We often spend a lot of our time in the Bathroom. You certainly do not want it to look dull, right?
To help your interior bathroom paint look top-notch, we have developed this mega guide to inform you about the best primers for bathroom.
This article will discuss:
- What are primers for bathrooms, their uses, and their advantages?
- Our top picks and most favorite primers for bathrooms.
- The different types of primers for bathrooms are available in the market.
- What to look for before buying the best primer for your bathroom?
Make your bathroom look the best and a place where you can relax peacefully with the fantastic range of bathroom primers we have chosen for you.
My Top Picks
With so many options available on the market for bathroom primers, it can be a daunting task to pick the right one for yourself. Check out my top picks below.
1. Zinsser 123 Primer Bathroom
- Best primer for bathroom paint.
- Requires no sanding or stripping.
- A water-based primer that blocks stains
- Easy and straightforward to use.
- Dries to touch in an hour.
2. Rustoleum Mold-killing Primer
- Can be painted over existing mold or mildew to kill it.
- Prevents further growth of mildew by sealing the surface.
- One of the best water-resistant primers for the bathroom.
- Easy to clean with soap and water.
- Low odor and low VOC content.
3. ROMAN Rx-35 Sealer/Primer for Drywall
- Roman RX-35 is the best moisture-resistant primer for the bathroom.
- A water-based product, low in VOC.
- Can be used underneath wallpapers.
- Dries to a residual tack, easy adhesion for paint or wallpapers.
- It is a waterproof primer for drywall.
Feature Comparison of Best Bathroom Primers
1. Stain Blocking Bathroom Primer Model- Zinsser 123 primer bathroom
- Quantity- 32 Fl. Oz.
- Product Weight– 2.92 lbs
- Style: Water-based bathroom primer
- Latest Price – Amazon
2. Mold Killing Bathroom Primer Model- Rustoleum mold-killing primer
- Quantity- 32 Fl. Oz
- Product Weight- 3.17 lbs
- Style- Water-based bathroom primer
- Latest Price – Amazon
3. Waterproofing Bathroom Primer Model- ROMAN Rx-35 Sealer/Primer for Drywall
- Quantity-128 Fl. Oz Or, 1 Gallon.
- Product Weight- 8.48 lbs
- Style- Water-based Bathroom Primer
- Latest Price- Amazon
What Are The Different Types Of Primer For Bathrooms To Choose From?
Bathrooms need a particular type of moisture-resistant primer that can help protect the wall from damping or fungi from growing on it. Below I have listed the type of primers that are best for bathrooms.
Water-based Bathroom Primers
- Water-based bathroom primers suit bathroom walls the best for priming.
- They tend to be water-resistant and protect the walls from dampening. This is a significant factor, as dampening can harm your bathroom’s walls.
- Latex-based or water-based primers are the best options for drywalls. They also help to get rid of mildew on them, thanks to the many mildew-resistant primers available.
Shellac-based Bathroom Primers
- Shellac-based bathroom primers are best used for stain-blocking.
- If you have spots in the bathroom that require spot or even stain reduction, you can use a shellac bathroom primer for spot treatment.
- You can paint over shellac-based primers using latex-based paint. This makes the task easy for you if you use both shellac-based and water-based primers.
Supplies You’ll Need For Primer Painting Bathroom Ceilings And Walls
Before you start painting your bathroom, you must have a few things in your storage. Below we have outlined all the supplies you will need for primer painting bathroom ceilings and walls.
- Cleaning Tools: You must clean the ceiling or the bathroom wall where you are about to apply the primer.
- Paintbrush: You need a paintbrush to paint around the corners and edges.
- Paint roller: A paint roller helps to apply primer to a surface very fast.
- Paint tray: Paint trays help to get the perfect amount of primer on your roller.
- All-purpose water-based primer: A water-based primer is the best you can get for yourself to apply in the bathroom.
- Shellac-based bathroom primer: A shellac-based primer would be the best for you if you want to treat spots on the wall.
