The best zinc paints, compared.
Top pick: Action Can ZG-90 five-pack Best value: Motip M04061 400 ml – Lowest shelf price at about £8.96, with stated coverage and a maker figure of more than 90% zinc in the dry film. Updated October 2026.
Zinc paint on amazon.co.uk is a zinc-loaded coating for steel, and for small repairs on galvanised steel, sold mostly as an aerosol. It is not artist's zinc white, a craft metallic acrylic, or a direct-to-rust enamel. Hot-dip galvanising to BS EN ISO 1461 is a molten-zinc bath. The European Association says the two are not equivalent. Action states that is non-conductive, so this is a colour-match barrier, not a sacrificial film. Dry-film zinc, conductivity and the listing conflicts are set out in the [zinc paint buying guide](/hub/paints-and-varnishes/zinc-paint/sub/zinc-paint-buying-guide). You choose by the job, not by the words cold zinc.
Zinc paint on amazon.co.uk is a zinc-loaded coating for steel, and for small repairs on galvanised steel, sold mostly as an aerosol. It is not artist's zinc white, a craft metallic acrylic, or a direct-to-rust enamel.
26 products checked · 62 hrs invested · +21,400 readers
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you coating?
The Action Can ZG-90 five-pack is five 500 ml cans of part 1785 at £41.95, the same silver colour-match spray as the single can, rated 4.7 from 41 amazon.co.uk reviews. That star line is higher than the single can's 4.5, but it rests on a much smaller sample, and only three written UK reviews were captured. Those three say it does what it says, that the finish is reasonably pleasant if you avoid runs, and that two or three coats are needed. The listing still prints the volume as 500 ml rather than 2.5 litres, and it marks waterproof as true while the single-can page for part 1785 marks waterproof as false. Action Can states that ZG-90 is non-conductive, so five cans do not turn a colour-match barrier into a sacrificial repair. At this price you are stocking the same part, including the nozzle behaviour reported on the other ZG-90 pages, rather than buying a different coating.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A workshop that already wants several ZG-90 cans for bright touch-up and has checked that the cans spray.
Less suitable: A first purchase when you need a high dry-film zinc figure, or when £41.95 is more stock than one small repair needs.
Specifications
Common questions
Can it be used on metal?
The page asks about metal. The surface recommendation is metal.
What dry time is listed?
The dry time field is 0.33 hours. The full cure field is 20 minutes. Special features say fast-drying.
Does the waterproof field match the single can?
This pack lists waterproof as true. The single-can listing for part 1785 says false.
The Action Can ZG-90 500 ml spray is the colour-match can in this set for freshly hot-dip galvanised steel, listed at £10.77 with touch dry in about 2 minutes and hard dry in about 20 minutes at 20°C. Its 4.5 from 250 amazon.co.uk reviews is the largest review base here, and buyers describe a bright match on garden mild steel, cleaned bolts and rusty galvanised bars. Action Can states that ZG-90 is non-conductive, so this is a barrier colour coat rather than a sacrificial zinc-rich film. The single-can page marks waterproof as false and not water resistant, which disagrees with the multi-pack pages for the same part 1785. Reviewers also report the spray stopping with paint still in the can, including a nozzle that failed after cleaning and a sprayer that died after about five minutes. One buyer found clean metal rusting again after a few weeks despite several coats, and another called the colour greyer, more like primer than galvanising. It is the strongest documented option for a small bright touch-up if you do not need cathodic protection.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Small bright repairs on freshly galvanised steel where colour match matters more than a sacrificial film.
Less suitable: Jobs that need a conductive zinc-rich repair, or a buyer who cannot risk a can that stops spraying.
Specifications
Common questions
Can it be used on metal?
The page asks about metal. The surface recommendation is alloy steel.
Does the listing say it protects against rust?
The page asks about rust protection. Special features say long-term protection against rust and corrosion.
Is it listed as waterproof?
The waterproof field is false. The water resistance level says not water resistant. No test method is given.
The ZG-90 three-pack is three 500 ml cans of part 1785 at £27.50, about £18.33 per litre on the 1,500 ml line, with 4.5 stars from 116 amazon.co.uk reviews. Reviewers who prepared the metal describe thin coats on sanded, rust-converted galvanised panels going on evenly and drying quickly between coats. The 18 written reviews captured are also dominated by clogs: cans that stopped in under a minute, nozzles that needed constant cleaning, replacement nozzles that did not restore the spray, and one buyer who said four of six cans failed. The page lists waterproof as true, while the single can of part 1785 says waterproof false and not water resistant. Coverage is listed as 15–18 square metres per litre, which is not a dry-film thickness and should not be read as a 100 µm repair. You pay less per litre than for one can, and you also buy the nozzle problem in quantity.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Someone who already uses ZG-90 for colour match and wants three cans at a lower price per litre.
Less suitable: A first can if nozzle reliability matters, or a zinc-rich repair that has to be conductive.
Specifications
Common questions
Can it be used on metal?
The page asks about metal. The surface recommendation is metal.
What dry time is listed?
Dry time is 0.33 hours and full cure is 20 minutes.
Does the waterproof field match the single can?
