How to Paint a Radiator

When painting a room, radiators are often forgotten and painted white out of habit.

Considering radiator paint in your colour scheme will help you to create a coordinated finish. Highlight radiators with a contrasting colour, or paint them in a complementary shade.

Where possible, we would advise painting your radiator before you fit it into place. This approach will allow you to paint all surfaces with ease.

If it isn’t possible to remove your radiator, you can simply paint the radiator in situ. Make sure to drain the radiator and ensure you turn it off during the application process.

In this guide, you will find advice and tips for every stage of the radiator painting process:

How to paint a radiator | Choosing a radiator paint finish | Choosing radiator paint colours | Radiator Painting FAQs

1. Choose the right finish and colours for your scheme

Before you begin your radiator painting project, it’s important to choose a paint finish suitable for metalwork that can withstand heat. At Little Greene, we offer a range of versatile, easy-to-use finishes, available in our complete palette.

Explore guidance on choosing the right paint finish, or find colour inspiration for radiators.

2. Prepare the surface of the radiator for painting

As with most painting projects, preparation is important. It will make all the difference between a beautiful professional finish and a rush job.

Ideally paint your radiator before you plumb it in - or, if you can, take it down. Painting a radiator off the wall allows you to get better coverage on the hard to reach areas.

Be careful if your radiator is already plumbed in. You'll need to drain the radiator before you can remove it, which might not be the best option if you've got a new carpet!

If you are painting your radiator in situ, follow these tips for a smooth process:

Ensure the room is well ventilated.
Place protective dust sheets under the radiator to protect your flooring.
Apply masking tape to any areas which meet a surface you don't intend to paint over.
Make sure you keep the radiator turned off until the paint has dried.

How to prepare a previously painted radiator

Use a piece of medium grade sandpaper to create a surface that the paint will adhere to.
If you have thick, unsightly paint or drip marks from a previous paint job, you may need to use a paint stripper to get a smooth finish.
Following sanding, thoroughly clean your radiator surface. Use a sponge and sugar soap, or warm water and mild detergent, before rinsing and allowing to dry.

Cleaning the radiator helps to get rid of any dirt, dust and fluff. Any dirt trapped under a new coat of paint will be very noticeable, so it's worth the effort to clean thoroughly.

3. Prime the metalwork

Priming your radiator can help to prevent staining and rust spots that could alter your chosen colour.

It is vital to prime your radiator to prevent staining and rust spots that could alter your chosen colour.

Choosing a radiator primer

If your radiator has not been painted before, or if the surface is damaged or worn, you will usually need to use a primer before painting. Our self-priming Intelligent Paint finishes are suitable for painting directly onto bare or painted metal surfaces, providing they are in good condition. However, if your radiator is made of bare or corroded iron or steel, we recommend priming with our Intelligent ASP primer for best results.

You can apply our Intelligent All Surface Primer (ASP) to bare metal to provide an ideal surface for painting. ASP will help to prevent rust - this is particularly important for radiators, as they need to withstand high temperatures.

How to prime a radiator

1. Ensure that you have properly stirred the paint before you begin painting.

2. Using an angled paint brush, apply two coats of Intelligent ASP (All Surface Primer). This primer is supplied tinted to a shade slightly lighter than your chosen topcoat to achieve full depth of colour.

3. Leave the undercoat to dry for four hours before recoating.

4. Paint the radiator

Once the undercoat is completely dry, you’re ready to apply the first coat of paint in your chosen shade.

You will usually need to apply two full paint coats over the primer for a professional finish.

Leave at least four hours between coats for a water-based paint, or leave to dry overnight for oil-based paint. You should allow the paint to dry fully for 48 hours before turning on the radiator.

How to paint a radiator

Stir your paint well before you start.
Instead of a standard paint brush, you can use a radiator paint brush. These brushes are angled and designed to reach awkward places more easily,
Avoid painting nuts and bolts or any moving parts, or you may have problems removing or adjusting the radiator in the future.
Use even brush strokes for a smooth finish.

Choosing a radiator paint finish

Intelligent Eggshell: low-sheen, water-based finish

Intelligent Eggshell is the perfect finish for radiators. It is formulated to resist moisture, staining and general wear and tear. Unlike solvent-based paints, our water-based Intelligent paint finishes are heat-resistant and guaranteed not to yellow upon exposure to high temperatures.

Intelligent Eggshell has a tough yet subtle finish with a low sheen of 10-15%, providing a superb paint for metalwork:

Self-priming and multi-surface, with Intelligent Grip™ technology
Environmentally-friendly & water-based
Fully washable
Suitable for most surfaces, including walls, woodwork and primed metals such as radiators and radiator pipes
Certified completely safe for children's rooms and furniture ('Toy Paint Regulations' EN 71-3:2019)
Low sheen level of 10-15%
Coverage approx. 14 square metres per litre (one coat)
Available in all colours, in tins of 5L, 2.5L or 1L

Note: Intelligent Eggshell can be thinned and applied as a spray paint if desired. Spray painting can be a useful approach for covering all surfaces of a radiator. See the detailed Product Data Sheets for further guidance.

