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Glitter paint solves the problem loose glitter creates: it keeps the sparkle where you put it. The flakes are suspended in a clear or tinted acrylic binder, so you brush it on, it dries, and the glitter stays attached instead of migrating onto every surface in the house. But the category covers very different products. Some are washable kids’ paints with fine shimmer; some are heavy-flake acrylics that build a solid sparkling layer; some are paint pens. Choosing the best glitter paint means knowing which of those you need.
This guide compares seven glitter paints sold on Amazon across those types, from a wide-mouth classroom set to a hologram top coat and a dozen extra-fine glitter markers. Each entry covers flake size as the listing describes it, what surfaces the maker names, whether it is washable or permanent, and the projects it suits.
Quick answer: For general DIY and craft work, the FolkArt Extreme Glitter 10-Bottle Set is the most versatile glitter paint: ten colors in 2 oz bottles that dry to a sparkling finish on wood, paper, canvas and foam. For a dramatic large-flake effect on canvas, the DecoArt Galaxy Glitter Set is built for it. Kids and classrooms are better served by the washable Cra-Z-Art 8-Bottle Set, and for lettering, outlines and glass, the ARTISTRO Glitter Paint Pens give control a brush cannot.
Our Top Picks at a Glance
- FolkArt Extreme Glitter Acrylic Set, 10 x 2 oz — Best overall glitter paint for DIY crafts
- DecoArt Galaxy Glitter Acrylic Set, 9 x 2 oz — Best large-flake glitter for canvas and decor
- Cra-Z-Art Washable Glitter Paint, 8 x 4 oz — Best washable glitter paint for kids
- FolkArt Glitter Paint, Hologram, 8 oz — Best clear glitter top coat
- AUREUO Galaxy Glitter Acrylic Set, 8 x 0.71 oz — Best small tube set for space art and nail-sized details
- ARTISTRO 12 Glitter Paint Pens, Extra-Fine — Best for lettering, outlines and glass
- Colorations Washable Glitter Paints, Set of 11 x 16 oz — Best bulk set for classrooms
| Product | Best For | Key Spec | Key Strength | Price Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FolkArt Extreme Glitter 10-Set | All-round DIY | 10 x 2 oz; glittery finish | Ten colors incl. hologram, gold, silver | $$ |
| DecoArt Galaxy Glitter 9-Set | Canvas, home decor | 9 x 2 oz; large flakes | Brush-on large-flake shimmer | $$ |
| Cra-Z-Art Washable Glitter 8-Pack | Kids and school | 8 x 4 oz; washable | Generous bottles, non-toxic, made in USA | $ |
| FolkArt Hologram 8 oz | Top coat over any color | 8 oz; ultra-fine glitter | Heavily loaded, mess-free glitter | $ |
| AUREUO Galaxy Glitter 8-Set | Space paintings, small details | 8 x 0.71 oz tubes; large flakes | Lightfast, crack-resistant listed | $ |
| ARTISTRO Glitter Pens 12 | Lettering, glass, rocks | 12 pens; 0.7 mm tip | Precise opaque glitter lines | $$ |
| Colorations Washable Glitter 11-Set | Classrooms | 11 x 16 oz; wide-mouth | AP certified, allergen-free formula | $$$ |
How We Chose
These picks are based on the Amazon listing details and specifications checked in October 2026, how well each product’s flake size, format and surface list fit common glitter paint projects, and how widely each product is reviewed by Amazon buyers. We have not brushed out these paints ourselves; every statement about finish, washability and surfaces comes from the manufacturer’s listing or from general knowledge of acrylic craft paint.
The factors that mattered most:
- Flake size — ultra-fine glitter reads as shimmer; large flakes read as sequins. Listings usually say which.
- Washable or permanent — kids’ glitter paints wash out; craft acrylics do not.
- Surface list — wood, paper and canvas are standard; glass, fabric and foam are not.
- Container — wide-mouth jars for sponges and fingers, squeeze bottles for brushes, pens for lines.
- Safety labeling — ASTM D-4236, AP certification or an explicit non-toxic statement.
