The 11 Best Gloss Finishes For Wood (2022 reviews)

gloss finishes for wood
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We consider a gloss finish for wood to be a worthy investment in the long run. Let’s take you step by step, type by type, and find the best gloss finish for wood for you.

Our review process:

Our Top Picks:

Best Overall:
Buy: Totalboat Gloss Finish For Wood
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Best With Low Odor:
Buy: General Finishes Gloss Finish For Wood
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Best For Putting A Finish:
Buy: Decoart Gloss Finish For Wood
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Best For Cabinet:
Buy: Varathane Gloss Finish For Wood
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Best For Banister:
Buy: Minwax Gloss Finish For Wood
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Best For Pine:
Buy: Waterlox Gloss Finish For Wood
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Best For Stained Wood:
Buy: Rustoleum Gloss Finish For Wood
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Best For Front Door:
Buy: Epifanes Gloss Finish For Wood
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Best With Foam Brush:
Buy: Aqua Coat Gloss Finish For Wood
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Best For Great Look:
Buy: Deft/Ppg Architectural Fin Gloss Finish For Wood
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Best For Superior Durability:
Buy: Deft Inc. Gloss Finish For Wood
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Best Overall: Totalboat Gloss Finish For Wood

Totalboat Gloss Finish For Wood
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Totalboat makes beautiful and good-quality finishes with classic and higher-grade materials. The Totalboat Gloss Finish For Wood is great with great stuff, is great for easy application and it is made with great customer service. Based marine varnish limits exposure to harmful chemicals and makes soap and water cleanup easy. The regular halcyon formula dries to a clear gloss finish with a slight amber tone that has the beauty of a traditional marine spar varnish, but with greater clarity, abrasion resistance & sun protection.

The gloss is eco-friendly and it is very evenly. Moreover, it comes in clear or amber colors. Most importantly, the totalboat gloss finish for wood has excellent adhesion and it makes it easy.

Most buyers quickly discovered that the gloss does a great job when applied properly. Further, a few also found that the gloss is painted artwork, and most spar urethanes yellow quite a bit or are amber in color. Moreover, they say that the clear will give you a crystal clear finish and will allow the natural color of the wood to show through.

Top Customer Quotes:
  • This is easy to apply by brushing, rolling or spraying.
  • This is flexible and it works better.
  • It is great to find a varnish that can be applied one coat per hour.
  • This is odorless and it provides excellent durability.

Best With Low Odor: General Finishes Gloss Finish For Wood

General Finishes Gloss Finish For Wood
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Compared with other glosses in this category, the General Finishes Gloss Finish For Wood has a convenient design. The general finish gloss finish for wood looks amazing, maintains its sheen and it stays clear. Make sure this fits by entering your model number. Also, this is great with great stuff and it is great for daily projects.

Finally, the general finishes gloss finish for wood protects well, is made for satin sheen and it works OK.

Most customers agree that the finish has very little odor whatsoever, and as it dries, it actually smells pleasant. In addition, a few say that the finish does indeed dry very quickly. Further, they also found that the finish looks cloudy when wet but it goes clear again when dry.

Top Customer Quotes:
  • The high performance top coat is added to the list of " loves ".
  • This comes with its pure polyurethane durability, it can even be used on floors.
  • This has great results and it is done with great customer service.
  • This is great for protecting newly refinished kitchen cabinets.

Best For Putting A Finish: Decoart Gloss Finish For Wood

Decoart Gloss Finish For Wood
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Best part: Decoart Gloss Finish For Wood costs comparatively cheap and it is available to ship in 24 hours. The decoart gloss finish for wood has a mask and it is great for acrylic paintings. Durable, glossy, non - yellowing polyurethane finish. And, the finish is ideal for art work and it makes a nice. look.

The gloss dries pretty quickly, drys fast and it is clean with soap. Finally, the decoart gloss finish for wood is great for flat surfaces, is food safe and it should be used with caution.

Almost all buyers quickly discovered that the finish is not called UV protective so it doesn’t make those claims. In addition, a few also found that the finish is also not rated for outdoors. Moreover, a few say that the can of spray lacquer would also come from home depot. Without any doubt, this product passed the test and had very satisfied buyers eager to share their experience.

Top Customer Quotes:
  • This is liquid w/ gel quality.
  • Decoart prep/finish americana dura clear varnish high gloss 8oz.
  • This makes a nice shiny clear gloss finish and doesn't alter colors.
  • This can be used all year around, so more conversant that spraying.