- Sandpaper: Sandpaper is a must to fine down painted surfaces.
- Mold-resistant Paint: After priming, you must use mold-resistant water-based bathroom paint.
What is the Best Primer for a Bathroom?
A good range of bathroom primers is available for the different sections of the bathroom. It can be tough to decide on one, so we have made a list of the best primers available for bathrooms that you can certainly invest in.
1. Best Primers For Bathroom Walls
Primers are essential for Bathroom walls. They not only help to seal the wall from moisture, but they also help to prevent paint peeling that may occur due to high humidity.
A. Zinsser 123 primer bathroom
The Zinsser 123 Bathroom Primer is the best in the market for blocking water stains on bathroom walls. It is ideal for bathroom walls because it dries fast as well.
Features
- One gallon covers up to 350 to 400 sq. ft.
- Fast Drying Capability.
- Easy and simple use kit.
- Water-based primer
Why do we like this?
- Dries in an hour.
- Stain blocking capabilities, even tho it is a water-based primer.
- Good coverage of the primer.
- Helps to hide mold and mildew stains.
- Low odor, perfect for bathrooms.
Why don’t we like this?
- The product might come damaged, and the paint dried out. Make sure you ask the vendor to take care of the parcel.
B. Best Kilz For Bathroom
Kilz Adhesion is the best high adhesive primer available for bathroom walls. Kilz Primer works best to bond with sleek surfaces, somewhere traditional water-based and oil-based primers fail to work.
Features
- Bonds to surfaces that are tough to paint.
- Rapid Drying Feature.
- Great coverage, 1 gallon covers 300 sq ft of surface
- Water-based primer.
Why do we like this?
- Dries to touch in 30 minutes, and it is ready to recoat in an hour.
- Great adhesive features, equal to long-lasting paint.
- Good coverage of the primer.
- Low odor, perfect for bathrooms.
- Can be used over any surface without having to worry.
Why don’t we like this?
- Some customers complain that the product didn’t adhere well to their project.
C. Bins Bullseye Pigmented Shellac
Zinsser’s The Bin’s Bullseye is the best shellac-based primer available for Bathroom walls. You can use this one for stain blocking and spot treatment.
Features
- The shellac-based primer can be applied on any surface without pre-sanding.
- Fast drying capabilities.
- Shellac-based primer
Why do we like this?
- Dries fast and is ready to recoat in only 45 minutes.
- Stain blocking capabilities
- Doesn’t require sanding before applying
- Helps to hide mold and mildew stains.
- Helps to seal musty odors as well.
Why don’t we like this?
- The odor of this primer might be too strong.
2. Best Primers For Bathroom Drywall
In the case of bathroom drywalls, it is vital that they are primed with a proper drywall primer. New Drywalls tend to be porous and absorb the paint applied to them. The bathroom drywall must be primed so there is no wastage of paint.
A. Peel Stop Bonding Primer
Peel Stop has been known as the best primer for new drywall in bathrooms. They help reduce peeling for new drywall, rampant if the primer doesn’t have good adhesive qualities.
Features
- Water-based primer for interior or exterior drywalls.
- Helps to fix problematic surfaces.
- Helps to bind peeling paint.
Why do we like this?
- The best primer for surfaces that require spot-fixing.
- Helps to get rid of peeling paint.
- Helps to hide mold and mildew stains
- Gives off a clear finish.
Why don’t we like this?
- It doesn’t smoothen the surface well.
- Coverage is less than what is advertised.
B. ROMAN Rx-35 Sealer/Primer for Drywall
If you are looking for the best waterproofing primer, you should choose Roman RX-35 Sealant. Besides being an excellent sealer, the Roman also has great adhesivity, which contributes to the longevity of the paint on your drywall.
Features
- Dries to a residual or tacky touch so that your paint sticks well to the drywall and your paint lasts long.
- Easy application.
- Works excellent in sealing and priming porous surfaces.
