7 Best Polyurethane for Kitchen Cabinets (Review & Guide 2022)
You’ve just finished installing your new kitchen cabinets, but you’re not sure what type of finish to use.
Polyurethane is a popular choice for cabinet finishes because it’s durable and easy to apply. It comes in both glossy and matte finishes, so you can choose the look that best suits your style.
But there are a lot of different types of finishes available, but which one is right for you?
Here introducing a list of the 7 best polyurethane for kitchen cabinets.
1. Minwax Fast Drying Polyurethane
Protect your cabinet wood surfaces with Minwax Polyurethane!
This clear finish provides long-lasting protection and warm, natural beauty to both finished and unfinished wood projects. It’s perfect for everything from woodwork and furniture to floors and cabinets, and it’s available in a variety of sheens to suit your needs.
Again, with its quick-drying formula, you can recoat your project in just 4-6 hours. So there’s no need to wait around for days or even weeks between coats.
Additionally, the satin sheen will give your project a sleek, professional look that you’ll be proud to show off.
- Benefits
- Designed to dry quickly
- provides a protective layer o
- Last for a long time
- Can use on a variety of surfaces
- low odor and is safe to use
- Drawback
- Turn into yellowish color after a few weeks
2. Varathane Water-Based Ultimate Polyurethane
With Varathane Ultimate Water-Based Polyurethane, your interior wood surfaces like furniture, windows, kitchen cabinets, trim, and more won’t be left unprotected.
This innovative water-based formula will provide maximum scratch and stain resistance. Plus, it leaves an eye-catching glossy finish that will make any room look clean and polished.
Besides, It’s fast-drying too, just wait 30 minutes for it to dry to the touch with each coat covering up to 31.25 square feet of surface area!
And for a truly sophisticated interior look that won’t harm the environment, With its soap and water clean-up, you don’t have to worry about harsh or toxic chemicals.
In addition, it’s clear why when it comes to protecting your beautiful hardwood surfaces from unwanted damage.
Overall Varathane Ultimate Water Based Polyurethane is a perfect choice for your kitchen cabinets.
- Benefits
- Gives a protective coating to resist scratches, dents, and stains
- Easy to apply with a brush, roller, or spray
- low odor and cleans up with soap and water
- Dries quickly and is recoatable in just 30 minutes
- The non-yellowing formula gives a classic, long-lasting finish
- Drawback
- Chances of visibility of brush strokes
3. Rust-Oleum Triple Thick Polyurethane
Give a professional-looking finish to your kitchen cabinets with Rust-Oleum Triple Thick Polyurethane.
This advanced self-leveling formula provides ultimate durability in one coat and is suitable for use on all interior wood surfaces including furniture, doors, trim and more.
Besides, the water-based formula is easy to clean up with just soap and water, and it dries to the touch in 2 hours, covering up to 50 sq ft.
With a matte finish that provides a soft, subtle look, Rust-Oleum Triple Thick Polyurethane is the perfect choice for giving your project an attractive and long-lasting finish.
- Benefits
- Provides superior durability and protection
- Triple Thick formula creates
- Provides a crystal-clear finish
- Can apply it with a brush, roller, or sprayer
- Low odor and fast-drying
- Drawback
- May look yellow after drying
4. Water-Based Wipe-On Polyurethane
If you’re looking for a durable, clear finish that brings the classic beauty of hand-rubbing to your furniture, railings, and trims without worry about drips or brush marks, check out this Minwax Water-Based Wipe-On Poly.
This long-lasting polyurethane protection product combines ease of application with quality results in just 2-3 coats. And it dries ultra-fast with minimal odor.
Moreover, the VOC content of max 275 g/L means you can use this easy-to-apply polyurethane safe in knowledge knowing that both you and the environment are protected.
With clean-up being as simple as water, this versatile product is ready to deliver beautiful results with its satin sheen.
So don’t let messy brushes and odorous chemicals stand between you and the project of your dreams. Simply wipe this innovative product with a lint-free cloth and move one step closer!
- Benefits
- Can apply using a brush or cloth
- Provides superior protection
- Environmentally friendly choice with low VOCs
- Suitable for use in occupied areas
- It dries quickly and provides a beautiful gloss
- Drawback
- Leaves streaks
5. Rust-Oleum Ultimate Spar Urethane
Upgrade your outdoor wood surfaces with Rust-Oleum Ultimate Spar Urethane.
This oil-based formula provides maximum durability and allows for a more even finish. It dries to the touch in 2 hours. Plus, it provides coverage up to 190 sq. ft., so you can recoat after 8 hours.
The weather and UV-resistant formula protect the surface from graying and sun damage, giving it a classic, natural look.
So if you’re looking to update your fences, railings, trim, furniture, or other outdoor wood projects, Rust-Oleum Ultimate Spar Urethane is a perfect choice!
- Benefits
- Protective finish to resist scratches, stains, and fading
- Dries quickly and can be recoated
- Easy to use indoors without the need for ventilation
- Easier to clean up and more environmentally friendly
- Protect your cabinets from UV rays
- Drawback
- Quite thick
6. INSL-X Cabinet Coat – Urethane
Transform your kitchen and bathroom into a modern space with the perfect finishing touch! The INSL-X Cabinet Coat – Urethane is here to provide you with an intense urethane acrylic finish, making it look like it just came home from a factory right out of the box.
