How Long Does Paint Last?

Posted on May 19, 2021

paint productsOrdering paint for a home job usually means planning some extra for knicks and dings that happen to your walls with life. Gallons of paint can be stacked up in the garage or shed for longer than you’d like to acknowledge. You could be storing paint that isn’t good anymore. How do you know if it is? How long does paint last?

At CertaPro Painters of Indianapolis, we purchase paint for each project, so shelf life is not a concern for customers hiring us for projects. It is however a common question our site supervisors get from curious customers, we thought we would create a post on the topic to get into the details.

Shelf Life of Paint Products

Shelf life will vary depending on what type of paint and the manufacturer / brand. The process in which the paint was mixed is also a factor, in good conditions paint should store for 5-12 years. This assumes a container of paint that has never been opened, if a can was opened and not sealed properly, the life can go down to only a few months.

Paint shelf life guidelines:
Latex or Acrylic-Latex Paint 2 to 10 years
Oil-Based Paint 2 to 15 years
Chalk Paint 1 to 5 years
Milk Paint 1 to 7 days

Latex or Acrylic-Latex Paint

Most manufacturers of paint provide conservative estimates of the products lifespan. For PPG and Glidden brand latex paints,  unopened cans should last about 2 years. Sherwin-Williams and Behr advise to use paints within 1 year. Most experts outside of manufacturers will agree latex paints can store for up to 10 years, but be careful and spot check if using a paint you know has sat this long.

Oil-Based Paint

Oil-based paints can last longer than latex due to the solvents in most oil based products. Oil based paints when stored properly can last up to 15 years.

Chalk Paint

Chalk paints are said by most product manufacturers to last one year. Outdated chalk paints may have problems with consistency, and can get too thick to use properly.

Milk Paint

Milk paint is made from milk proteins. Naturally, they will break down fairly fast. The paint, when left at room temperature will break down within a couple of days. If you refrigerate it after use, you’re still only going to get a week at best. The dry pigment, as it arrives to you, could last indefinitely if it’s stored in a cool dry place.

Has paint gone bad?paint thickness

Smells Off

One way to check if a paint is expired is to smell it. If there is a mold or mildew like smell the paint is likely not good to use. If you notice an off-smell it is best to discard the paint and purchase new cans.

Frozen and Thawed

If your paint has been stored where it could have frozen and thawed, proceed with caution. Some paint companies say that freezing is not an issue, as long as there is no pungent odor. Others say that once it’s frozen and thawed, adhesion can be affected or consistency off. This gets more true if you know the can has repeatedly frozen and thawed.

Lumpy Consistency

Paint is made to produce a film to dry. Sometimes the gallon will form the film on top of the paint in storage. If there is any more than a film on top, like lumps or solidness, get rid of it. Paint with chunks in it cannot be rectified.

Jellied Paint

Jellied paint is always bad. This is a sign that the paint has gone from liquid to something else entirely. Anything less than a shiny liquid needs to be tossed.

Preserve your Paint

Want to preserve your paint like the pros? Here are their suggestions to get the longest shelf life from paint.

Store paint in a cool, dry place, that will not freeze.
Avoid all extreme temperatures, high and low.
Do your best to keep impurities out of the paint. This includes things like dirt, grass or leaves.
Transfer your paint to a plastic, sealable container that is made for this sort of storage. This will keep rust from getting into the paint.
Before you seal the gallon, place plastic wrap under the lid before you seal it. Use a rubber mallet to hammer the lid down. Try not to dent the can.

Have more questions about your paint? Ask our pros!

If you need help with a painting project in the Indianapolis area, we can help. Contact us to set up a free estimate appointment.