INSL-X Cabinet Coat · Urethane acrylic enamel
Cabinets that look
factory-new.
A urethane-reinforced acrylic enamel for kitchen and bathroom cabinets, furniture and trim. It levels to a smooth satin, sticks to varnish, polyurethane and laminate without a primer, and resists chips, scuffs and scrubbing. Tinted to order in any Benjamin Moore colour.
INSL-X Cabinet Coat Urethane Acrylic Enamel Cabinet Paint
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INSL-X Cabinet Coat Urethane Acrylic Satin Enamel
INSL-X Cabinet Coat is a water-based, urethane-reinforced acrylic enamel for refinishing kitchen and bathroom cabinets, shelving, furniture, trim and crown moulding. It levels to a smooth, factory-like satin finish and sticks to polyurethane, varnish and laminate without a primer. Hard, washable and chip-resistant, it's tinted to order in any Benjamin Moore colour.
Key Features
- Factory-smooth satin finish, 27–32 @ 60°.
- No primer over sound paint, poly, varnish, melamine or Formica.
- Hard and durable: resists chipping and scuffing, and is highly washable.
- High hiding, recoat in 6 hours.
- Any Benjamin Moore colour, tinted to order.
- Under 50 g/L VOC, MPI 140.
Where to Use It
Interior cabinets, shelving, furniture, doors, trim and woodwork, new or previously painted, polyurethaned or varnished. Not for sinks, tubs or other surfaces in water, or for stove and oven surfaces. Prime bare wood with Aqua Lock Plus, cedar and redwood with Prime Lock Plus, and bare metal with an acrylic metal primer.
Colours and Sizes
Satin, tinted to order in any Benjamin Moore colour, in 946 mL and 3.79 L. Tinted paint is final sale.
Cabinet Coat or Advance?
Cabinet Coat recoats in 6 hours and needs no primer over poly, varnish or laminate. Advance is a waterborne alkyd with an oil-like finish in Pearl, Semi-Gloss or High-Gloss.
Painting your kitchen cabinets? Our step-by-step guide, How to Paint Kitchen Cabinets, walks you through prep, primer, application and cure times.
Specs & Coverage
- 946 mL: about 85–110 sq ft
- 3.79 L: 350–450 sq ft
| Type | Urethane-reinforced acrylic enamel |
| Dry time (25 °C, 50% RH) | Touch 1 h. Recoat 6 h |
| Application temperature | 10–32 °C |
| HVLP (preferred) | Thin 8–10 oz water per 3.79 L, 1.8 tip, 20 psi |
| Airless | 1,500–2,500 psi, 0.011–0.015 tip |
| Brush and roller | Synthetic brush, short-nap roller under ½ in |
| Clean-up | Warm soapy water |
Application Guide
- Remove doors and hardware.
- Clean and degrease, then scuff-sand glossy surfaces.
- Prime bare wood, bleeding woods and metal only.
- Apply thin, even coats. Don't overwork it.
- Recoat after 6 hours.
FAQ
1How much Cabinet Coat do I need for a kitchen?
An average kitchen with 18 doors, 8 drawer fronts and 20 ft of cabinet boxes is about 290 sq ft. Two coats is about 580 sq ft, so plan on two 3.79 L cans. Each 3.79 L covers 350–450 sq ft.
2Do I need a primer?
Usually not. It sticks to sound paint, varnish, polyurethane, melamine and Formica without one. Prime bare wood and MDF with Aqua Lock Plus or a first coat of Cabinet Coat, bleeding woods like cedar with Prime Lock Plus, and bare metal with an acrylic metal primer.
3Can I paint laminate or melamine cabinets?
Yes, with no primer. Clean and degrease, sand lightly with fine sandpaper, and wipe off the dust with a tack rag before painting.
4Do I have to sand?
Clean first, then dull any glossy surfaces with a light sanding. Cleaning before sanding stops grease from being driven into the surface. Feather-sand rough paint edges and scrape off anything loose.
5Should I brush, roll or spray?
