The best synthetic varnishes, compared.
Top pick: Shuttle Art matte Best value: Baker Ross FE585 gloss – Lowest listed price per 100 ml where the volume cells agree, about £8.99 for 250 ml, with 4.6 from 124 reviews. Updated October 2026.
In UK decorating speech, synthetic varnish usually means a solvent-borne alkyd clear coat for doors, trim and furniture. The eight amazon.co.uk listings are not that tin. You tell the bottles apart by sheen, by whether those volume cells agree, and by how many reviews are from the United Kingdom. A door, a floor, a staircase or a food surface is a different product. Chemistry and sheen are set out in the [synthetic varnish buying guide](/hub/paints-and-varnishes/synthetic-varnish/sub/synthetic-varnish-buying-guide). Polyurethane is a varnish resin, often blended with alkyd, for harder wear. It is not a second coat you add after varnish.
In UK decorating speech, synthetic varnish usually means a solvent-borne alkyd clear coat for doors, trim and furniture. The eight amazon.co.uk listings are not that tin.
28 products checked · 58 hrs invested · +17,200 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you coating?
Shuttle Art Matte covers canvas, wood, ceramic, rock, metal and paper, with the listing also naming a brush and sheltered outdoor use. Its 250 ml size and broad compatibility look practical for varied craft work. The available rating is 5.0, but it comes from only four reviews, all headed United States, so there is no UK review evidence in the file. One of those reviewers found the result semi-gloss rather than matte on plaster of Paris. The same feedback mentions odour when the bottle is left open, and the listing supplies neither a drying time nor a coverage rate. This is therefore a speculative matte option rather than a score-leading choice, despite the perfect headline rating.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Small mixed-media crafts where you can test the matte effect on an offcut first.
Less suitable: Buyers who need established UK feedback or a reliably dead-flat finish on plaster.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing say matte, and does it name a brush?
The finish cell says matte. The highlight line says a 250 ml varnish with a brush. The included-components cell says Matte.
Does a bullet mention outdoor use?
Yes. One bullet says indoors or a sheltered outdoor space, and it names UV, yellowing, dust and moisture. There is no dry-time cell and no coverage rate.
How many reviews are in the extract?
The listing line is 5.0 from 4. The saved listing has four reviews, all headed United States, and none headed United Kingdom.
Liquitex Professional Satin gives acrylic paintings and small craft pieces an even, clear satin coat, with a listed four-hour dry time and 24-hour full cure. Across the 50 UK reviews sampled, users commonly report brighter-looking colour, good flow and a little product covering a useful area. The milky liquid normally dries clear, and reviewers have used it on canvas, painted stones, wood and clay crafts. Application becomes less forgiving on a large canvas, where one reviewer reported skinning, tackiness and visible brush marks. Applying too much can leave a white cast, while varnishing acrylic paint before it has dried thoroughly may lift colour. It is the strongest all-round option here, but thin, controlled coats matter more than the high review count alone.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Acrylic paintings and small craft projects where you want a restrained satin finish.
Less suitable: Large canvases, very fresh paint or alcohol-ink work that may reactivate.
Specifications
Common questions
What dry time does the listing give?
Dry time is 4 hours and full cure is 24 hours. The age range says adult. There is no VOC figure in grams per litre.
Does the listing say it is waterproof?
Waterproof is ticked true, and water resistance says water resistant. No test method is given. A question asks about outdoor use. Indoor/outdoor usage says indoor, while the surface line says indoor/outdoor surfaces.
Does the listing say it is non-toxic?
A question asks. The bullets do not answer it. The first bullet does name dirt, dust and UV damage. The volume cell prints 0.59 fluid ounces beside a 237 ml size.
This EIGTWEN set supplies separate gloss and matte varnishes in two 100 ml bottles, with the instructions allowing 24 hours after application. Reviewers report a presentable final coat on paintings, and having both finishes makes the pack more flexible than a single-sheen bottle. The listing states coverage of 12 sq ft per 200 ml, which broadly matches the combined pack rather than either individual bottle. UK feedback is limited, and one reviewer found the product thick and gloopy enough to need a large brush. A strong smell is another reported drawback, despite the listing's non-toxic wording having no certificate number in the extract. It is most useful when you genuinely need both sheens, rather than as the simplest or cheapest route to one finish.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Artists and crafters who need both gloss and matte finishes for small indoor projects.
