How to Paint Styrofoam

Reviewed by Kelly Medford

Last Updated: March 24, 2023 Approved

Styrofoam is a great material to use for crafts, as it's super lightweight and comes in many shapes and sizes. The best paint to use on styrofoam is acrylic paint as it adheres to the styrofoam well. Since styrofoam is so porous, you'll likely need to use several coats of paint to cover it. Use a foam brush to apply the paint and wait for the coat to dry before adding additional ones.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Selecting the Paint

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Avoid using spray paints, as they will dissolve the styrofoam. Regular spray paints, such as latex or enamel ones, eat up the styrofoam once you spray the paint onto it. If you want to keep your styrofoam's shape and texture the same when you're painting it, stay away from spray paints.^{[1]
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- The chemicals in the spray paint are what cause it to destroy the styrofoam.
Acrylic paint is the best type of paint you can use on styrofoam, as it won't cause damage and sticks to the styrofoam well. Visit your local craft store or go online to find acrylic paint in a color of your choosing.^{[2]
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Pick out enough paint to cover all of the styrofoam. If you're just painting a few styrofoam balls or a small styrofoam cube, you'll likely only need a small bottle of paint, roughly 2 ounces (57 g). For larger projects, consider buying a bigger container of paint so that you'll have enough for several coats.^{[3]
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- If you're not sure how much paint you'll need, choose a color that you can easily buy more of if necessary.
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Seal your styrofoam if you have to use a paint that doesn't adhere well. You can use a regular craft sealant such as Mod Podge, or you can target the styrofoam specifically and use something like Foam Finish. Apply the sealant using a foam brush or regular paint brush and then let it dry completely before painting the styrofoam.^{[4]
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- Foam Finish fills in the cracks of styrofoam and provides a solid base for you to paint over.
- Follow the instructions on the specific sealant to learn about drying times and whether it needs additional coats.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Applying the Paint

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Dip your foam brush in the poured paint. Pour your paint onto a paper plate or scrap piece of paper to easily dip your brush. Take the foam brush and dip it into the paint, gathering a small amount on your brush.^{[5]
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- Pour small amounts of paint onto the plate at first—you can always add more if necessary.
- If you don't have a foam brush, a regular soft bristle paint brush will also work.
Use your foam brush to apply the paint in even strokes across the styrofoam. You may need to dab the paint into the cracks and white spots in the styrofoam so that the paint looks even.^{[6]
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Wait 10-20 minutes for the paint to dry. Paints that you would use on the styrofoam, like acrylic, dry very quickly and should be ready for a second coat after roughly 10 minutes. Styrofoam is very porous, so check the styrofoam after the paint dries to see if it needs another layer of paint to cover up any white specks.^{[7]
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- Use your finger to touch the styrofoam to see if the paint is still wet.
Continue using the foam brush to cover the styrofoam in even coats of paint, letting each coat dry before adding another one. Once there aren't any white specks and the color is bright and solid, let your styrofoam dry one last time before calling it finished.^{[8]
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Tips

If your styrofoam is bumpy or uneven, use sandpaper to flatten it out before painting.

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Stick a skewer in the styrofoam to easily hold the styrofoam while painting it—just be aware that this leaves a tiny hole where the skewer goes.

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