Also, you should apply primer before painting bare wood, stained surfaces, or dark surfaces. This prevents those surfaces from bleeding through and requires fewer coats of paint. “You want a different type of primer, depending on whether you’re painting interior or exterior, drywall or bare wood, or whether you have stains or odors to worry about,” Dempsey says. “But the right primer is the great equalizer. It creates a great surface for your paint.” We researched the best drywall primers based on formulation, intended usage, effectiveness, VOC levels, and price. Our top pick is KILZ 2 All-Purpose Interior/Exterior Multi-purpose Water-based Wall and Ceiling Primer, a popular low-cost primer good for drywall and many other surfaces. The manufacturer claims KILZ 2 is effective when trying to change colors, and it does cover dark paint, as well as light to medium stains. It is also somewhat effective in masking previous odors. But if you have heavy stains, extreme odors, or bare wood, we recommend using a primer specifically meant for those purposes instead. Also, KILZ 2 should cover surfaces painted with a semi-gloss finish. But, as with most primers, you should clean and scuff-sand the surface before applying the primer. The manufacturer claims this primer can be ready for a second coat in as little as 1 hour. Price at time of publish: $24/gallon Valspar Pro Interior PVA Water-Based Wall and Ceiling Primer is a great, economical choice, providing a nice, even surface over highly porous drywall, whether brushed, rolled on, or sprayed. This product is fast-drying and mildew-resistant, and dries to the touch quickly, often within an hour. (However, it may take up to 4 hours before the surface is ready for an additional coat.) While the manufacturer claims you can apply this to painted drywall, as well as plaster, wood and masonry, we recommend one of the other primers listed in this article. Price at time of publish: $14/gallon The manufacturer claims this product dries within 1 hour of application and is ready for a re-coat within 2. Also, while the manufacturer says a gallon can cover up to 400 square feet (the area of a two-car garage), we have noted that this is probably far more than you actually get. Also, while a good choice for interior projects, this product isn’t meant to be used outdoors, in mildew-prone areas, or to cover heavy stains or odors. Price at time of publish: $18/gallon This product is fast-drying: slightly over a half hour to the touch, and ready for a second coat in 1 hour. Sanding shouldn’t be necessary, according to the manufacturer. It does a good job concealing light to medium stains and odors. However, for heavy stains and odors or for painting raw wood, we recommend an oil-based or shellac primer especially made for those purposes. Price at time of publish: $33/gallon Zinsser Cover Stain Interior or Exterior High Hiding Oil-Based Wall and Ceiling Primer is great for blocking significant stains and odors. We recommend this oil-based primer for covering especially tough marks such as fire, smoke, nicotine, and water damage. It also can be used on surfaces that are difficult for water-based primers to adhere to, including wallpaper, as well as wood cabinets. As with any oil-based primer, this product isn’t low-VOC or low-odor, so be sure to use it in a well-ventilated area. Price at time of publish: $19/quart We note this product is effective when used on surfaces damaged from fire, water, or rust. It also effectively masks sap, tannin, lipstick, and creosote, and can be effective in painting over very dark colors. Our paint expert, Pat Dempsey, especially likes using this product to cover wood knots, rusty nails, and stubborn water stains. As with any shellac-based primer, this product isn’t low-VOC or low-odor, so be sure to use it in a well-ventilated area. Price at time of publish: $75/gallon This all-purpose primer works best when you use it as the first step to painting over light colors and stains. The manufacturer claims it sprays or rolls on well. It should dry to the touch within 1 hour and be ready for a second coat within 4. This is not an odor-sealing product; we recommend alternatives in this roundup for that functionality. Price at time of publish: $21/gallon PVA primer is a type of water-based primer, specially formulated to prime fresh drywall. It is often an especially economical choice but isn’t meant to prime other surfaces. Oil-based primer covers heavier stains and odors that water-based primers can’t. It also can prevent tannins from leaking through raw wood and causing dark, unsightly stains. Oil-based primers tend to have stronger odors and fumes than water-based primers. Shellac primer is generally the most expensive option, but it’s the best choice if you need to permanently block especially heavy stains and odors, or block wood knots and rusty nails from bleeding through your primer. Shellac tends to have stronger odors and fumes than water-based primers. It also requires denatured alcohol for cleanup.
Surface
The drywall you are priming has a definite on the primer you purchase. Some primers are formulated only for interior surfaces; others work better only on outdoor surfaces; and you may find some products that are designed to effectively prime both. Most interior primers, especially water-based products, lack the formulations to coat the mildew, stains, and rougher surfaces of primers intended for outdoor surfaces. So any interior primer you use on an outdoor surface is unlikely to prep the surface for paint that adheres well and endures inclement weather. What about the reverse? You can use left-over exterior drywall primer on an interior surface. But those oil-based or shellac-based products, which are formulated to cover outdoor stains and rougher surfaces, aren’t needed on new interior drywall. Also, those outdoor products tend to have stronger odors and emit more VOCs than interior primers. So, at the very least, avoid them in smaller, closely confined rooms.
VOCs
If you’ve felt somewhat light-header or nauseated after priming or painting in an enclosed area, you’re reacting to volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These chemicals are emitted from primers and paints as they dry, as well as other household products such as some cleaners. Many people can experience headaches and other symptoms when exposed to them. Some VOCs are also probable human carcinogens. Check the label on your primer or other household product to see if it contains VOCs. Some primers are formulated to have low VOCs or no VOCs, and this roundup recommends two no-VOC products.
Why Trust The Spruce?
Missy Keenan is a freelance writer with more than 2 decades’ experience as a journalist and communications professional, with a special interest in all things home and garden. She has written hundreds of articles for publications, including Do It Yourself, Secrets of Getting Organized, DSM, and Glamour magazines; USA Today; The Des Moines Register; and Iowa Gardening. For this article, Missy consulted with Pat Dempsey, owner of Renaissance Painting in Des Moines, Iowa, and spent hours researching products online. A number of experts recommend “back rolling”—using a bare roller on a surface upon which you’ve just applied primer. This way, you work the primer into the surface for better adhesion, and smooth down any fiber “cowlicks” that have emerged as the result of spraying.