This pack lists waterproof as true. The single-can listing for part 1785 says waterproof false and not water resistant.
Hycote XUK207 is two 400 ml grey zinc-primer aerosols at £19.12, and the bullets state that the dry coating contains over 60% zinc metal and that it is a base for later finishes on ferrous and galvanised surfaces. The amazon.co.uk rating is 4.5 from 107 reviews. Buyers report rust held back under an acrylic semi-gloss black topcoat, a smooth coat on a prepared fuel-tank cover before further primer and colour, and one can doing two coats on a bike frame. Institute of Corrosion guidance puts true zinc-rich galvanic behaviour near 77% zinc by weight in the dry film, and the Galvanizers Association repair note looks for at least about 80%, so over 60% is a primer claim rather than that repair. The listing gives no dry time. Reviewers report nozzles that clog even after clearing the can upside down, lumpy paint, coverage that needed many coats, and a shade that did not match a car. It is the grey-primer option in this set when a topcoat will follow.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A grey primer under a later colour on prepared ferrous or galvanised metal.
Less suitable: A bright galvanising touch-up, or a repair specification that asks for about 80% zinc by weight.
Specifications
Common questions
Can it be used on metal?
The page asks about metal. Bullets name ferrous and galvanised surfaces.
Does it need a top coat?
The page asks about a top coat. Bullets call it a base for later finishes and name Hycote topcoats.
Is it listed as weatherproof?
Special features say weather resistant. The waterproof field is true. The water resistance level says water resistant. No test method is given.
The OB41 listing is sold as a cold-zinc pack at £13.00, with 4.5 stars from 39 amazon.co.uk reviews, and the bullets name fencing, railings, pipes and shutter doors. One reviewer covered rust on two large metal planters in a single coat, and another said an outdoor job was still holding after some months when the can was shaken. The same listing contradicts itself: the colour field says yellow, the colour code says grey metallic, the title says two cans, and a contents line says one 400 ml can, while the volume field says 800 ml. There is no coverage figure and no dry-time hour. On a trailer the finish looked like primer and rust came through within days, and light corrosion on an internal plaster bead returned after one, two and three coats. Another buyer used two cans on a small pedestrian gate. Check the colour and the number of cans in the parcel before you plan a job around this listing.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A low-cost trial on a small outdoor metal item once you have checked the colour and how many cans arrived.
Less suitable: A trailer, or any job that needs an agreed colour, pack size and dry-film zinc figure.
Specifications
Common questions
Is it listed for outdoor furniture?
The page asks about outdoor furniture. The uses name weather-exposed metal structures, not furniture by name.
Does it dry quickly?
The title says fast drying. No hour figure is given.
Is it listed as weather resistant?
The water resistance level says water resistant. There is no waterproof true/false field and no test method.
Motip M04061 is the £8.96, 400 ml grey matte zinc spray in this set, the lowest shelf price, and the listing claims cathodic corrosion prevention, spot-weldability and resistance to petrol, chemicals and weather. Coverage is given as 1.25–1.75 m². The maker page for 04061 states more than 90% zinc in the dry film and 350°C, a temperature the amazon.co.uk listing does not print. Stars are 4.3 from 22 reviews, and only two short UK reviews were captured, both without a named fault and one limited to how the job looks so far. The listing's own clock disagrees with itself and with the maker: dry time 4 hours, full-cure field 2 hours, and a 24-hour full dry on the maker page. The surface line includes wood as well as metal, which is an odd fit for a zinc spray. It is the best-value can here when you want that high dry-film zinc claim and can accept a grey matte colour plus a thin review sample.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A small bare-steel or spot-weld job where a high dry-film zinc figure matters more than a silver colour match.
Less suitable: A bright repair on new galvanising, or a specification you must meet without checking the current Motip sheet against the listing.
Specifications
Common questions
Can it be used on metal?
The page asks about metal. The surface recommendation includes metal.
Does the listing say it prevents rust?
The page asks about rust. Bullets say cathodic corrosion prevention. Special features say rust resistant.
Is a heat-resistance figure on the listing?
The page asks if it is heat resistant. No temperature is printed on the amazon.co.uk listing.
Simoniz SIMP10D is a 500 ml grey aerosol at £11.95, sold as a weld-through zinc primer for galvanised and untreated metal, with coverage listed as 2 square metres, dry time of 2 hours and full cure of 6 hours. The amazon.co.uk line is 3.8 from 51 reviews, the weakest rating in this set. Two reviewers say the can is not weld-through and that the can itself does not support the title. Another report describes the film peeling and scratching on metal that had been sandblasted and wiped. A separate buyer did get a fast-drying coat on a sandblasted Land Rover bonnet frame and on rusting hooks of an Ifor Williams trailer, so the primer can cover prepared steel when welding through it is not the point. The waterproof field is false while the water-resistance level says water resistant. One parcel arrived without a cap and the nozzle clogged in transit. Do not choose it because the title says weld-through.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A grey primer coat on prepared galvanised or bare metal when you will not weld through the film.
Less suitable: Anyone who needs a proven weld-through primer, or a bright match to new galvanising.
Specifications
Common questions
Can it be used on cars?
