Spray polyurethane, spray polycrylic, aerosol lacquer and shellac spray for interior wood, in one place. Aerosol clear coats are the easy way to finish chairs, spindles, louvered doors, cabinet doors, picture frames and small furniture without brush marks. This page lists every clear spray finish we carry from Minwax, Varathane, Watco, Old Masters, Zinsser and ProLuxe, with the dry time, recoat time and coverage per can from each maker's sheet. For brush-on and wipe-on clear coats, see polyurethane for wood.
Pick by the look you want. For a crystal clear finish that will not yellow light woods or white paint, use water-based Minwax Polycrylic spray. For the warm amber tone of an oil finish, use Varathane Polyurethane Spray, Minwax Fast-Drying Polyurethane Spray or Old Masters Oil-Based Polyurethane Aerosol. For fewer coats, Varathane Triple Thick spray is made to protect in one coat. For a fast, rubbed-smooth furniture finish, use Minwax Aerosol Lacquer or Watco Lacquer spray.
Compare clear spray finishes
| Spray finish |
Type and best for (maker) |
Sheens and sizes here |
Dry, recoat and coverage (maker sheet) |
| Varathane Polyurethane Spray |
Oil-based interior polyurethane for furniture, doors, cabinets, trim and paneling; not for floors (Varathane points floors to its floor finishes) |
Gloss, Semi-Gloss, Satin, 11.25 oz |
Varathane TDS VAR-58 (rev 10/27/21): touch 2 hr, recoat 2 hr, full use 24 hr; about 20 to 25 sq ft per can; sand lightly with 220 grit between coats; at least 3 coats for maximum durability; apply at 55 to 90 F |
| Varathane Triple Thick Polyurethane Spray |
Interior topcoat made for durability in one coat on furniture, trim and cabinets; sprays at any angle, even upside down; not for floors or outdoor items |
Matte, Satin, Semi-Gloss
|
Rust-Oleum product sheet (updated Jan 2026): touch 1 hr, 24 hr before full use; apply at 55 to 90 F below 85% humidity; mineral spirits cleanup |
| Minwax Polycrylic Protective Finish Spray |
Water-based, crystal clear interior finish for furniture, louver doors, molding, cabinets and hard-to-reach spots; not for floors |
Gloss, Semi-Gloss, Satin, 11.5 oz |
About 20 to 25 sq ft per can; wet overspray cleans up with water |
| Minwax Fast-Drying Polyurethane Spray |
Oil-based clear coat for interior woodwork, furniture, doors and cabinets; may amber slightly over light woods |
Clear Satin, 11.5 oz |
Follow the recoat window on the can; for light woods Minwax recommends Polycrylic instead |
| Minwax Aerosol Lacquer |
Nitrocellulose lacquer for interior wood, woodwork, cabinets, furniture and doors; acts as its own sealer; works over Minwax Wood Finish, Gel Stain and water-based stains |
Gloss, Semi-Gloss, Satin, 12 oz |
Minwax TDS: touch 30 min, recoat 2 hr with no sanding between coats, 3 to 4 coats, 24 hr after the final coat |
| Watco Lacquer Clear Wood Finish Spray |
Interior lacquer for furniture, doors, cabinets and paneling; not for floors or exterior surfaces |
Gloss, Semi-Gloss, Satin, 11.25 oz |
Watco TDS (rev 09/12/22): touch 30 min, recoat 2 hr once the coat is clear and hard; sand with 220 grit if a coat has dried more than 6 hr; at least 3 coats; about 40 sq ft per can; 24 hr to light use, 7 days to normal use; apply at 55 to 90 F |
| Old Masters Oil-Based Polyurethane Aerosol |
Self-leveling oil-based polyurethane for interior wood: furniture, cabinets, doors, bars, counters and tabletops |
Gloss, Semi-Gloss, 13 oz |
Old Masters spec sheet: touch 3 hr, recoat after 6 hr (overnight recommended); sand lightly with 220 grit between coats; two coats recommended, more for high-traffic surfaces |
| Zinsser Bulls Eye Shellac Spray |
Clear shellac for small interior wood projects, trim, furniture and touch-ups |
Clear, 12 oz |
Zinsser TDS BEY-06: about 8 to 10 sq ft per can; touch 30 min, recoat 1 hr, full cure 24 hr |
| ProLuxe Interior Lacquer Sanding Sealer Spray |
Sanding sealer that seals bare or stained interior wood before the clear coat |
12 oz |
Sands after 1 hour (ProLuxe) |
| Old Masters Spar-Marine Varnish Aerosol |
The outdoor option here: exterior varnish with UV absorbers for railings, lawn furniture, doors and above-waterline marine wood |
Satin, Semi-Gloss, 12 oz |
See label |
Shop related: polyurethane for wood, shellac and shellac primer, protective finishes and topcoats, wood stains and gel stains, Minwax, Varathane, Watco, Old Masters, and cabinet refinishing. Free standard shipping on orders of $75 or more.
FAQ
Is spray polyurethane as good as brush-on?
It protects the same way, but each pass goes on thinner, so the makers call for more coats. Varathane recommends at least 3 coats of its Polyurethane Spray for maximum durability, Minwax calls for 3 to 4 coats of Aerosol Lacquer, and Watco calls for at least 3 coats of its lacquer spray. Spray is the better choice for chairs, spindles, louvered doors and carved pieces where a brush leaves drips. For big flat surfaces like tabletops and floors, brush-on is faster and cheaper per square foot.
How many cans of spray polyurethane do I need?
Use the coverage per can and multiply by your coats. Varathane Polyurethane Spray and Minwax Polycrylic spray cover about 20 to 25 sq ft per can, Watco Lacquer spray about 40 sq ft, and Bulls Eye Shellac Spray about 8 to 10 sq ft. A 2 by 4 ft tabletop is 8 sq ft, so three coats of Varathane spray (24 sq ft) is about one can, top only.
Spray polycrylic or spray polyurethane?
Polycrylic is water-based and stays crystal clear; Minwax recommends it over its oil-based polyurethane on light-colored wood, where oil poly can amber slightly. Oil-based sprays like Varathane Polyurethane Spray and Old Masters add a warm tone. Varathane also warns that its oil-based spray can discolor over white or pastel paints or stains, so test first on painted furniture.
Lacquer or polyurethane spray for furniture?
Lacquer is the faster build. Minwax Aerosol Lacquer recoats in 2 hours with no sanding between coats, and Minwax says a new coat can go on at any time without removing the old lacquer. Polyurethane sprays recoat in about 2 hours (Varathane) and want a light 220 grit sanding between coats. Both are interior finishes.
Can I spray polyurethane over stain?
Yes, once the stain is dry. Varathane says to apply Triple Thick directly over a thoroughly cured stain and test other brands for compatibility. Minwax lists its Aerosol Lacquer as compatible over Minwax Wood Finish, Gel Stain and water-based stains.
Can I use spray polyurethane on floors or outdoors?
Not these interior sprays. Varathane Polyurethane Spray, Varathane Triple Thick spray and Watco Lacquer spray are all rated not for floors, and Triple Thick and Watco not for outdoor use. For floors, use a floor-rated finish from polyurethane for wood. For outdoor wood, the spray here is Old Masters Spar-Marine Varnish Aerosol.
How warm does it need to be to spray polyurethane?
Varathane and Watco both list 55 to 90 F for their sprays, and Varathane adds relative humidity below 85%. In a cold garage, spray indoors in a ventilated room and allow more dry time at the cool end of that range.