Less suitable: Large surfaces, low-odour workspaces or buyers who need only one sheen.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this listing claim UV protection?
A question asks. The bullets do not use the letters UV. They do claim a film against dust, dirt and moisture, and they say non-toxic, with no certificate number.
What dry time do the steps give?
Wait until the painting is dry, brush the sealer on, then wait 24 hours. The finish cell is gloss and matte.
Can you use the coverage figure as printed?
Coverage is 12 sq ft per 200 ml. The liquid-volume cell is 100 ml and the unit count is 2. The number-of-items cell says 1.
Baker Ross FE585 puts a glossy, water-based coat over small craft projects, with the 250 ml bottle listed at £8.99. UK reviewers report good results on painted rocks, plastic ornaments, Fimo, air-dry clay and model scenery, and one user found it fully dry in 20 minutes. The listing gives coverage of 25–37.5 sq ft per bottle, although it does not provide a formal drying time or test method for the waterproof claim. Its main weakness is speed of application: several reviewers found it thick, fast-drying and prone to drag, lumps or brush marks on larger pieces. There are also isolated reports of a white cast and a lid that would not reseal. For small crafts it offers the best value in this group, provided you work briskly and avoid overworking the surface.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Painted rocks, clay pieces, ornaments and other small craft projects on a budget.
Less suitable: Large surfaces or slow, highly worked applications where the varnish may begin to drag.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing say children can use it?
A question asks. The bullets mention children, schools and craft groups, and general product safety regulations. They say an age is stated where it applies. No age number is in the extract.
Which surfaces are named?
The compatible-material line says metal, plastic and wood. Recommended uses are arts and crafts, including waterproofing handiwork. Coverage is 25–37.5 sq ft per 250 ml.
Does the listing give a dry time?
No hour is in the specification cells. The title says quick dry. Waterproof is a bullet claim, with no test method and no VOC figure.
EIGTWEN Gloss in the 200 ml bottle gives paintings a clear, colour-deepening sheen, with the listing advising about three hours after application. UK reviewers describe easy brush application, and one found that acrylic paint pens did not smudge under the coat. The small opening can help control the flow, and brushes wash out with soap and water. The listing also mentions indoor wooden furniture, but most of its supporting copy concerns paintings rather than general wood finishing. One buyer who expected waterproof outdoor protection found it unsuitable for ornaments, and another waited about 24 hours rather than the stated three. A noticeable smell and the absence of a genuine coverage rate make this a better fit for measured indoor art use than exposed outdoor work.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Indoor acrylic paintings and decorative pieces that need a controlled gloss coat.
Less suitable: Outdoor ornaments or projects that require verified waterproof performance.
Specifications
Common questions
How long do the steps say it takes to dry?
After the painting is already dry, wait about 3 hours. The bullets also list oils and drawings. They do not give a separate waiting time for oil paint.
Does the listing say it is non-toxic?
A question asks, and a bullet says non-toxic and health-based. No certificate number is printed. Dust is named in the film bullet.
Is there a coverage rate?
No. The coverage cell is a line about yellowing, cracking and dust. The compatible-material field says wood, and recommended uses include indoor wooden furniture.
Granotone High Gloss gives acrylic paintings a strong reflective finish, and reviewers note that its cloudy appearance turns clear as it dries. The 100 ml bottle is listed as fast-drying and suitable for brush or spray application, although no drying time is supplied. Its listing names UV, fading and water resistance, but presents these as protection claims rather than tested coverage data. Only seven of the 50 sampled reviews are headed United Kingdom, so the large headline review count provides less UK-specific confidence than it first appears. UK complaints include a sticky dry film, smudged Sharpie lines and a broken lid. It suits small acrylic details that need high shine, but marker work and applications requiring a predictably hard finish deserve a patch test first.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Small acrylic paintings and reflective details where a pronounced gloss is wanted.
