Best Household Polyurethanes, Shellac & Varnish of 2026

Liquitex BASICS Gloss Varnish is a permanent varnish that is designed to protect your finished paintings. It has a glossy finish and can be mixed with matte varnish to achieve different sheen levels. This varnish dries to a clear, non-yellowing finish, ensuring that your artwork remains vibrant and fresh. The best way to apply this varnish is with a large soft brush, which allows for smooth and even coverage. Additionally, Liquitex BASICS Gloss Varnish is ACMI certified and conforms to ASTM d4236, making it safe for educational use. With its protective properties and versatile finish, Liquitex Gloss Varnish is a great choice for artists looking to preserve and enhance their artwork.

Minwax Polycrylic Protective Finish is a water-based protective coating that provides a crystal clear and satin sheen finish to your interior wood projects, including furniture, doors, and cabinets. This clear top coat protects against scratches, spills, dirt, and more. Its ultra-fast-drying feature allows for quick recoats after 2 hours, letting you finish your projects faster. It is easy to clean up with soap and water, making it convenient for users.

Minwax Polyurethane Wood Finish is an oil-based, clear top coat that protects interior wood projects like furniture, floors, cabinets, and doors against scratches and spills. It provides long-lasting protection and a sleek semi-gloss sheen for a modern look. This protective poly coating dries fast, allowing for quick recoats after 4-6 hours, and is easy to apply with a high-quality brush. As America's leading brand of wood finishing and care products since 1904, Minwax is a brand you can trust.

The Varathane 200261H Water-Based Ultimate Polyurethane is a perfect solution to protect your indoor wood surfaces from scratches and stains. Its water-based formula dries fast and cleans up easily with soap and water, saving you time and hassle. This durable formula provides excellent clarity while giving a classic and natural look to your furniture, windows, cabinets, and trim. Its satin finish enhances the natural beauty of the wood and provides maximum protection against damage, preserving the color and quality over time. It dries to the touch in 30 minutes, and you can recoat it after 2 hours.

Get a durable and flexible coating for your exterior wood with Rust-Oleum Marine Spar Varnish. With its oil-based formula, it expands and contracts with changing weather conditions, making it ideal for use on exterior wood surfaces above the water line, including trim, railings, and wood furniture. This varnish dries to the touch in just two hours and covers up to 150 sq. ft. Plus, it provides excellent protection against UV, salt, and mildew, leaving a beautiful gloss finish that enhances the natural beauty of your wood.

Keep your interior wood surfaces looking beautiful with Minwax Fast Drying Polyurethane Wood Finish. The oil-based, clear top coat is one of the most durable coatings available for wood protection against scratches, spills and more. Ideal for use on furniture, floors, doors, cabinets and more, it provides long-lasting protection and beauty. The warm satin sheen gives your wood projects a sleek finish that is both modern and cozy. Plus, the fast-drying formula allows for quick recoats after just 4-6 hours, helping you get your projects done faster.

The Minwax Polycrylic Clear Matte is perfect for protecting your indoor wood projects like furniture, doors, and cabinets. It shields surfaces from scratches, spills, and dirt, helping your woodwork stay beautiful longer. This finish works well over all types of stains and wood species, including lighter woods like maple and birch, so you have versatile options. The matte finish adds a soft, modern look without yellowing or changing the wood’s color, giving your project a fresh, cozy feel. Plus, it dries quickly, allowing you to apply another coat just two hours later, so you can finish your projects faster and with less waiting time.

Rust-Oleum Zinsser 304H Clear Shellac is a versatile product that adds great value to your woodworking and crafting projects. With its traditional finish and sealer, this 1-quart container is perfect for sealing and preserving wood, art, statuary, and metal. The all-natural, non-toxic formula makes it safe and easy to use, ensuring a hassle-free experience. Whether you're working on wood trim, paneling, furniture, or household crafts, this clear shellac provides a classic finish and great protection. One of the standout features of this product is its lightning-fast drying time, allowing you to recoat in under 45 minutes. Say goodbye to long waiting periods and hello to efficient project completion with Rust-Oleum Zinsser 304H Clear Shellac.

The GRANOTONE Glossy Acrylic Varnish offers a brilliant, clear shine that helps your artwork stand out while protecting it from damage. Whether you’re a professional or just enjoy painting as a hobby, this varnish works well with many types of paints, including gold acrylics and clear sprays, giving your pieces a lasting, non-yellowing finish. It also prevents cracking on your projects, keeping them looking fresh and flawless. Plus, it’s non-toxic, so you can use it safely without worrying about harmful chemicals. This varnish is a great choice if you want to enhance and safeguard your art with ease and peace of mind.

The MCTRHG Gloss Varnish is a great choice if you want to protect and enhance your acrylic paintings. It creates a strong, clear layer that shields your artwork from dust, UV rays, and yellowing, so your work stays vibrant longer. This varnish dries quickly and leaves a smooth, shiny finish without brush marks, giving your painting a richer, more colorful look. Its gentle, non-toxic formula won’t harm your paint, keeping your artwork’s fresh appearance safe over time. Plus, it’s easy to apply on various surfaces like canvas, wood, or even DIY projects, making it a versatile option for artists of all levels.