Polyurethane is a glossy sealer that protects surfaces from moisture, water, scratches, and other damage. But, how many coats of polyurethane do you need?
For indoor surfaces that don’t need much protection, such as room decor, apply two (2) light polyurethane coats. For outdoor surfaces that require protection, such as outdoor tables, apply three to five (3-5) coats.
The number of coats depends on the type of polyurethane. For instance, you can apply 2-3 coats of oil-based polyurethane and 5 coats of water-based polyurethane. That’s because oil-based polyurethane is thicker and requires fewer coats than water-based polyurethane.
The surface type also determines the number of coats. For instance, you must apply more polyurethane coats on a wooden surface than on a metal surface.
The finish will be weak, uneven, and thin, and won’t protect the surface from UV or moisture if you don’t apply enough coats. If you apply more than 5 coats, the polyurethane finish will take longer to dry, turn sticky (or remain wet longer), might turn yellow (oil-polyurethane only), develop bubbles, and peel off.
Why Does The Number Of Polyurethane Coats Matter?
The number of polyurethane coats matters for the following reasons.
- Durability. Each polyurethane coat you add increases the durability of the finish. The polyurethane finish offers moisture-resistance, UV-resistance, and scratch-resistance features. The thicker the coating, the harder for liquids to penetrate it. However, there’s a limit on how much protection the coating can offer, if you add more than 5 coats the finish won’t add more protection. Also, if you don’t add enough coats (less than 2), the finish won’t be thick enough and won’t offer moisture, UV, or scratch-resistant features.
- Clarity. Polyurethane is a colorless sealer (there are tinted options, too) that produces a glossy and clear finish. If you add more than 5 coats (for water-based polyurethane) the finish will become blurry, and you won’t see the wood grain. If you add more than 3-4 coats of oil-based polyurethane, the finish might turn yellow.
- Coverage. Polyurethane can penetrate and seal porous surfaces, such as wood, providing uniform coverage. If you apply less than required coats, polyurethane will penetrate the porous surface, but won’t protect it. It’s important to add 1-2 extra coats for porous surfaces for proper protection.
- Dry Time. The more coats you apply, the longer polyurethane takes to dry because there’s more solvent on the surface. Since the solvent must evaporate for the coating to dry, more coats will mean a longer dry time.
How Many Coats of Oil-based Polyurethane?
You need 2-3 coats of oil-based polyurethane. For indoor low-traffic surfaces you only need 2 coats, while for outdoor high-traffic surfaces, you need 3 coats.
Oil-based polyurethane is a thick sealer that produces a glossy and durable finish. So, applying more than 3 coats isn’t required.
More coats equals more protection, but only to a degree — if you apply more than 4 coats the finish won’t get more protection.
More than 4 coats will increase the chances of the finish yellowing over time as once the solvent (oil) evaporates from the coating it leaves oily deposits behind that will yellow the finish if there’s enough of it.
Less than 2 coats of oil-based polyurethane won’t produce a durable, protective, or glossy finish.
How Many Coats for Water-based Polyurethane?
You need 3-5 coats of water-based polyurethane. For indoor low-traffic surfaces apply 3 coats, for outdoor high-traffic surfaces apply 5 coats of water-based polyurethane.
You can apply more coats of water-based polyurethane as it isn’t thick and doesn’t leave oily deposits behind as it uses water as its solvent.
The maximum number of coats of water-based polyurethane is five (5) — more than 5 coats and the finish will turn cloudy or blurry.
Applying too many coats is time-consuming as you must wait for each coat to dry before applying the next one. The longer the sealer stays wet or sticky, the more dirt and dust it will accumulate, which can result in a sticky finish.
How Many Coats of Polyurethane For Different Surfaces?
The number of coats of polyurethane for different surfaces is listed below.
Floors
You need 3 coats of oil-based polyurethane and 3-5 coats of water-based polyurethane for floor surfaces.
Don’t apply more than 5 coats as the finish will become blurry, too thick, and can reflect light too much.
You can apply 2 coats for low-traffic floors as they don’t need much protection and don’t see much foot traffic.
Wood
You need 2 coats for indoor wood surfaces and 3-5 coats for outdoor wood surfaces.
Indoor wood surfaces aren’t exposed to high-traffic, UV rays, moisture, or weather elements so they don’t need much protection. Outdoor surfaces are exposed to weather elements (sun, rain) and dirt, so they need more protection.
