How to Paint a Garage Door

A person prepares to paint a garage door in a few simple steps from prep to priming to painting.

Painting your garage door can update your home with a standout color that complements your home’s exterior. But before you start painting, consider what goes into giving your garage a brand-new look.

Several elements go into painting a garage door. You should be mindful of hinges and glass windows before starting. You also need to consider the condition of your surfaces. Garage doors can be made from many materials, including metal and wood. Some metal can corrode and rust, while wood might become weathered or require stain.

With the right tools, paint, and prep work, you can turn your average garage door into something that boosts your home’s overall beauty.

Expert Tips for Painting a Garage Door

Giving your worn garage door a fresh coat of paint is a great way to enhance your home’s curb appeal. With the right tools and a few expert tips, you can easily paint a garage door and give your home’s exterior a makeover.

See how to repaint your garage door with tips from the experts.

A premium quality Benjamin Moore paintbrush used for painting a garage door. A premium quality Benjamin Moore paintbrush used for painting a garage door.

Step 1: Select the Right Paintbrushes & Paint

Before you start painting, be sure to select the right paint and tools for the job.

First, pick the right paint or stain. If you are painting a wood or metal garage door, consider an exterior acrylic paint such as Aura® Exterior or Regal® Select Exterior High Build. If you want an exterior stain for your wooden garage door, consider Woodluxe® Exterior Stains.

Use synthetic-bristle paintbrushes for acrylic paint: a 3-inch flat sash brush for flat surfaces, and a 2- or 2.5-inch angled sash brush to cut in around edges and windowpanes.

Rollers always work well for large, flat surfaces.


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Helpful Tip

Check the Weather

Use the Benjamin Moore guide for optimal painting conditions. And be sure to avoid rain as well as direct sunlight, which can cause the paint to dry too fast.
A person preps a garage door for painting by cleaning it first. A person preps a garage door for painting by cleaning it first.

Step 2: Prep Your Garage Door for Painting

Before applying any primer or paint, make sure your garage door surface is free of loose, chipping paint and properly dulled from any previous glossy finish.

Disconnect the garage door opener so you can manually move the door up and down as you work—and to keep the door from accidentally moving when you don’t want it to.

Next, use a sponge to scrub the door with an all-purpose cleaner. If needed, pressure wash carefully to remove loose or peeling paint. For stains from mildew, wash with a combination of ¼ cup trisodium phosphate (or TSP, a popular cleaning agent), ¼ cup bleach, and 1 gallon of warm water. Be sure to rinse thoroughly after using TSP and bleach.

Spread a drop cloth under the door to protect the garage floor and driveway.

Sand off any rough edges of paint that didn’t wash off. Use 80- to 220-grit sandpaper, depending on the severity of the edges. Sand until smooth. Be sure not to scratch your garage door’s glass windowpanes.

For metal doors, first loosen any rust with a wire brush, then spot prime those areas with a rust-inhibitive primer like HP Acrylic Metal Primer.

Consult with your locally owned Benjamin Moore store or other professional if there is any significant damage.

Once all that is completed, prepare your space for painting. Tape off windowpanes, trim, and hardware, and clean off debris.


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Important Safety Note

Pressure Washer Tips

1. Remain aware of power cords, stepladders, other equipment and all surroundings.
2. Take care not to spray people, windowpanes or other sensitive items.
3. Always wear personal protective equipment.
A person applies primer to a garage door before painting it. A person applies primer to a garage door before painting it.

Step 3: Apply the Primer and Garage Door Paint

Once your garage door is prepped, it’s time to apply a primer.

Use a high-quality acrylic exterior primer like Insl-X® Stix® or Fresh Start® High-Hiding All-Purpose Primer.

When applying primer or paint to your garage door, start with the top panel and work your way down. Use a brush to cut in around the trim and edges of the door and fill in any recesses in the panels. Afterward, coat the flat surfaces.

Follow the recommended dry times between coats of primer and paint.

Most projects require one coat of primer and two coats of paint for the best results. If your garage door is already painted and in sound condition—and the color change is not drastic—a primer may not be necessary.