Interior Oil Eggshell: traditional, low-sheen finish

If you are looking to use a more traditional oil-based finish, choose Interior Oil Eggshell for your radiator paint.

This oil-based alternative finish offers superlative durability and a very soft, elegant sheen on radiators and metalwork:

Oil-based, using sustainable vegetable oils
Suitable for most surfaces including primed metals like radiators and pipework.
Surface dry in 4 hours, re-coat in 16 hours.
Fully washable
Low sheen level - 15-20%
Coverage approx 16 square metres per litre (one coat)
Available in all colours, in tins of 5L, 2.5L or 1L

Find out more information about all of our finishes within our Product Data Sheets. These documents include guidance on surface preparation and technical data about our paint formulations.

Discover the best paint for metal surfaces

Intelligent Satin

For a beautiful mid sheen, Intelligent Satin can be used to paint all primed interior metals, including radiators.

This elegant satin paint finish is robust, hard-wearing and low maintenance. It can withstand everyday wear and tear, and its fully washable formula means any stains can easily be removed. With a speedy drying time of 2 hours, you can complete your radiator project in just one day.

Intelligent Satin is:

Self-priming
Multi-surface with Intelligent Grip™ technology
Environmentally-friendly
Water-based
Fully washable
Suitable for all interior woodwork and primed metals such as radiators
Certified completely safe for children's rooms and furniture ('Toy Paint Regulations' EN 71-3:2019)
Gloss level – 30-35% (mid sheen)
Covers approximately 12 square metres per litre (one coat)
Available in all colours
Available in 2 tin sizes- 2.5L and 1L

Choosing radiator paint colours

When you're choosing a colour to paint your radiator, consider the surroundings. Although white or off-white will be the obvious choice, oil-based paints can cause these colours to go yellow because of the temperature of the radiator.

You can reduce the prominence of a radiator by using the same colour as the walls. Paint the walls, woodwork and radiator in a single shade to create a beautiful, all-encompassed backdrop of colour. Read more about Colour Drenching to gain inspiration for your radiator painting project.

Alternatively, make a statement by using a contrasting or complementary colour on your radiator to create a focal point. Our guide to complementary paint colours will help you choose a harmonious colour pairing. You can also find a selection of suggested coordinating and contrasting colours for each paint colour on the individual product pages.

Little Greene paint colour cards and fabric swatches for choosing radiator paint colours.

Order a complimentary colour card

Order a Colour Card

Little Greene paint sample pots with green and blue colour swatches for planning radiator painting projects.

Order samples to test radiator colours

Browse Colours

Radiator Painting FAQs

How to paint behind a radiator?

For best results, we recommend enlisting a professional plumber to remove the radiator from the wall, or painting the room before you fit the radiator. This will allow you to reach all areas with ease and achieve full coverage.

Once you have removed the radiator, clean and rinse the wall before painting as normal. You should ask your plumber to refit the radiator only once the walls have completely dried.

If you would prefer to leave the radiator in place, you can use a radiator paint brush or radiator roller. These brushes/rollers have angled heads with long handles to make it easier to reach tricky areas. Make sure to protect your radiator with masking tape to prevent any spills.

Can you paint a radiator with emulsion wall paint?

We always recommend using a paint suitable for radiators for a durable, long-lasting finish. We suggest either our Interior Oil Eggshell or Intelligent Eggshell finish for a subtle, low-sheen appearance. You can also consider Intelligent Satin or Intelligent Gloss if you prefer the contrast of a higher sheen.

Can you paint radiators with gloss?

You can use either Intelligent Gloss or Traditional Oil Gloss to paint radiators. With their distinctive high sheen, these gloss finishes are perfect for adding an element of textural contrast to your scheme.

Traditional Oil Gloss (90% gloss) is a classic oil-based paint which achieves a reflective sheen. If you would prefer a water-based finish that won’t yellow over time, choose Intelligent Gloss (80% gloss). It is virtually odourless and dries in 2-4 hours, so you can complete your project quickly.

You could also try Intelligent Satinwood for an elegant mid sheen of 35%.

How to paint a rusty radiator?

You should always treat any rust on your radiator before you apply the primer. If your radiator has only slight surface rust, you should be able to get rid of it with sandpaper.

The most important things to remember about paint for radiators

Painting radiators is a great way to incorporate these often overlooked surfaces into your colour scheme and achieve beautiful, cohesive interiors.

For best results, it’s essential to choose the right paint finish and follow all the necessary preparation steps. Our Intelligent ASP provides a durable primer to prevent rust and help your paint finish withstand high temperatures.

Consider painting your radiator in the same colour as the walls, using a tough, low-sheen finish like Intelligent Eggshell. This colour drenching approach will help your radiator blend into the walls and not attract too much attention.

Browse our full colour palette in Interior Oil Eggshell and Intelligent Eggshell paint for radiators.

If you’re struggling with paint colour selection? Discover how our Colour Consultants can help you to decorate with confidence.

A Complete Guide to Painting Radiators