Less suitable: Marker artwork or projects that require a verified hard, non-tacky protective coat.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the listing say it dries quickly?
A question asks, and a bullet says fast-drying. No hour is given. The ease bullet also says brush and spray.
Is UV named?
Yes, in the coverage cell, along with dirt, dust, fading and water resistance. That cell is not a square-metre rate. The title says non-toxic, with no certificate number.
Which surface field is filled in?
Compatible material says wood. Recommended uses are sealing acrylic paintings. Country of origin is India and the manufacturer is Hari Industries.
Nicpro Gloss builds a clear shine on canvas, wood and craft work through two or three thin coats spaced one to two hours apart, followed by 24 hours flat. Reviewers often like the deeper colour and straightforward application, and the listing includes a soft brush. The water-based film can be worked over between coats, which may suit mixed-media projects. However, repeated UK feedback describes a tacky, rubbery or glue-like surface after drying. Some users also find it watery and need three or four coats, while one report says the varnish lifted acrylic paint. The title and unit count say 250 ml, but the separate liquid-volume field says 16.9 fl oz, so the listing data is internally inconsistent.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Small indoor artwork where you can apply several thin coats and leave the piece flat overnight.
Less suitable: Projects that need a reliably hard, non-tacky finish after one or two coats.
Specifications
Common questions
How many coats does the listing tell you to use?
The easy-to-use bullet says 2–3 thin coats, 1–2 hours between coats, then leave the painting flat for 24 hours. A soft brush is named in that bullet.
Does the listing say it blocks UV?
Yes. The protect bullet names dust, UV rays and yellowing. The title also says non-yellowing, non-toxic and anti-crazing. No certificate number is printed.
Do the volume cells agree?
The title and the unit count say 250 ml. The liquid-volume cell says 16.9 fluid ounces. Coverage is written as 10–15 sq ft per 8.45 oz.
The 100 ml EIGTWEN Gloss adds shine to small paintings, shells, jigsaws and painted ornaments, with the listing suggesting about three hours after application. Reviewers often describe smooth spreading and a clear sheen on compact pieces. Its small bottle is manageable for occasional craft work, but several buyers regard the quantity as poor value. More seriously, one painted-stone project peeled after rain and another acrylic surface developed an opaque, mayonnaise-like film. A reviewer also reported a drying time closer to 24 hours than the listed three. It can work for small indoor pieces, but the mixed 4.1-star feedback and outdoor failures make careful testing sensible.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Small indoor paintings, shells, jigsaws and decorative craft pieces.
Less suitable: Outdoor painted stones or work where clouding and peeling would be difficult to correct.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this 100 ml listing claim UV protection?
A question asks about UV light. The bullets do not answer it. They do name dirt and moisture, and they say non-toxic, with no certificate number.
Which materials are listed?
Metal, plastic and wood. The steps say about 3 hours after the paint is already dry. There is no coverage rate.
What is in the pack?
The included-components cell says 1. Weight is 110 g and liquid volume is 100 ml. The part number is printed as the ASIN.
Eight amazon.co.uk listings are scored from 0 to 100 using listing data and the review signals available on 16 October 2026. Shelf prices, stars and review counts are the UK lines from the 15 October 2026 extracts. This is an editorial comparison of listings and customer feedback, not a laboratory test. The weights below sum to 100. A higher score is a rank inside this set. It is not a weather trial and not a VOC measurement.
Amazon rating and review confidence
30%Up to 30 points. The star rating sits alongside the review count and how much of the sampled text is headed United Kingdom. A 5.0 from four United States reviews does not outrank a large United Kingdom file.
Application and finish
25%Up to 25 points for flow, levelling, drying behaviour, clarity, and whether reviews match the stated sheen. Repeated tackiness, clouding or poor spreading weighs more than one complaint.
Protection and suitability
20%Up to 20 points. Listed surfaces and protection claims are set against recurring failures. A waterproof or UV bullet with no test method does not add credit on its own.
Value
15%Up to 15 points for price, stated volume, any included brush, and a usable coverage figure. Pence per 100 ml uses the title volume only when the volume cells agree.