The page asks about cars. The bullets name automotive panel repairs.
How long does the listing say it takes to dry?
The dry time field is 2 hours. The full cure field is 6 hours.
Is the can weld-through?
The title says weld-through. Two reviews say the can is not weld-through.
We compared seven amazon.co.uk zinc paint listings kept for this set. Shelf prices, stars and review counts are the UK lines captured on 16 October 2026. Each score is an editorial figure from 0 to 100 using the weights below. It is not the star rating multiplied by 20, and it is not a laboratory result. No score awards a service life or a salt-spray hour. A higher score is a rank inside this set for a stated job.
Review confidence
35%Up to 35 points from the star rating, the review count, and whether the written comments support the job on the listing. A 4.7 from 41 reviews does not outrank a 4.5 from 250.
Job fit
25%Up to 25 points for whether the can states a colour match, a dry-film zinc figure, a grey primer, or a weld-zone use, and whether that claim survives the maker sheet.
Value
20%Up to 20 points from the shelf price in GBP, and from price per litre only where the volume fields agree.
Listing honesty and use
20%Up to 20 points for a stated dry time and coverage, with deductions when waterproof, colour or pack fields contradict each other, when nozzles fail, or when the written reviews are very thin.
Zinc paint on these seven amazon.co.uk listings is a zinc-loaded aerosol for steel or for a small repair on galvanised steel. Read the job before the price: a bright match to new galvanising, a high dry-film zinc figure, a grey primer, or a weld-through title. A can is not hot-dip galvanising to BS EN ISO 1461. None of the scores is a laboratory test.
Zinc paint, in this set, means a zinc-loaded aerosol for steel or for a small repair on galvanised steel. It is not artist's zinc white, a craft metallic acrylic, or a direct-to-rust enamel. Hot-dip galvanising to BS EN ISO 1461 is a molten-zinc bath. A can is paint. The European General Galvanizers Association says the two are not equivalent, so a colour match is not a new galvanised coating. You choose by the job, not by the words cold zinc.
A 98% line is often the purity of the zinc metal, not the percentage left in the dry film. Institute of Corrosion guidance starts true zinc-rich behaviour near 77% by weight in the dry film. The Galvanizers Association repair note looks for at least about 80% and about 100 µm. Over 60% on the Hycote bullets is a primer claim, not that repair.
Loose rust, oil and scale defeat the coating. Specified zinc-rich work expects blast cleaning to Sa 2½. Wire-brushing is weaker. ZG-90 reviews that describe an even film used thin coats on prepared metal. Heavy coats run, and one buyer still saw rust return on clean metal after a few weeks.
Action Can states that ZG-90 is non-conductive. The three-pack and the five-pack are the same part, and the written reviews on the three-pack are dominated by nozzles that stop with paint left in the can. Simoniz is titled weld-through, and two reviews say the can does not support that title.
The first split is the job. A bright match to fresh hot-dip galvanising, a sacrificial coat on bare steel, a grey primer under a colour, and a weld zone are not the same can. Zinc that counts is zinc by weight in the dry film. Institute of Corrosion guidance starts true zinc-rich behaviour near 77%. The Galvanizers Association repair note looks for at least about 80% and about 100 µm average.
Trust a figure only when the same listing, or the same part number, repeats it. The single ZG-90 can of part 1785 marks waterproof as false and not water resistant. The three-pack and the five-pack mark waterproof as true. No test method is named on any of them. OB41's colour field says yellow, the colour code says grey metallic, the title says two cans and a contents line says one, while the volume field says 800 ml.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You need a small bright repair on freshly galvanised steel and you cannot send the article back to a galvaniser. Action Can ZG-90 500 ml is about £10.77, with 4.5 from 250 reviews. Action Can states that it is non-conductive, so it matches colour rather than adding a sacrificial film.
You want a grey base on ferrous or galvanised metal before a later finish. Hycote XUK207 is two 400 ml cans at about £19.12, with 4.5 from 107 reviews. The bullets state over 60% zinc metal in the dry coating, which sits below the 77–80% figures used for a zinc-rich repair.
You want the lowest shelf price and a stated high zinc figure, and a grey matte finish is acceptable. Motip M04061 is about £8.96. The maker page for 04061 says more than 90% zinc in the dry film. Only 22 reviews sit behind the 4.3 stars.
The top pick is the Action Can ZG-90 500 ml at about £10.77. It has the highest editorial score in this set, 84, led by 4.5 from 250 reviews and a stated colour match for fresh hot-dip galvanising. Action Can states that the coating is non-conductive, so the score is for a bright barrier touch-up, not for cathodic protection. The best value is Motip M04061 at about £8.96, the lowest shelf price, with a maker figure of more than 90% zinc in the dry film. Twenty-two reviews and a dry-time conflict keep it off the top score. The three-pack and the five-pack are the same part 1785, not a different coating.
Motip M04061 400 ml
Lowest shelf price at about £8.96, with stated coverage and a maker figure of more than 90% zinc in the dry film.
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 used for the repair and safety points on this page. Prices, stars and review counts are from the amazon.co.uk listings 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 16 October 2026. We did not run a lab test.
