3 Best Glow In The Dark Spray Paint in 2023 (Bright & Smooth) (2023)

Have a lot of things to glow in the dark but don’t have too much time? Then a glow in the dark spray paint is what you need.

Unlike glow in the dark paints, these are fairly easy and quick to apply. Even applying multiple coats isn’t a headache; just press the nozzle, and it’s 1,2,3.

Single spray paint can cover many sq. ft if appropriately used, which is impossible with glow paint at a similar price. Spray paints are amazing, but they aren’t suitable for everything.

I wouldn’t recommend it for details, like in a painting or on canvas, or maybe gun sights. Also, spray paints usually take 24 hours to fully dry, which is more than double the time taken by glow paints.

The glow time of spray paints is 1-3 hours on average, but there are some exceptions. Using a good glow spray paint like Rust-Oleum Max, you can get a glow time of 4-8 hours, depending on the charge and application.

Now, the question arises – Which glow spray paint is the Best?

And I would say it depends on your needs. A good spray for one surface may not work well on other surfaces. For example, a spray that works well on Metal or plastic may not work on the ground, so it depends.

But don’t worry, I got you. After testing a lot of glow in the dark spray paints, I have selected the top 3 that will be good for most of your needs. I recommend you read my review on each spray to understand how and where to use them.

Below is a quick view of all three.

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3. Rust-Oleum Specialty Reflective Spray –

This reflective paint from Rust-Oleum is the best option if you want a surface that illuminates and reflects light. But if you want a spray that “glows” in the dark, it’s not for you. It basically makes the surface reflective, making it ideal for driveway markers, mailboxes, light posts, fences, camping gear, helmets, etc.

You can use it indoors or outdoors on almost any surface you want to make reflective; there is no limit. However, make sure to clean the surface beforehand. Use a detergent to clean the surface, rinse with fresh water, and allow it to dry completely. Patience is the key when using this spray.

Once the surface dries, you can use the spray. Remember, one spray paint can cover up to 15 sq. ft. if used efficiently. So, using it properly is crucial. Hold the can upright 10-16” from the surface and spray it well to have multiple coats, but don’t apply heavy coats that look wet.

Doing so will take forever to dry. Also, shake the can for 4 seconds after every 15 seconds of use. If appropriately applied, it dries to touch in around 20 minutes and takes 24 hours to completely dry.

Now, before applying this paint, make sure the temperature is around 50-90°F and humidity is below 85%; otherwise, your paint will become sticky and will take forever to dry. If the humidity is high or the temperature is off-range, then using the spray will make it a mess, so avoid using it until the above conditions are met.

As I said earlier, it doesn’t “glow” but only reflects, so don’t mistake it with a “glow in the dark” spray paint. However, if you want a reflective glow paint, then it’s perfect. Just make sure you follow the instructions stated on the seller’s page. Otherwise, you will have a hard time making it reflective.

Pros

• Reflects very well
• It can be used on many surfaces.
• If used properly, it covers up to 15 sq. ft.

Cons

• Only reflects, no glow.
• It can’t use in unfavorable weather condition

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2. Rust-Oleum Professional Inverted Marking Spray Paint –

As the name suggests, this glow in the dark spray works best for marking purposes. It’s best for highlighting underground utilities, construction sites, road surfaces, athletic fields, and places whereyou mark the ground for landscaping or digging; otherwise, it may not work well.

If you want spray paint for surfaces like metal, plastic, etc., it won’t be that effective. Believe me, even if it adheres well, it may not glow that well. This bottle is designed only to spray when fully faced down. If it’s not fully down, it won’t come out, which has its own pros and cons.

Of course, the pro makes the application and control much easier, and the con is that it’s hard to use it on other surfaces. Even though it’s said to be only suitable for marking, you can use it on other surfaces, like wood. But you have to use a Blacklight to see it glow well.

Now, I really love that the paint sprayed is very visible. Like, you won’t have difficulty noticing which area is covered. The best part is that you can apply it directly to the soil, and it works like a charm. Sometimes, it can have a powdery residue, but that’s not a big problem.

Once applied, you will get long-lasting marks that even water can’t remove. Personally, my paint was perfectly visible even after it rained heavily, so I can say it’s amazing. It glows very well, but that depends on the charge. If you let it charge using sunlight, it works well, but you can use artificial light on a cloudy day.

Some artificial light includes LED light, Lamplight, Blacklight, High wattage Bulbs, etc. Now, the best of all is Blacklight, period. It charges the paint quickly and lets it glow to its full potential.

I would recommend this Blacklight Bar for this paint as it can cover a big area and make it glow. This spray is available in 10 colors, so you have plenty of options to choose from. You can choose the spray that suits them best.

