Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 is Zinsser's all-purpose primer, sealer and stain blocker. The brush-and-roll quarts and gallons are water-based (under 100 g/L VOC per Rust-Oleum's data sheet), work inside and out, stick to glossy enamel, tile and laminate without sanding, and clean up with soap and water. Topcoat in about 1 hour with latex or oil-based paint. Bulls Eye 1-2-3 also comes in two spray formats, the 13 oz aerosol and the wide-pattern 26 oz Turbo; both sprays are solvent-based, not water-based. Everything on this page comes from Rust-Oleum's Zinsser technical data sheets.
Bulls Eye 1-2-3 primers we carry
| Product |
Format |
Base |
Coverage |
Topcoat after |
Zinsser part # |
| White, quart |
Brush, roll or spray |
Water-based |
400 to 450 sq ft per gallon |
1 hour |
02004 |
| White, gallon |
Brush, roll or spray |
Water-based |
400 to 450 sq ft per gallon |
1 hour |
02001 |
| Gray, gallon |
Brush, roll or spray |
Water-based |
400 to 450 sq ft per gallon |
1 hour |
285085 |
| White, 13 oz spray |
Aerosol |
Solvent-based |
8 to 10 sq ft per can |
30 minutes |
02008 |
| Turbo White, 26 oz spray |
Wide-pattern aerosol |
Solvent-based (alkyd) |
20 to 24 sq ft per can |
30 minutes |
343746 |
| Turbo Gray, 26 oz spray |
Wide-pattern aerosol |
Solvent-based (alkyd) |
20 to 24 sq ft per can |
30 minutes |
343748 |
Specs for the water-based quarts and gallons
| Use on |
Interior and exterior walls, ceilings, doors, trim, fascia, soffits, foundations and railings. Bonds to wood, drywall, cured plaster, concrete, stucco, masonry, glossy enamels, hardboard, glass, tile, aluminum, vinyl, steel, galvanized metal and PVC. |
| Not for |
Floors, decks, or surfaces under water or in prolonged contact with water |
| Blocks |
Grease, handprints, asphalt, crayon, graffiti, rust stains, light water stains and cedar or redwood bleed |
| Dry time (70-80°F, 50% humidity) |
Touch about 30 minutes, topcoat 1 hour, full adhesion and hardness 7 days. Over bare cedar or redwood, wait 24 hours before painting. |
| When to apply |
Air, material and surface 35 to 90°F, humidity below 85% |
| Thinning and tinting |
If needed, no more than 10 oz of clean water per gallon (then apply a second coat). The white can be tinted toward the topcoat color with up to 2 oz of universal colorant per gallon. |
| VOC and cleanup |
Under 100 g/L; warm water and liquid detergent |
How to use it
Clean the surface so it is dry, sound and free of dirt, grease, wax, mildew and wallpaper adhesive; Zinsser says to use an ammoniated cleaner, not TSP. Remove peeling paint, sand edges smooth, scuff-sand bare aluminum and lightly sand weathered exterior wood with 80 to 100 grit. Stir well and apply with a synthetic brush, roller or airless sprayer (0.017 in. tip at 2,000 to 2,500 psi). Use the gray primer under rich or dark topcoat colors; Zinsser says it improves their hide and coverage.
For the sprays, follow the can: Rust-Oleum's aerosol sheet says not to spray indoors, and the Turbo sheet says to use it outdoors or in a well-ventilated area such as an open garage, between 50 and 90°F with humidity below 65%. Neither spray is for galvanized metal. For severe water and smoke stains and heavy odors, Zinsser points to shellac-based B-I-N; compare every stain blocker in primers and sealers.
Shop related: all Zinsser, spray primers, drywall repair, and primers and sealers.
FAQ
Is Bulls Eye 1-2-3 water-based?
The brush-and-roll quarts and gallons are. Rust-Oleum's data sheets list a styrenated acrylic resin in water and glycol ethers, under 100 g/L VOC, with soap and water cleanup. The 13 oz aerosol is a modified alkyd in acetone and aliphatic hydrocarbons, and the 26 oz Turbo is an alkyd with mineral spirits, VM&P naphtha and acetone, so clean those up with mineral spirits.
Do I have to sand glossy paint or tile first?
Not for the water-based quarts and gallons. Zinsser says they bond to dense glossy surfaces such as enamel paint, varnish, paneling, laminate and ceramic tile without sanding or deglossing, as long as the surface is clean and sound. The Turbo sheet does call for sanding smooth, hard or glossy finishes before spraying.
How soon can I paint over it?
The water-based primer can be topcoated in 1 hour (24 hours over bare cedar or redwood). The 13 oz aerosol and Turbo sprays can be topcoated in 30 minutes with latex or oil-based paint; Zinsser suggests letting them cure overnight before strong solvent-based topcoats.
White or gray?
Use white under most colors. Zinsser makes the gray to go under rich or dark topcoat colors, where it improves hide and coverage.
Can I use it on a floor or deck?
No. Rust-Oleum's data sheets say Bulls Eye 1-2-3 is not recommended for floors, decks or surfaces subject to immersion or prolonged contact with water.
Can I return it?
We offer 30-day returns on unused, unopened items. Opened paint can't be returned, and the 13 oz and Turbo aerosol sprays can't be returned under our refund policy. If anything arrives damaged, defective or wrong, email Store@projectweekenddiy.com with photos and we will make it right.
Shipping is $5.99 on orders under $35 and free on orders of $35 or more, to the lower 48 states and DC (shipping policy).
Sources: Rust-Oleum Zinsser technical data sheets BEY123-01 Bulls Eye 1-2-3 White Primer (Form GDH-556, rev. 02/07/25), BEY123-10 Gray Primer (Form GDH-483, rev. 02/07/25), BEY123-06 Aerosol Primer (Form GDH-451, rev. 02/07/25) and BEY123-17 Bulls-Eye 1-2-3 with Turbo Spray System (rev. 11/16/22).
