6 Best Paints for Rental Properties

Finding the right type of paint for your property can be a bit of a challenge. You want a paint that is durable, easy to maintain, and won't break the bank. After all, the last thing you want to do is repaint your rental property every year. But whether you're looking to spruce up your property's interior or exterior, we've got you covered. In this article, we've compiled a list of the 6 best paints for rental properties.

The best rental property paints include:

• Heirloom Traditions ALL-IN-ONE Paint: Best Overall Paint
• Diamond Brite Oil Base Enamel: Best Budget Paint
• Giani Brick Transformations: Best Whitewash Paint
• Glidden One Coat: Best Single-Coat Paint
• Backdrop Premium Exterior Paint: Best Luxury Paint
• Prestige Paints Interior: Best Interior Paint

How We Selected the Best Rental Property Paint

To compile our list of the 6 best paints for rental properties, we considered a variety of factors like recommendations, reviews, price, durability, ingredients, and ease of use.

We evaluated these rental property paints based on:

• Landlord Recommendations: We looked for paints that had a proven track record of performing well in rental properties according to other landlords.
• Online Reviews: We then scoured online reviews to see what other landlords and property owners had to say about each paint's performance.
• Price: We considered a range of price points to ensure that there were options for every budget.
• Durability: We looked for paints that were durable and could withstand a lot of wear and tear that’s common in rental properties.
• Ingredients: We considered each paint's ingredients to ensure that they were safe and environmentally friendly.
• Ease of Use: Finally, we looked for paints that were easy for landlords to apply themselves, without needing professional help.

According to our criteria, the best paint for rental property landlords is the Heirloom Traditions ALL-IN-ONE Paint because it has an excellent track record as well as consistently high ratings from customers. It also is very easy to use for landlords who want to save money on professional painters.

The best rental property paints are:

1. Heirloom Traditions ALL-IN-ONE Paint: Best Overall Paint

Heirloom Traditions ALL-IN-ONE Paint is a versatile paint that can be used on virtually any surface, including walls, cabinets, furniture, and even floors. What makes this paint stand out is its all-in-one formulation, which eliminates the need for multiple coats and primers. This means that you can save time and money by using this paint for a variety of projects around your rental property. It also has a quick dry time, making it easy to apply and finish up projects quickly.

This paint comes in 44 different colors, which you can order samples of. You can also buy full gallons on Amazon.

Like the name states, this paint requires no sanding, priming, or top coat. Yet it still comes out as vibrant as harder to use paints. Still, it won’t cover dark or highly pigmented surfaces in just one coat. However, the overall performance of this paint makes it easy to see why it’s a favorite among DIY landlords and property owners alike.

2. Diamond Brite Oil Base Enamel: Best Budget Paint

Being on a tight budget doesn’t mean scrimping on quality, especially when it comes to paints. Our favorite budget-friendly paint is the Diamond Brite Oil Base Enamel, which you can get on Amazon.

As per Diamond Brite, this can be used for wood, concrete, plaster, masonry, hardboard, and metal. Its oil-based formulation makes it resistant to water, stains, and even mildew, which makes it a great choice for rental properties located in areas with high humidity or moisture. It dries to a hard, glossy finish that is easy to clean and maintain, which is ideal for rental properties that need to look their best for potential tenants.

As for downsides, expect that the formula takes longer to dry and may smell stronger than other non-oil based paints. The paint is also available in only 12 colors, most of them dark or neutral, which means you may not find the color you like within their selection. Still, if you’re on a tight budget and aren’t looking for anything too fancy, then give this one a shot.

3. Giani Brick Transformations: Best Whitewash Paint

Whitewashing brick has become a popular trend in recent years, and for good reason. It can instantly give a room a fresh and modern look without the need for a complete renovation. That's where Giani Brick Transformations comes in. This paint is specifically designed for whitewashing brick and is a great option for landlords looking to update their properties without breaking the bank. Get it on Amazon.

You can even purchase a full kit that comes with the paint and the tools you’ll need to transform your room. The paint is also water-based and low odor, and is designed to be durable and long-lasting.

Note that it is only designed for use on brick surfaces, so it may not be the most convenient and cost-effective option for landlords looking to update other surfaces in the property. However, if you’re looking to update a brick wall or a fireplace, then the Giani Brick Transformations is an excellent choice.

4. Glidden One Coat: Best Single-Coat Paint

As the name suggests, the Glidden One Coat is a paint that offers full coverage in just one coat. This is a huge time-saver for landlords who want to complete their painting projects quickly and efficiently. But what makes this paint good goes beyond just its quick coverage. This dries down to a durable and long-lasting finish, which is great because it’s an exterior paint.

This paint is available in three different finishes and 20 different neutral color options on Amazon. You can also find a full list of their product catalog on the Glidden website.

While the color options leave a lot to be desired, the key feature of Glidden One Coat is its time-saving capability. Completing a painting project in one coat can save a significant amount of time and effort. However, expect the paint to be extremely thick. Still, this shouldn’t affect how easy it is to use.

5. Backdrop Premium Exterior Paint: Best Luxury Paint

If we’re judging by packaging alone, the Backdrop Premium Exterior Paint already wins. This paint comes in a cute tin packaging that you’ll want to keep forever. Thankfully, the paint itself doesn’t disappoint.

This is a high-quality, luxury paint that is perfect for landlords who want to give their properties a high-end, polished look. This paint offers excellent coverage and color retention, ensuring that your rental property will look great for years to come. Additionally, the paint is easy to apply and dries quickly, minimizing downtime and allowing you to get back to business as usual.

On Amazon, you can choose from 0.5 to 5 gallons. There are hundreds of colors to choose from, some of which are super fun and themed like the Barbie Dreamhouse Pink above.

Each color comes in two finishes, plus different uses: choose from exterior, interior, and cabinets and doors. This low-odor paint is made without the use of formaldehyde and other harmful substances; Backdrop is even the first Climate Neutral Certified paint company!

Honestly, this is a pretty great paint. Our only gripe with it is its price is that it isn’t the most budget-friendly exterior paint out there. But, if you’re looking for a fun color you can’t find anywhere, then give Backdrop a try.

6. Prestige Paints Interior: Best Interior Paint

Are you looking to update the inside of your rental? Then the Prestige Paints Interior might be the perfect choice. This paint has a low-VOC formula, making it safe for use around people and pets, and it's available in a variety of finishes, including flat, eggshell, and semi-gloss. One of the things that make this paint great is its ability to cover existing paint or dark colors with just one coat, which will be a lifesaver for you.

Choose from thousands of colors on their Amazon store. You can also browse the Prestige Paints website for inspiration and color matching. But their unique selling point is that they match competitors’ colors–so you can get the exact color you want for anything in your rental without breaking the bank.

Their website also has a cool feature which lets you “try” the paints on your walls using a picture. This is extremely handy if you’re undecided about what color to choose. Still, because they pride themselves as being an online paint company, it’s hard to get a perfect match to the color you envision.

So, if you aren’t super picky about colors (and can go slightly lighter or darker), then give Prestige Paints a try. Their color selection is impressive and affordable, and they have a unique proposition that can make painting your rental a breeze.

Key Takeaway

Choosing the right paint for your rental properties isn’t just about aesthetics; the right paint can save you time and money in the long run. The right paint won’t break the bank, be easy to use, and will look great for years to come. That’s why we recommend the Heirloom Traditions ALL-IN-ONE Paint. It is the best overall choice for its combination of durability, ease of use, and stellar reviews.