Best For Cabinet: Varathane Gloss Finish For Wood

Varathane Gloss Finish For Wood
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The Varathane Gloss Finish For Wood's superior materials makes sure that it ages well with use. The varathane gloss finish for wood dries clear and it is laminate. Based formula dries fast and cleans up with soap and water. Further, this is probably not typical and it is great for art work.

Most importantly, the varathane gloss finish for wood has great results, drys very fast and it is food safe.

Almost all buyers quickly discovered that the gloss is ready to go for each new coat. Moreover, a few strongly agree that the finish comes with two clasps on the rim. And, a few also found that the finish includes all that information, but in a very technical way.

Top Customer Quotes:
  • This is easy to work with and goes on easily using a foam brush.
  • This looks quite nice on the baby's dresser.
  • This protects indoor wood surfaces such as furniture, windows, cabinets, trim and more.
  • This is great for polymer clay artists.

Best For Banister: Minwax Gloss Finish For Wood

Minwax Gloss Finish For Wood
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Compared with other glosses in this category, the Minwax Gloss Finish For Wood has a convenient design. The minwax gloss finish for wood is designed for a great price, makes for ease of application and it is great for oil paint. Minwax wipe-on poly is a durable, clear finish that combines polyurethane protection with classic, hand-rubbed beauty. Moreover, it comes with great stuff and it drys very fast.

The finish is ceramic, protects well and it can be used for interior use. Lastly, the minwax glossfinish forwood is great for outdoor use, applied with a cloth and it is odorless.

Most customers quickly discovered that the gloss is safe for food surface. And, they also found that the finish can be used on table and it's not slick at all. Also, a few also found that the finish would work on a sanded piece of PVC pipe.

Top Customer Quotes:
  • This will leave a shine also.
  • This provides a hand-rubbed look, Additionally it is made of a high quality oil-based polyurethane.
  • This will protect you from light water stains for a short time.
  • This will cover your brush strokes.

Best For Pine: Waterlox Gloss Finish For Wood

Waterlox Gloss Finish For Wood
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Next on the list, we've got yet another gloss that manages to win our hearts. It's the Waterlox Gloss Finish For Wood and it's widely considered as one of the most convenient glosses you can buy. The waterlox gloss finish for wood is very clear and it is for ease of application. The Manufacturer says: Our highest gloss level is offered. This premium tung oil - based, gloss wood finish in the original formulation goes on easily with a brush, lambswool applicator, cloth roller or spray.

The gloss is food safe and it looks great. Further, this is great for coffee table and it allows for a great appearance. Lastly, the waterlox gloss finishfor wood levels out nicely and it can settle for semi-gloss.

Most customers quickly discovered that the finish can be used interchangeably with waterlox sealer finish as the first coat(s) before applying waterlox gloss finish. Moreover, a few say that the finish is where the despised sanding-between-coats must ensue. Furthermore, a few also found that the finish built it is smooth and looks like glass, not plastic like polyurethane. Overall, for most customers, Waterlox product was just what they wanted.

Top Customer Quotes:
  • Must have wood that's gonna be around water.
  • This provides nice strong protection and a beautiful sheen.
  • This makes a very fine and it goes on smoothly.
  • This is easy to apply and super easy to get a great look.

Best For Stained Wood: Rustoleum Gloss Finish For Wood

Rustoleum Gloss Finish For Wood
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The Rustoleum Gloss Finish For Wood is satisfactory and appropriate and fits well with your daily purpose. The rustoleum gloss finish for wood comes with great stuff and it went on easily. Creates a smooth and classy look. Also, it flowed out well and it is ideal for a coffee table.

The finish provides maximum durability and allows for a more even finish. Also, this provides outstanding stain and scratch resistance with ultra fast dry time. Finally, the rustoleum gloss finish for wood protects wood more than two times better than traditional wood finishes.

Almost all customers agree that the gloss is easy to work with, has a great finish, levels well, and dries quickly. And, a few also found that the finish makes whateber it goes on shiny and very durable. Moreover, they strongly agree that the finish is the best varathane ever. In short, buyers found this to be one of the best finish for daily purposes.

Top Customer Quotes:
  • It is important not to overbrush, as it dries quickly.
  • This is made by Flecto, but is now marketed by Rustoleum.
  • This is perfect for low humidity and it went on easily.
  • The smell is strong and it is thicker than water - based polys.