- Water-based primer
Why do we like this?
- Great coverage of this primer. Covers up to 450 sq ft.
- Helps to repair cracking and blistering paints.
- Helps to seal the wall from moisture and humidity.
Why don’t we like this?
- Doesn’t suit oil-based paints.
3. Best Primers For Bathroom Ceiling
Bathroom ceilings are prone to mildew and molding; other than that, Moisture is affected by the shower, which is located close to the ceiling.
A. Insl-X Stix Waterborne Bonding Primer
Insl-X Stix Primer is undoubtedly the best primer for shower ceilings. The primer has good adhesivity and allows you to use various paints.
Features
- Compatible with a lot of types of paints.
- Waterborne bonding primer.
- Cures in low temperatures or high humidity.
Why do we like this?
- The best primer for bathroom ceilings.
- Very easy to apply on hard-to-paint surfaces.
- Water, oil, and a few other types of paints can be used.
- Low in VOC
- It can be cleaned using soap and water.
Why don’t we like this?
- One can cover up to 150 sq. ft. This is significantly less and not value for money, but 150 sq. ft. should be enough for your bathroom ceiling.
- The primer doesn’t stick to cabinets.
B. Rustoleum Mold-killing Primer
Rustoleum mold-killing primer is the best moisture-resistant primer for the bathroom. Moisture leads to mold growth on the ceiling; Rustoleum’s primer helps prevent that.
Features
- Works as a protective primer.
- It can be painted over existing mold or mildew.
- Acts as a mold killer
- Compatible with a wide range of topcoats.
Why do we like this?
- Works as a mold killer and prevents future mold or a mildew infestation.
- Dries up fast
- Helps to seal the wall from moisture and humidity.
- Low odor.
- Water-based primers can be cleaned using soap and water.
Why don’t we like this?
- Coverage of 160 sq. ft only, but enough to cover a bathroom ceiling.
- The vendor ships damaged cans at times.
4. Best Primer Sealer For Bathroom
Bathrooms tend to have a lot of problematic surfaces, mainly due to the high moisture level there. In such a case, you must pick a good primer-sealer for your bathroom’s interior.
A. Gardz Water-Based Problem Surface Sealer
Gardz Water-based surface sealer is the best primer sealer available for bathroom interiors. It helps protect the bathroom surfaces from high moisture and humidity.
Features
- Water-based primer with low-odor formula is used on porous areas such as drywall, ceilings, or other interior walls.
- Works as a sealant for walls in locations with high moisture or humidity.
- It can be used with wallpapers.
Why do we like this?
- Great coverage, covers up to 450 sq. ft.
- Helps to seal and protect hard surfaces.
- The coating helps seal the primer’s residue, preventing future peelings or blisterings.
- Low in VOC.
Why don’t we like this?
- Skim coating doesn’t work using this primer well.
- The primer doesn’t prevent bubbling in wallpapers as claimed.
- The vendor might send the product with poor packaging.
B. Kilz 2 All-purpose Interior Exterior Primer
Another bathroom primer-sealer available in the market, the Kilz all-purpose primer, is just as good as the Zinsser. It doesn’t only work as a sealer, but you can also use it as a stain blocker.
Features
- Works as a stain blocker for medium or mild stains on walls.
- Helps to seal the surface from moisture and humidity.
- Latex-based primer.
- The primer can use on both interior and exterior walls.
Why do we like this?
- Low odor.
- Water-based primers can be cleaned using soap and water.
- Great coverage of 300 – 400 sq. ft.
- The Kilz 2 dries to touch in 30 minutes and is ready to recoat in an hour.
- It’s cheaper compared to other primers.
Why don’t we like this?
- The vendor might send out damaged products.
- Low-shelf life, the product gets hardened very quickly.
5. Best Paint Primer For Bathrooms
Two-in-one paint and primers are the best for bathrooms, as you only need to apply them once and not worry about priming and painting separately. They are one of the most popular forms of primers available in the market.