Listing clarity
10%Up to 10 points. Contradictory volume, use or component fields reduce the score. Unsupported non-toxic wording does not raise it.
Synthetic varnish on a decorating tin is usually a solvent-borne alkyd for doors and trim. On these eight amazon.co.uk listings it means an acrylic or water-based bottle for a painting or a craft. Read the job before the star rating. Sheen, agreeing volume cells, and whether the reviews are from the United Kingdom matter more than the word synthetic in a search. None of these files is a laboratory test, and none prints a VOC figure in grams per litre.
A dry acrylic painting stays in this set. A door, skirting, staircase or floor needs a trim or floor varnish with a coverage rate per litre and, if it is a building coating, a VOC line. Alkyd varnish is the solvent-borne clear film for interior trim. It is not among these eight bottles, so no GBP price for one is stated. Polyurethane is a varnish resin, often blended with alkyd, for harder wear. It is not a second coat you add after varnish. Two-packs can contain isocyanates.
In decorating speech, synthetic varnish is a solvent-borne alkyd for trim. These eight bottles are acrylic or water-based craft and artist varnishes. A door, staircase or floor, and any two-pack, should go to a professional rather than to one of these listings.
The Liquitex listing says 4 hours to dry and 24 hours to full cure. The maker says up to two weeks for the acrylic, then 24 hours between varnish coats. One thick coat, or reworking a tacky patch, is how a clear film clouds or lifts colour.
Shuttle Art is 5.0 from four United States reviews. Granotone is 4.3 from 4,674, with seven United Kingdom texts in the first block of 50. Liquitex is the file whose first 50 texts are headed United Kingdom. None of those lines is a laboratory score.
Start with the surface. A finished acrylic picture can take an artist varnish from this set. A door, skirting, staircase or floor needs a product that states coverage per litre and, where it is a building coating, a VOC line. Alkyd is solvent-borne and cleans with white spirit. Polyurethane is a harder-wearing resin, often blended with alkyd, not a second coat on top of varnish. Two-packs can contain isocyanates, and none of these listings is a two-pack.
Gloss, high gloss, satin and matte are about reflection. Liquitex asks for one or two thin satin coats, because extra satin can cloud, and says not to thin it with water. The listing clock and the maker’s clock are different: 4 hours and a 24-hour full cure on the amazon.co.uk page, against up to two weeks for the paint and then 24 hours between coats on the maker’s note. Quote pence per 100 ml only when the volume cells agree.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want a named satin sheen and a United Kingdom review file. Liquitex Professional satin is about £14.93, at 4.6 from 3,115 reviews, with a listed four-hour dry time. The maker’s waiting time is longer than that listing clock. Skip it on a large canvas if you lay the coat on thick.
You are sealing painted rocks, clay or ornaments and you want the lowest price per 100 ml where the cells agree. Baker Ross FE585 is about £8.99 for 250 ml, at 4.6 from 124 reviews. It is gloss, it can drag if you rework it, and a rain story is an anecdote.
You need two sheens for small indoor work, not the cheapest single bottle. The EIGTWEN pair is about £14.36 for 2 × 100 ml, at 4.6 from 246 reviews, with a 24-hour step in the instructions. UK notes in the sample are thin, and one reviewer reported a strong smell.
The top pick is Liquitex Professional satin at about £14.93. It has the highest score in this set, 90, after review confidence, finish, application and listing clarity, with 4.6 from 3,115 reviews. The best value is Baker Ross FE585 at about £8.99 for 250 ml, the lowest price per 100 ml where the volume cells agree, at 4.6 from 124 reviews. No other bottle takes an award. Neither bottle is an alkyd door varnish, and neither score is a laboratory result.
Baker Ross FE585 gloss
Lowest listed price per 100 ml where the volume cells agree, about £8.99 for 250 ml, with 4.6 from 124 reviews.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK sources for the VOC and brushing points on this page. Prices, stars and review counts are from the amazon.co.uk listings extracted on 15 October 2026. Scores use those listings and the review text available on 16 October 2026.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk with the tag pcuk26-21. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices, stars and review counts are the UK listing lines from 15 October 2026. We did not run a laboratory test.