Pros

• It glows very well, especially under Blacklight.
• Durable and can withstand water.
• Very visible once applied
• It can be applied directly to the soil.
• Available in 10 colors

Cons

• Mostly good for marking, not all surfaces

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1. Rust-Oleum Max Glow in The Dark Spray –

Want a glow in the dark spray paint that glows brightly on most surfaces? Then this special spray from Rust-Oleum is all you need. This spray paint is specially designed to glow twice as strong as other sprays. It uses oil-based paint, which helps it glow much better in the dark.

Unlike the previous paint, it can be used on many surfaces like ceramic, wood, metal, drywall, plastic, etc. It works like a charm. When applied, it usually dries clear, especially for the first few layers, but it can turn a bit off-white with multiple coats. And that’s not something to care about.

But what you need to care about is that this paint can take up to 24 hours to fully dry, so once sprayed, leave for a day before charging it. Make sure to shake the bottle really well before and during use. Doing so, mix the glow pigments with the paint inside, and yield a much better glow.

Remember, this paint works exceptionally well on a white surface. It works as expected as long as you are painting it over white. If not, then you won’t see a noticeable glow. So, when painting on a dark surface, spray a layer of white primer before using this spray.

Once the primer dries, use this spray over it, and believe me, it will fluoresce for hours. You can use this spray indoors or outdoors on almost all surfaces, and it works great as long as you have a white surface and a reasonable charge.

The best part is that you don’t need multiple coats to see the glow; even a single thick coat is good. However, more coats give a better glow. When the paint dries, you need to charge it. Now, if you have it outdoors, it can use direct sunlight to charge itself. It may take around 4-6 hours to charge itself fully in the sunlight.

Once charged, it can glow for up to 8 hours under optimal conditions. I think it glows for an average of like 5-6 hours, but I will mention again that you need a white surface. Now, you can do something for people like me who don’t like to wait for hours to get it charged.

Using good artificial light, you can cut the hours by a big percentage. Especially if you are using the spray indoors, sunlight won’t be an option, so you have to rely on artificial light. There are a couple of them like Lamplight, LED light, Bulbs, etc.

However, the best of all is Blacklight. A blacklight is extremely powerful and can charge in minutes. Now, another problem arose that you have to charge it daily. Well, my answer is No if you are smart. I personally use this Blacklight bar, and it does all the work for me.

Pros

• It glows brightly for hours
• Glow is twice as strong as others
• It can be applied on most surfaces
• Even glow well with a single thick coat

Cons

• It only glows well on a white surface

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Tips For Glow In The Dark Spray Paint –

1. Glow Spray paint must be applied in favorable weather conditions.

2. Before spraying, clean the surface properly, if possible, with detergent and rinse with clean water.

3. Let the spray dry itself for around 24 hours before you really use it.

4. Glow Sprays work similarly to glow paints; the better you charge them, the more they glow.

5. If using outside, make sure they get direct sunlight for the last 4-5 hours before dusk, and for indoors, a Blacklight works the best.

6. A Blacklight can charge it in minutes, whereas other sources take hours, so you can get one to save your time.

7. Don’t spray it too thick that it looks wet. Most glow sprays look clear during the day, so don’t over it.

8. Follow the instructions specified by sellers/manufacturers for the best effect.

9. Please don’t listen to people’s reviews that seriously as most of them don’t follow the instruction well.

FAQ –

How long does glow in the dark spray paint last?

Usually, glow in the dark spray paints last for years without any problem. However, the “glow” of the spray paints only lasts for around 1-3 hours(average), depending on the quality and charge.

Some glow sprays like Rust-Oleum Max offer 4-8 hours of glow, depending on the paint you choose. Better paint equals long life and a better glow.

What is the best glow in the dark spray paint?

Nobody can answer this question as it solely depends on your needs. I would recommend a different glow spray paint for the ground than for metal or plastic.

So, the best glow spray paint can differ from person to person according to their need. But don’t worry, here I have listed the top 3 paints that will help you choose the best one. Just give them a look.

How well does glow in the dark spray paintwork?

Glow in the dark spray paint works absolutely well if appropriately applied. To make sure it works, you have to spray it a little thickly and charge it using a strong light.

Once applied, wait for 24 hours to let it dry before using it.

What color is glow in the dark spray paint?

Most of the glow spray paints use a Neon green color. Neon Green is highly visible by nature, so having it in glow spray paint makes it glow brighter.

Some glow spray paints offer multiple neon variants, like Neon orange, Neon yellow, etc., but most don’t.

Conclusion

Hey painters, it’s the end of the article. In this article, I talked about the best glow in the dark spray paints you can get. Most people were confused about which spray is the best; that’s why I took a step forward and created this article. It wasn’t easy anyway, as I had to buy and review it, so I would really appreciate it if you shared it with your friends and family.