Use exterior polyurethane for outdoor wood surfaces as it’s formulated with extra additives (such as UV-blockers) and offers better protection.
Note: Wood is a porous surface so it can absorb too much polyurethane, so it’s advised to apply 1-2 coats of paint, primer, or wood conditioner to prevent over-absorption.
All types of wood and the number of polyurethane coats for each are listed below.
| Wood Type | Number of Polyurethane Coats |
|---|---|
| Pine | Indoor: 3-4 coats. Outdoor: 3-5 coats. |
| Oak | Indoor: 3-4 coats. Outdoor: 3-5 coats. |
| Maple | Indoor: 3 coats. Outdoor: 3-4 coats. |
| Cherry | Indoor: 3 coats. Outdoor: 3-4 coats. |
| Walnut | Indoor: 2-3 coats. Outdoor: 3 coats. |
| Mahogany | Indoor: 2-3 coats. Outdoor: 3 coats. |
| Birch | Indoor: 2 coats. Outdoor: 3 coats. |
| Ash | Indoor: 2 coats. Outdoor: 3 coats. |
| Teak | Indoor: 2 coats. Outdoor: 3 coats. |
| Cedar | Indoor: 2 coats. Outdoor: 3 coats. |
Baseboard Trim
Apply two (2) coats of polyurethane for baseboard trims as they are positioned at the base of the walls and aren’t exposed to high traffic or other elements, so they don’t need much protection.
Exterior Walls
Apply 5 coats of exterior polyurethane for exterior walls as they are constantly exposed to weather elements (sun, rain) and need more protection.
Don’t apply water-based polyurethane for exterior walls as they don’t offer the needed protection.
Stairs
Apply 3-4 coats of oil-based polyurethane and 5 coats of water-based polyurethane on stairs. Stairs are exposed to high foot traffic and need more protection.
Starts are riddled with dust and debris, so ensure to sand and prime them before applying the sealer.
Depending on how large the stairs are, you can use a brush or sprayer to apply the polyurethane. It’s important to seal the entire staircase, including the banisters, and not only the steps so the whole staircase matches.
Kitchen Cabinets
Apply 3-4 coats of polyurethane for kitchen cabinets as they are exposed to scratches, heat, and touches, so they need more protection.
Accompanied by the heat, the kitchen cabinets are also exposed to steam, which is a source of moisture, so having a moisture-resistant sealer is necessary.
Pine Walls
Apply 2-3 coats of polyurethane for pine walls.
Table
Apply 3-4 coats of water-based polyurethane for indoor table surfaces and 4 coats of oil-based (or exterior) polyurethane for outdoor table surfaces. Outdoor table surfaces are exposed to weather elements and need more protection.
Note: Adding too many coats of polyurethane over a table will make the finish too glossy (reflect light) if the table is under a light source (or outdoors).
Wood Countertops
Apply 2-3 coats of polyurethane for wood countertops as they don’t need much protection and are usually located under a light source.
The glossiness of the polyurethane finish will reflect light and make it uncomfortable to work there.
How Long Between Coats of Polyurethane?
It takes oil-based polyurethane 24 hours to dry enough for a re-coat, while water-based polyurethane dries between coats in 6-8 hours. For polyurethane to dry, the solvent (oil or water) must evaporate fully from the coating.
Water-based polyurethane dries faster because it uses water as its solvent, and water evaporates faster from the coating. Oil-based polyurethane takes longer to dry because of its oily (natural or synthetic) solvent.
If you re-coat too soon, the coating will have poor adhesion, reduced durability, and might turn sticky. That’s because the solvent (oil or water) will get trapped between coats and prevent the next coating from adhering properly.
Should You Apply Just One Coat of Polyurethane?
You shouldn’t apply just one coat of polyurethane as the finish won’t be durable, glossy, moisture-resistant, or scratch-resistant. The first coat of polyurethane penetrates the surface, so it offers minimal protection.
Should You Sand Between Polyurethane Coats?
You should sand between coats of polyurethane as it removes dust, debris, brush marks, and imperfections from the existing coating and helps the next coating to adhere better.
2 vs. 3 Coats of Polyurethane
For indoor low-traffic surfaces, you can apply 2 coats. For indoor medium-traffic surfaces apply 3 coats of polyurethane.
How Many Coats For Polyurethane Varathane?
For oil-based polyurethane varathane apply 2-3 coats and for water-based polyurethane varathane apply 4 coats.