With the ability to cover up to 350 – 450 square feet per gallon and a VOC level of less than 50 g/L, INSL-X Cabinet Coat Urethane is your go-to for every interior project in need of a fuss-free factory look.
Just make sure not to apply when temperatures are too cold or hot, below 50 °F (10 °C) or above 90 °F (32 °C) respectively. And ever use on surfaces that will be immersed in liquids (sinks or tubs), stoves, or ovens.
With its powerful adhesion capability, you no longer have to worry about prepping hard-to-coat surfaces before applying the paint.
Your cabinets will be provided with a semi-gloss finish that resists any wear and tears it may endure day after day from chipping, scuffing, food stains, grease, or water.
- Benefits
- Smooth, glossy, and durable finish
- Stain and scuff resistant
- Easy to apply and dried quickly
- Ideal for use in enclosed spaces
- low in VOCs and safe to use indoors
- Drawback
- Requires too many coats.
7. Minwax PolyShades Wood Stain + Polyurethane
Last but not least, introduce Minwax PolyShades Wood Stain + Polyurethane, a revolutionary one-step wood finish that combines beautiful, rich color and long-lasting polyurethane protection in just one easy application.
This oil-based stain and poly can be used over existing polyurethane finishes. That allows you to change the color of your wood surface without having to strip off the existing finish.
With its classic medium brown color, it looks great on furniture, woodwork, doors, cabinets, and accessories.
Plus, it’s easy to use, just give the wood a light sanding with fine-grit sandpaper, remove sanding dust, and brush on a coat of PolyShades!
And with its fast drying time and cleans up with mineral spirits formula, you can get your projects looking beautiful faster than ever.
- Benefits
- One-step application process
- No tedious stripping, sanding, or priming is necessary
- Enhances the natural beauty
- Fast drying and easy to apply
- Provides long-lasting protection
- Drawback
- Hard to work with
How to choose Polyurethane for Kitchen Cabinets?
While choosing Polyurethane for kitchen cabinets, you should consider the following factors to grab the right one.
Type: Oil-based or Water-based
Water-based polyurethanes are generally considered more environmentally friendly because they don’t require any volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to be produced in the manufacturing process. On the other hand, oil-based polyurethanes offer better scratch resistance and can be less expensive.
So, you should decide which one will be suitable for your kitchen cabinets depending on their material, size, and budget.
Scratch resistance
Polyurethane is a tough material, and it’s important that your cabinets will stand up to wear and tear. For this reason, you should choose a polyurethane with a high scratch resistance rating.
Thickness
You’ll also want to consider the thickness of your cabinet doors. The thinnest doors are usually available in polyurethanes, but they tend to be more brittle and may not withstand heavy use. Thicker doors are more resistant to scratches but may require additional coatings over time.
Time to dry
The final consideration is how long it will take your door/cabinet finish to dry after it’s applied. This factor is especially important if you have low-traffic areas where moisture will be an issue.
Health and environment
When selecting a polyurethane for your kitchen cabinets, it’s important to think about the health and environmental implications of its production process.
Some products contain harmful chemicals that could have adverse effects on both people. You should avoid them and pick a non-toxic product.
Conclusion
Here we have tried to give an in-depth idea of the 7 best polyurethane for kitchen cabinets. When choosing polyurethane for kitchen cabinets, keep in mind that there are many types to choose from.
Make sure you’re choosing the right one to enhance the beauty of your kitchen cabinets as well as keep them protected and shiny for years to years.
Moreover, regardless of which type you choose, be sure to apply it in thin coats and sand between each coat for the best results.
So, do you have any tips for using polyurethane on kitchen cabinets? Share them with us in the comments below!
Frequently Asked Questions
The appropriateness of using polyurethane on kitchen cabinets will depend on a variety of factors specific to your own kitchen. However, some general tips that may be useful include:
- Always use a test piece of wood to check for dryness and adhesion before applying the finish.
- Be sure to apply the finish in a gradual and consistent manner so that it has time to cure properly.
- Be aware of potential damage caused by excessive moisture or humidity, and take appropriate steps to prevent it.
Polyurethane is considered to be a better option for applications that require a high level of water resistance, while Polycrylic is better suited for applications that need a high level of weather ability.
If you don’t sand between coats of polyurethane, the next coat will not adhere as well and may even peel. The result could be a peeling layer of polyurethane on top of the previous coat, which would be quite unsightly.
Since the number of coats of polyurethane you need will vary depending on the type and quality of the polyurethane, the climate where you live, and other factors. In general, however, it is generally safe to apply 2 coats of polyurethane to kitchen cabinets.
Yes, they are good for your kitchen cabinets. Water-based polyurethane is a type of sealant that is often used to cover cabinet doors and around the edges of the cabinet. It is a type of synthetic rubber and is made up of many small molecules that are bound together.
Moreover, this type of sealant can be printed using a computer, and it has a water-based solution that can be applied with a spray gun or brush.