Unsure of how many gallons of paint to buy? Use the Benjamin Moore paint calculator.


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Helpful Tip

Struggling with choosing a color?

Visit your locally owned Benjamin Moore store and purchase a few paint color samples. Be sure to observe the colors during different times of the day, and at night under artificial outdoor lighting.
A person cleans a premium quality Benjamin Moore paintbrush. A person cleans a premium quality Benjamin Moore paintbrush.

Step 4: Clean Up

Acrylic paint requires only soap and water cleanup. Be sure to wash your brush before it begins to dry by rinsing it in warm, soapy water. Remove excess water, taking care to keep the bristles in their original shape.

Hang your brush to let it dry. If you saved the brush’s cardboard sleeve, rewrap the dry brush for safe keeping.

Don’t forget to reconnect your garage door opener.


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Helpful Tip

If paint drips dry over the seams of individual panels, use a utility knife to carefully cut it away. Use a small piece of sandpaper to clean up rough edges.



Considering Paint Color for Your Garage Door

When choosing the perfect garage door paint color, think about your current home exterior, including the trim and shutters. Do you want your door to blend with what you have? Or stand out? Get inspired by other exterior and garage door colors in your neighborhood, and test your color before committing.

Popular colors tend to be neutrals like white, beige, and gray. Use the Benjamin Moore Color Portfolio® app to see colors on your exterior using the photo and video visualizers.

Your locally owned Benjamin Moore store carries all the supplies you need for painting a garage door and many other DIY projects on your to-do list. You can also save some time by ordering from our online store and picking up at your local Benjamin Moore store.

Frequently Asked Questions


Q. Should garage doors be painted in a flat or gloss finish?

A. Flat paint finishes are best for ceilings and walls in low-traffic spaces, while gloss finishes are best for trim, doors, cabinets, and architectural details.

Gloss offers an easy-to-clean, stain-resistant surface that adds a stunning look to doors and trim.



Q. What is the most popular garage door color?

A. Popular paint colors for garage doors tend to be neutrals like white, beige, and gray.

Before choosing the perfect color for your garage door, think about your current home exterior and how your garage door might blend in or stand out.

Get inspired by other exterior and garage door colors in your neighborhood, and test your color before committing.



Q. What should I not do when painting a garage door?

A. When painting garage doors, do not forget to prepare your space.

Before applying any primer or paint, make sure your garage door surface is free of loose or chipping paint, and properly dulled from any previous glossy finish.

If needed, pressure wash carefully to remove loose or peeling paint. Sand off any rough edges of paint that didn’t wash off. Use 80- to 220-grit sandpaper, depending on the severity of the edges. Sand until smooth. Be sure not to scratch your garage door’s glass windowpanes.

You should also avoid leaving any rust on your garage door’s surface. For metal doors, first loosen rust with a wire brush, then spot prime those areas with a rust-inhibitive primer like HP Acrylic Metal Primer. Consult the experts at your locally owned Benjamin Moore store or other professional if there is any significant damage.

Finally, do not forget to protect your work area from paint. Protect your glass windows with tape, move any items away from the garage door, and lay down a drop cloth or towels to protect your driveway from paint spatter.



Q. Can I just paint over a garage door?

A. Some coatings can be applied over pre-existing garage door paint. However, the surface must be properly prepped first.

Before applying any primer or paint, make sure your garage door surface is free of loose or chipping paint, and properly dulled from any previous glossy finish.

If needed, pressure wash carefully to remove loose or peeling paint. Sand off any rough edges of paint that didn’t wash off. Use 80- to 220-grit sandpaper, depending on the severity of the edges. Sand until smooth. Be sure not to scratch your garage door’s glass windowpanes.



Q. What should I consider when choosing a garage door paint color?

A. When choosing the perfect color for your garage door paint, think about your current home exterior, including the trim and shutters. Do you want your door to blend with what you have? Or stand out? Get inspired by other exterior and garage door colors in your neighborhood, and test your color before committing.



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