Acrylic and latex have some similarities, but ultimately they are distinctly different products.

Both acrylic and latex paint have their uses, so it's important to learn the differences to ensure you're choosing the right one for your project. Before picking up a fresh can of paint, learn the difference between acrylic versus latex paint.

What Is Acrylic Paint?

Acrylic paint is versatile and widely used for a range of different projects. It's a water-based paint that is composed of pigments, a binder, and a vehicle. This combination of ingredients creates the vibrant colors, high durability, and fast-drying properties for which acrylic paint is known. 

Acrylic paint is well-suited for exterior locations, like the siding or trim, but can also be used for artistic projects, like a wall mural.

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What Is Latex Paint?

Latex is commonly used for interior painting projects due to the low cost as well as the high levels of flexibility and adhesion. This water-based paint was originally named for the rubber-based binder, but modern latex paint no longer contains rubber. Instead, latex paint is made up of pigments, a synthetic binder, and water, which acts as the vehicle to carry the pigment and the binder.

While both acrylic paint and latex paint use acrylic polymers as a binder, the concentration is significantly lower in latex paint—the difference in composition makes latex paint easy to apply and clean up, but it also means that latex paint dries slower and is more susceptible to chipping or peeling than acrylic paint.

Acrylic vs. Latex Paint: What's the Difference?

Beyond the specific chemical composition, there are a range differences between acrylic and latex paint.

Appearance

Acrylic paint tends to have the edge in vibrancy and it's also UV-resistant, allowing it to retain the original color for a longer period of time, rather than fading under direct sunlight.

Latex paint is typically available in a wider assortment of colors and finishes, ranging from flat to high-gloss, so latex paint might be the best choice for variety.

Durability

Latex paint has good adhesion and flexibility, with a high level of coverage, making it an excellent choice for interior painting projects, like walls, ceilings, or doors. Latex paint is more vulnerable to chipping or peeling, especially during temperature fluctuations or in high-moisture locations.

Acrylic paint can hold up well even when used outdoors, since it is resistant to water, UV radiation, mold, mildew, and even significant temperature changes. Acrylic paint is considered to be more durable and longer lasting than latex paint.

Ease of Use

When it comes to ease of use and application, latex paint is the way to go. Acrylic tends to dry quickly, allowing you to paint several coats in a short period of time, but the fast-drying properties of this paint can make it difficult to fix mistakes and clean up.

Latex paint takes a bit longer to dry and has a more forgiving formula that is easier to clean up or fix simple mistakes using a damp cloth or even a bit of paper towel. For beginner DIYers, it's better to learn how to work with latex paint before trying your hand with acrylic paint.

Eco-Friendliness

Neither acrylic or latex paint should be thrown out in the regular trash or washed down the sink, since both types of paint contain volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), which can damage the eco-system.

Acrylic paint typically contains a higher concentration of VOCs and emits a stronger chemical odor than latex. For this reason, latex paint is considered to be more eco-friendly, and it's the better option for indoor projects, especially in areas with poor ventilation.

Lifespan

Typically, acrylic paint will last between two to 15 years, depending on where and how it is applied, as well as the level of care and maintenance. Latex paint isn't quite as long-lasting, with an average lifespan of two to 10 years.

Maintenance

Both acrylic and latex paint are relatively easy to maintain as long as the initial application was completely with proper preparation. Simply wait until the paint is fully dry and cured, then use a microfiber cloth and warm water to wash the painted surface. Additionally, you can use leftover paint to touch up small scratches or chips that may occur as a result of regular wear and tear.

Acrylic vs. Latex Paint: Benefits

While there are some situations where either paint is suitable, it's best to have a clear understanding of the benefits of acrylic vs. latex before starting a painting project.

Acrylic Paint

Acrylic paint is highly valued for its durability and fast-drying properties; this type of paint is resistant to moisture, UV radiation, mold, and temperature fluctuations. Acrylic paint expands and contracts when the temperature changes, instead of cracking or peeling, making it an excellent option for exterior painting projects.

Additionally, acrylic paint has strong adhesive properties that, when combined with the mold- and moisture-resistance, create an ideal product for painting high-moisture locations inside the home, like bathrooms, kitchens, or laundry rooms. You can get typically get acrylic paint in flat, satin, or gloss finishes, though some manufacturers may also offer high-gloss or semi-gloss sheens.

Latex Paint

Latex paint is best known for its low price and easy application, which make it a favorite for interior painting projects. This water-based paint has superior coverage, allowing it to coat large surfaces, like walls, ceilings, and doors.

Latex paint has minimal chemical odors and contains low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), making it an environmentally friendly choice that is well-suited for indoor use. While latex paint can also dry fast, it doesn't dry as quick as acrylic. However, latex paint is typically available in a larger number of colors and finishes than acrylic, ranging from flat to high-gloss sheens.

Acrylic vs. Latex Paint: Where to Use?

Different types of paint have different uses. Figuring out how and where to use acrylic or latex paint is key to determining which paint is best for an upcoming renovation project.

Acrylic Paint

The high level of durability, fast drying times, and water-resistance makes acrylic paint an obvious choice for the bathroom, kitchen, or laundry room, where there are often high level of moisture or humidity. Additionally, acrylic paint is resistant to mold, mildew, and UV radiation, which allows it to hold up well when applied to exterior surfaces, like metal siding, wood, concrete, brick, or trim.

Acrylic paint expands and contracts when temperatures fluctuate, instead of chipping, cracking, or peeling, so using it outdoors or in poorly insulated locations, like the garage or a shed, is a good idea.

Latex Paint

Latex paint is is typically used indoors to paint walls, ceilings, doors, and trim. The easy-to-apply and easy-to-clean paint product has a good level of adhesion and flexibility that make it a great choice for painting large areas of drywall and plaster.

Latex paint can also be applied to stucco, wood, aluminum siding, or concrete, though it's important to note that latex paint is more susceptible to chipping and peeling than acrylic, especially in high-moisture locations, like the bathroom, kitchen, or the exterior of the home.

Acrylic vs. Latex Paint: Costs

Generally, latex paint is more affordable than acrylic paint, making latex a more popular choice for home renovation projects. Homeowners can expect to pay between $15 to $60 per gallon for interior latex paint, while they may pay between $20 to $80 per gallon for exterior acrylic paint.

With this in mind, some DIYers and artistic creators choose to invest in latex paint for broad areas, like painting the walls of a room or the base coat on a mural, while purchasing smaller amounts of acrylic paint for more detailed finishes.