HVLP spraying is Benjamin Moore's preferred method for the smoothest finish: thin with 8–10 oz of water per gallon and use a 1.8 tip at 20 psi. By hand, use a synthetic brush and a short-nap roller under ½ in. It dries fast, so don't overwork it.
6How long between coats?
It's dry to the touch in 1 hour and ready to recoat in 6 hours at 25 °C. Cool or humid weather takes longer. Like any paint it keeps hardening after it dries, so treat doors gently for the first few days.
7What colours can I get?
Any Benjamin Moore colour, tinted to order in a satin finish. We can also match another brand's colour. Tinted paint is made to order, so it's final sale.
8Cabinet Coat or Advance?
Both are made for cabinets and trim. Cabinet Coat is a urethane-reinforced acrylic in satin that recoats in 6 hours and sticks to poly, varnish and laminate without a primer. Advance is a waterborne alkyd that levels out like oil paint and comes in Pearl, Semi-Gloss and High-Gloss.
9Can I use it in a bathroom?
Yes, on vanities, shelving and trim. It's an interior paint and isn't made for surfaces that sit in water, like sinks and tubs.
10Do you ship, or can I pick up?
We ship across Canada, free on most orders over $249. Pick-up is free at our Rockwood Village store, 1292 Eglinton Ave. E, Mississauga, and most orders are ready within 4 hours.
Canada Shipping
- Enjoy free shipping in Canada on orders over $249. Yukon, NWT, Nunavut not included.
Winter Shipping:
- From December to April, shipping outside of Ontario and Quebec is limited.
- Returns accepted within 35 days from the date of delivery.
- Custom tinted paints are classified as Final Sale items and are not eligible for return or store credit.
Surfaces
Will it stick to my cabinets?
Cabinet Coat bonds to most cabinet finishes without a primer. Here's what each one needs.
Painted cabinets
Clean, degrease and scuff. Spot-prime any bare patches with Cabinet Coat itself.
Varnished or poly wood
It sticks to polyurethane and varnish. Degrease well and dull the shine.
Melamine, laminate, Formica
Sand lightly with fine sandpaper, then wipe the dust off with a tack rag.
Ceramic tile backsplash
It can go on glossy tile, but Benjamin Moore recommends deglossing for the best bond.
Bare wood or MDF
Prime with Aqua Lock Plus, or use a first coat of Cabinet Coat as its own primer.
Cedar or redwood
These woods bleed. Prime with Prime Lock Plus, or 1–2 coats of Aqua Lock Plus.
Metal
Remove rust and prime bare metal with an acrylic metal primer.
Sinks, tubs, stoves
Not for surfaces that sit in water, or for stove and oven surfaces.
Cabinet calculator
How much do I need?
Count your doors and drawers. We use 350 sq ft per 3.79 L, the low end of Benjamin Moore's coverage, so you don't run short.
Doors count front and back at about 8 sq ft, drawer fronts at 3 sq ft, and each foot of cabinet run at 6 sq ft for face frames and end panels. Two coats give the most even colour.
Colour ideas
Start with the favourites.
Browse by colour family. Tap a colour to use it for your order, or search every Benjamin Moore colour in the box above Add to cart.
Screen colours are a guide. Try a colour sample on a cabinet door first, or get a designer's help with a Virtual Colour Consultation.
Tools
Brush, roll or spray?
Cabinet Coat dries fast, so keep a wet edge and don't overwork it.
HVLP sprayer
Benjamin Moore's preferred method for a factory finish on doors and drawers.
- Thin
- 8–10 oz of water per 3.79 L
- Set up
- 1.8 tip at 20 psi
Airless sprayer
Fast on cabinet boxes, built-ins and lots of trim.
- Pressure
- 1,500–2,500 psi
- Tip
- 0.011–0.015
Ask about renting a sprayer from our Rockwood Village spray centre.
Brush and roller
Great results with good tools and a light touch.
- Brush
- Quality synthetic bristle
- Roller
- Short nap, under ½ in
Compare
Cabinet Coat, Advance or Regal Select?
Cabinet Coat
- Best for
- Kitchen and bathroom cabinets, furniture and trim.
- What you get
- A satin urethane acrylic that sticks to poly, varnish and laminate without a primer. Recoat in 6 hours.