A. THE ONE Paint & Primer
If you are looking for the best bathroom primer paint, you can’t overlook The One Paint & Primer. The One Paint & Primer is one of the most popular 2 in one primer paint available on the market.
Features
- No Prep is required before applying.
- Paint and prime in the same package.
- Low VOC Content and low odor.
- Available in 12 different colors.
Why do we like this?
- Great coverage of the paint and primer helps you to save
- Helps to seal and protect problematic surfaces.
- It can be used on a wide range of surfaces.
- Low in VOC.
Why don’t we like this?
- The quantity might be less, but it might be enough to paint the ceiling.
- Some people have complained that it bubbles.
B. Prestige Interior Paint and Primer
Prestige interior paint and primer is the best premium paint and primer available for bathrooms. If you are looking for a premium finish for your bathroom walls or ceiling, you should pick this one.
Features
- Ultra-Premium Paints.
- Smooth application
- Low VOC.
Why do we like this?
- Latex-based primer is straightforward to clean up using soap and water.
- Great coverage.
- Fewer coats are required compared to other products in the market.
- No odors in the product.
Why don’t we like this?
- Expensive compared to other products available in the market, but worth the quality.
- There have been complaints that the paint peels after a few months.
How To Choose the Best Primer for the Bathroom| Buying Guide
It is essential to understand which primer would suit your bathroom the most. There are a few factors that you must consider and assess a few factors before you can buy the best primer for your bathroom.
The Surface You Are Going To Paint On
Whether you are painting on a wall, a ceiling, or drywall. The surface you need to prime matters a lot. Different primers are designed to suit different parts of your interior. You must choose a product accordingly.
The Condition of Your Surface
If the surface that you are about to paint on is new, then any primer might suit it. In case of a surface that requires you to repaint it, you might need to choose a special primer since not all primers will work on it.
Other than that, walls with mildew or mold might require special primers that can help you kill molds or mildew and help to seal the wall from moisture and humidity.
Protection From Moisture and Mildew
This is the most crucial factor when buying a primer for your bathroom. Moisture can be found in abundance in the bathroom, and it can harm your walls or ceilings by promoting the growth of mildew or moss.
You must buy a primer that can not only help to seal your wall but also prevent future mildew growth.
Recommended reading: Paint primers for wood use
Frequently Asked Questions
What Paint to Use in the Bathroom to Prevent Mold?
To remove mold, you should use Rustoleum Mold-Killing Primer. It is the best primer for preventing mold growth and killing existing molds.
Which Primer Would be Best for Me?
Zinsser 123 Primer for bathrooms is the best all-rounder primer you can get for priming the bathroom. It provides solutions for all your bathroom walls or ceiling issues.
Is High Gloss Paint Good for Bathrooms?
High-gloss paints are top-rated to protect the bathroom walls from moisture and mildew. In fact, before mildew-resistant and moisture-resistant properties were added to paints, people preferred using high gloss paints for bathrooms.
Can You Use Matte Finish Paint Primer in a Bathroom?
Matte finish paint primers are not ideal for bathrooms because they are soft paints. Soft paints are prone to mildew in high humidity. Therefore, it is best to avoid a matte finish in the bathroom.
How do I Know if My Primer is Good or Not?
It is best to do spot testing on one part of your wall to ensure that your primer suits the surface and is good. It is always a good practice to review the features of your primer and to ensure that it supports the type of project you are about to work on.
Can Zinsser Mold Killing Primer be Used in a Bathroom?
Yes, you can use Zinsser mold-killing primer in the bathroom as it has been specially designed to protect your bathroom walls from mildew or mold and to prevent further growth?
Final Words
Painting your bathroom and ensuring it is durable can be challenging, mainly due to the extreme rate of moisture and humidity there. It is necessary that priming is carried out correctly to ensure that the paint lasts long enough and the structure is protected from high amounts of moisture and humidity. We hope the best primers for the bathroom discussed in this article benefit you.