 bestselling craft paint on Amazon
- great choice for beginneres
Cons
- matte finish* (may fit your idea)
- craft quality paint
- for interior use only
- some customers got too thinned or chalky paint.
Liquitex acrylic paint for glass
Liquitex is one of the two most trusted paint brands. Liquitex Basics are created as high-performant student grade paint for versatile projects.
This paint has a thick creamy consistency and needs to be thinned while working. The set includes 12 basic colors with different opacity and lightfastness.
Pros
- high-quality paint and trusted brand
- great coverage
- satin finish
- vivid colors
Cons
- may be too thick for beginners. Need thining
- quite pricey for small set
- was not specifically designed for glass
I would recommend buying Liquitex on Blick as it is cheaper than Amazon.
Craft smart acrylic paint for glass
Craft smart acrylic paint is a universal craft paint that was not actually made for glass or for professional artists. It is cheap and great for beginners and small projects.
The set includes 16 colors in 2 oz bottles.
Pros
- 16 fast-drying colors
- cheap
Cons
- may peel off
- low quality of the paint
- matte finish
Magicfly Acrylic Paint Set
Magicfly Acrylic Paint Set is designed for diverse painting surfaces including glass – tested on glass Chrstimas ornaments!
The set includes 20 colors, all paint is liquid. It also contains 3 small brushes. So you’re all set to go!
Be careful with this paint – it dries too fast! Never let the bottles open or the paint will dry in the bottles.
Pros
- trusted bestselling set for glass painting
- very affordable: great value for money
- fast-drying
- water resistant when fully cured
Cons
- still craft paint quality
- may occur drying too fast
- some batches were chalky
- paint chart is not accurate, do the test swatch
- coverage may be poor if you add more water
Colorful Acrylic Glass Paint
This craft set comes with everything you need – palette, 12 acrylic enamel paints and brushes and it is a cheap paint for painting on glass ornaments, vases, and bottles.
The colors are transparent so you can paint a lamp as well – the light will still be able to go through. Yet, if you want it more opaque, you will have to do a few layers.
A big advantage of this paint is that you don’t have to bake it to seal and waterproof it. Just let it dry and that’s it. This makes it optimal for painting with kids – simply safer.
Removable Gallery Glass Paint
Unique droplet bottles that do not drip!
Amazing decision and probably the best bottles on the market – you can simply paint with the bottle on your windows and glass doors, even vertically.
The paint is permanent but removable. Once you want to get remove it you can simply peel it off! But it is only for indoors, it is not permanent or suitable for outdoors.
The only downside of this paint is the price – almost 40 bucks for a set.
acrylic paint markers for glass
Acrylic markers for glass can be used for finely detailed work and craft projects. I use markers to draw on windows for Christmas, but they can also be used over acrylic paint for adding details or lettering.
I made some windows drawings for my friend’s bakery last Christmas using Artiqo markers:
Arteza Acrylic markers
Arteza Acrylic markers set of 40 pens was created for painting on rocks, glass, plastic, wood, fabric, and more.
Pens are great for fine work (tip is 0.8-1.2mm), are fast-drying and UV-resistant, and have better ink flow. The colors include 37 vivid and 3 metallic pigments.
Pros
- high-quality brand
- fast-drying, UV resistant
- great sheerness
- Long lasting
Cons
- rarely can dry up quickly
- may not be great to cover large areas
- may seem pricey – $45
Artistro Paint Pens – The best acrylic marker for glass
The absolute leader among customers is this brand – Artistro. They offer premium quality, opaque vivid colors, glossy finish, and extra-fine line – 0.7 mm.
Pros
- premium quality
- versatile: from paper to glass and clay
- fine lines and detailed work
- great gift for beginners
Cons
- maybe more expensive than alternatives but they are worth it
- rarely the finished product is ruined in the dishwasher or oven
How to choose acrylic paint for glass
Basically, factors you should consider buying a good acrylic paint are universal no matter what surface you’re going to paint on.