- From
Advance
- Best for
- Cabinets, doors and trim where you want the look of oil paint.
- What you get
- A waterborne alkyd that levels out like oil, in Pearl, Semi-Gloss and High-Gloss.
- From
Regal Select
- Best for
- Walls, plus trim and doors in Semi-Gloss.
- What you get
- Benjamin Moore's best-selling paint and primer, with stain release.
- From
Specs
The details.
| Type | Urethane-reinforced acrylic enamel, water-based |
|---|---|
| Finish | Satin, 27–32 @ 60° |
| Coverage | 350–450 sq ft per 3.79 L. About 85–110 sq ft per 946 mL |
| Dry time | Touch 1 h. Recoat 6 h (25 °C, 50% RH) |
| Apply at | 10–32 °C (50–90 °F), air, surface and paint |
| Apply with | HVLP (preferred), airless, synthetic brush or short-nap roller |
| Colours | Any Benjamin Moore colour, tinted to order |
| VOC | Under 50 g/L |
| Clean-up | Warm soapy water. Final mineral spirits rinse for spray equipment |
| Certified | MPI 140 |
How to apply
A factory finish at home.
- Take off doors and hardware, and label everything so it goes back in the right spot.
- Clean, then degrease. Kitchen cabinets carry years of grease. Clean before you sand.
- Scuff-sand glossy surfaces and feather rough edges. On laminate, sand lightly and tack-rag the dust.
- Prime only where needed: bare wood, MDF, bleeding woods and metal.
- Apply a thin, even coat by spray, brush or short-nap roller. Keep a wet edge and don't overwork it.
- Second coat after 6 hours, then rehang the doors gently.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
How much Cabinet Coat do I need for a kitchen?
An average kitchen with 18 doors, 8 drawer fronts and 20 ft of cabinet boxes is about 290 sq ft. Two coats is about 580 sq ft, so plan on two 3.79 L cans. Each 3.79 L covers 350–450 sq ft.
Do I need a primer?
Usually not. It sticks to sound paint, varnish, polyurethane, melamine and Formica without one. Prime bare wood and MDF with Aqua Lock Plus or a first coat of Cabinet Coat, bleeding woods like cedar with Prime Lock Plus, and bare metal with an acrylic metal primer.
Can I paint laminate or melamine cabinets?
Yes, with no primer. Clean and degrease, sand lightly with fine sandpaper, and wipe off the dust with a tack rag before painting.
Do I have to sand?
Clean first, then dull any glossy surfaces with a light sanding. Cleaning before sanding stops grease from being driven into the surface. Feather-sand rough paint edges and scrape off anything loose.
Should I brush, roll or spray?
HVLP spraying is Benjamin Moore's preferred method for the smoothest finish: thin with 8–10 oz of water per gallon and use a 1.8 tip at 20 psi. By hand, use a synthetic brush and a short-nap roller under ½ in. It dries fast, so don't overwork it.
How long between coats?
It's dry to the touch in 1 hour and ready to recoat in 6 hours at 25 °C. Cool or humid weather takes longer. Like any paint it keeps hardening after it dries, so treat doors gently for the first few days.
What colours can I get?
Any Benjamin Moore colour, tinted to order in a satin finish. We can also match another brand's colour. Tinted paint is made to order, so it's final sale.
Cabinet Coat or Advance?
Both are made for cabinets and trim. Cabinet Coat is a urethane-reinforced acrylic in satin that recoats in 6 hours and sticks to poly, varnish and laminate without a primer. Advance is a waterborne alkyd that levels out like oil paint and comes in Pearl, Semi-Gloss and High-Gloss.
Can I use it in a bathroom?
Yes, on vanities, shelving and trim. It's an interior paint and isn't made for surfaces that sit in water, like sinks and tubs.
Do you ship, or can I pick up?
We ship across Canada, free on most orders over $249. Pick-up is free at our Rockwood Village store, 1292 Eglinton Ave. E, Mississauga, and most orders are ready within 4 hours.
Ready for new-looking cabinets?
Not sure about the colour? Try a colour sample, get a Palette Pyramid from our designer, or ask our team.