Best For Front Door: Epifanes Gloss Finish For Wood

Epifanes Gloss Finish For Wood
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If you often find yourself confused about convenient and suitable gloss, Epifanes Gloss Finish For Wood is your solution. The epifanes gloss finish for wood is simply beautiful, has a rubbed effect and it is made for garage doors. Maintaining the high gloss beauty with outstanding u.v. Further, it allows no sanding between coats for up to 72 hours.

Above all, the epifanes glossfinish forwood is great for other fine hardwoods and it is perfect for the outdoors.

Most customers found that the gloss is good for sealing the wood before applying epifanes. Further, a few strongly agree that the gloss can be used on a 1929 antique hackercraft 30' boat, with excellent results. Furthermore, a few also found that the proper method is to dilute the varnish 50/50 with varnish thinner for the 1st coat, then 75/25 for the 2nd, then use 100 % varnish for your remaining coats. With no doubts, this gloss passed the test and had very satisfied buyers eager to share their experience.

Top Customer Quotes:
  • This is old school, it takes time.
  • This is easy to apply great finish.
  • This is an indoor item out of a multitude of cheaper polyurathane products.
  • One component is based on phenolic-modified alkyd resin and tung oil.

Best With Foam Brush: Aqua Coat Gloss Finish For Wood

Aqua Coat Gloss Finish For Wood
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The Aqua Coat Gloss Finish For Wood is capable of outshining several other glosses featured in this list in overall features for the price point. The aqua coat gloss finish for wood dries pretty quickly and it is used for musical instruments. Aqua coat clear lacquer forms a hard, stain-resistant film with exceptional clarity and mar resistance. This product may be thinned with water and forms an excellent finish that can be re - coated in 30.

The gloss is perfect for direct sunlight and it works great. Finally, the aqua coat gloss finishfor wood is used for semi-gloss and it allows for extremely clear film.

Almost all customers quickly discovered that the finish is great with up to 5% water if needed. And, they also found that the finish is easy to clean up and waaaaay less stinky. Moreover, they say that the gloss was previously finished years ago. You should lightly sand right before you apply the 3-4 coats of lacquer. Overall, at the price, they believe that they got a steal of a deal with it.

Top Customer Quotes:
  • This is extremely clear and it has a rubbing effect.
  • This is darned good and much easier to apply, without all of the voc odors.
  • This has extreme clarity and it is ready to use.
  • Aqua coat clear lacquer is a water-based, premium - grade, non-yellowing, clear acrylic top coat.

Best For Great Look: Deft/Ppg Architectural Fin Gloss Finish For Wood

Deft/Ppg Architectural Fin Gloss Finish For Wood
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Not everyone likes to purchase gloss for their regular usage, but the Deft/Ppg Architectural Fin Gloss Finish For Wood would be an anomoly. The deft/ppg architectural fin gloss finish for wood makes it easy and it works fantastic. Make sure this fits by entering your model number. Also, this can make for awesome results and it is good for very good quality.

The gloss drys quickly and it drys quickly. Finally, the deft/ppg architectural fin gloss finish for wood is used for semi-gloss and it is great for cheap brushes.

Most customers opine that the finish is ready for another coat in minutes. Also, they strongly agree that the finish is great to be able to buy gallons online. Furthermore, a few also found that the gloss is made of more durable cardboard for shipment of this item. Overall, many buyers have used the finish for more than a few months without any problems, and it shows no sign of giving up.

Top Customer Quotes:
  • This provides a durable and it has a great drying time.
  • This is good for floors or steps.
  • Seals & finishes interior wood furniture baby safe.
  • This is not for high traffic areas.

Best For Superior Durability: Deft Inc. Gloss Finish For Wood

Deft Inc. Gloss Finish For Wood
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The features department is where the Deft Inc. Gloss Finish For Wood truly manages to shine. Make sure this fits by entering your model number. Further, the gloss is excellent on furniture, is designed for superior durability and it is made with household chemicals. To sum up, with a 4.0 rating and more than 80 buyers, the deft inc. gloss finish for wood stands as the best choice.

To sum up, for most customers, the finish was just what they wanted.

Why We Like This:
  • Fast 2-hour dry, very low odor and easy soap.
  • The Crystal clear finish does not yellow with age.
  • 100-percent cross-linking acrylic waterborne finish for most interior wood surfaces.
  • Available in gloss finish; comes in a 1-quart can.