Still, if you’re painting acrylic on glass, keep in mind the following.
Read the label
Acrylic paint is water-based. However, acrylics may also include other ingredients such as latex, water, and preservatives.
The label will also tell you if the paint is slow-drying, opaque or transparent, and any other important details.
- Some paint manufacturers will mention if the paint is great for any specific surface. Look for “glass”.
Enamel paints are acrylic-based, but will stick better to the glass and it is easier to seal the surface using clear varnish or glass protector spray.
Opacity
Glass surface is very smooth and when I apply colors directly they may be streaky and transparent.
Also, if you paint the windows or any glass surface that some light can come through – opaque paints won’t let the light pass, while transparent colors will.
Some pigments are more transparent or opaque by nature. Check the label and my full list of the most opaque pigments.
Drying time
Acrylic paint is fast-drying.
Some brands will be dry to touch in 10 minutes, all acrylic and enamel paint is completely dry in 24 hours. But when painting on glass, we will let the glass cure in the oven and let it sit aside for at least 72 hours.
Finish
There are 3 most common finishes: matte, satin, and gloss.
We can either pick the paint with a certain finish or adjust it with a top sealing coat.
The gloss finish is the regular and nicest one, and also the most durable, but many craft paints are matte.
When we painting on glass there is one more finish we can choose, especially for holiday season – frosted effect. It is done best with special spray paint and is easy to apply!
Washing and sealing
Painting on glass it is important to know how you will be able to seal a certain paint and if you will be able to wash it safely.
Some paints are not safe to seal by baking and some cannot be washed in a dishwasher – so read the label.
For ex., Folk Art acrylic paint for glass is dishwasher-safe.
FAQ
Will Regular Acrylic Paint Work On Glass?
Regular acrylic paint will stick to glass, but not permanently. It can work on glass well if it is a temporary decorative project. For durable and long-lasting finish, use special acrylic paint for glass or acrylic enamel paints.
What kind of acrylic paint do you use on glass?
Enamel acrylic and acrylic paint that has a clear sign on the label that it is suitable for glass. You can also mix any acrylic paint with a special Acrylic glass medium and use it onto the glass. I recommend using Folk Art paint for glass.
Does acrylic paint wash off the glass?
Acrylic paint is water-based and it’s not too difficult to get acrylic paint off the glass. If you use acrylic paint on glass without primer and searer it will easy to peel or wash off.
Acrylic paint cured on glass in the oven or sealed with a protective coat will be water-resistant.
Is acrylic paint for glass dishwashers safe?
Acrylic paint on glass is usually not safe to wash in a dishwasher, nor to soak or scrub it as you can scrape the paint off.
But some special glass paint can specify it on the label if they are so durable that you can use dishwasher, only on top shelf.
Can acrylic paint be removed from glass?
To remove acrylic paint from your work, try using turpentine mixed with mineral spirits and cotton swabs. Rubbing alcohol can also be used as a cleaning solvent for acrylic paint.
Final Thoughts
As long as you use acrylic paint that is safe to use and wash on glass you will be able to paint on anything: wine bottles and glasses, plates, windows, glass ornaments, etc.
If you don’t want to bother with brushes, paints and water, simply use markers – this is what I do what I want to decorate windonws for holidays or draw on a bottle.
I find that yet, not only the paint matter but the type of glass and how well you prepared it.
Have you tried painting on glass? Which paints you used?
Masha Eretnova, born in 1991, is a Buenos Aires-based certified teacher, artist, and member of the Professional Artist Association with 20+ years of personal painting journey.
She started painting and drawing very early and is now an international abstract artist and educator passionate about acrylic painting, gouache, and crafts.
Her works are part of international exhibitions and contests, including ArtlyMix (Brazil), Al-Tiba 9 (Spain), Exhibizone (Canada), Italy, and many more.
Besides her artistic pursuits, Masha holds a post-grad diploma in Teaching Film Photography and 2 music school diplomas: piano and opera singing.
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