- Volume for the price tier — glitter paint goes on thick, so bottle size matters more than with ordinary acrylic.
Best Glitter Paint Reviewed
1. FolkArt Extreme Glitter Acrylic Craft Paint Set, 10 x 2 oz — Best for all-round DIY and craft projects
FolkArt’s Extreme Glitter set gives you ten 2 oz bottles: Red, Turquoise, Purple, Black, Hologram, Champagne, Silver, Gold, Jellybean Pink and Emerald. The listing describes a glitter-filled acrylic that dries to a sparkling finish and names wood, paper, canvas, Styrofoam and paper mache as surfaces, which is a wider list than most.
It is a water-based, non-toxic formula made in the USA, and it cleans up with soap and water while wet. The inclusion of Hologram and Champagne alongside the primaries means you can do holiday ornaments, signs and canvas accents from one box.
Best suited for: Crafters who want one set that handles ornaments, wooden signs, paper mache and canvas without buying separate bottles.
Key features:
- 10 colors x 2 oz bottles
- Glitter-filled acrylic; dries to a sparkling finish
- Surfaces: wood, paper, canvas, Styrofoam, paper mache
- Non-toxic, water-based, made in the USA
- Clean up while wet with soap and water
Pros:
- Balanced color range including hologram and metallics
- Safe on foam, which solvent paints would melt
- Mid price tier for ten bottles
- FolkArt is a widely stocked brand with matching singles
Cons and limitations:
- Not washable once dry; this is a permanent craft paint
- Listing marks it as not water resistant, so seal outdoor pieces
- 2 oz runs out fast when applying thick glitter coats
Buying consideration: Apply two thin coats rather than one thick one. Glitter acrylic dries clearer as it cures, and a second coat fills the gaps between flakes.
2. DecoArt Galaxy Glitter Acrylic Paint Set, 9 x 2 oz — Best for large-flake glitter on canvas and home decor
DecoArt describes Galaxy Glitter as a brush-on glitter acrylic with large glitter flakes and a mix of rainbow iridescence. That is a different look from fine-shimmer paints: individual flakes catch the light like sequins, which is what you want for galaxy paintings, ornaments and statement decor pieces.
The listing gives unusually specific directions: use a fan brush for solid coverage with a second coat after drying, a liner brush for details, and apply over a base color for a fuller look. Nine 2 oz bottles, made in the USA, water-based and soap-and-water cleanup.
Best suited for: Canvas painters, mixed-media artists and decorators who want bold, visible sparkle rather than a subtle sheen.
Key features:
- 9 bottles x 2 fl oz
- Large glitter flakes with rainbow iridescence
- Fan brush for coverage, liner brush for detail (per listing)
- Water-based; soap and water cleanup
- Made in the USA by DecoArt
Pros:
- Most dramatic flake effect in this group
- Clear application directions on the listing
- Works as an accent over a painted base
- Multicolor set covers warm and cool tones
Cons and limitations:
- Large flakes do not suit fine detail or lettering
- Higher price tier than the FolkArt set
- Thick glitter layers can obscure the base color if overdone
Buying consideration: Paint your base color first and let it dry; Galaxy Glitter is designed as a top layer, and the base shows through between the flakes.
3. Cra-Z-Art Washable Glitter Paint Bulk Pack, 8 x 4 oz — Best for kids, classrooms and washable projects
Cra-Z-Art’s eight-bottle pack is the practical kids’ option: 4 oz bottles, washable, non-toxic, made in the USA. The listing names canvas and cardboard as surfaces and says it works with brushes, sponges, stamps, rollers or fingers, which is how children actually use paint.
Four ounces per color is double the usual craft bottle, and at the lowest price tier here it is the most glitter paint per dollar on the list short of the Colorations classroom set. It is listed as not water resistant, which is what washable means in practice.
Best suited for: Parents, teachers and party hosts who need lots of washable glitter paint for children’s crafts.
Key features:
- 8 colors x 4 oz bottles
- Washable and non-toxic
- Surfaces: canvas, cardboard and other non-greasy surfaces
- Use with brushes, sponges, stamps, rollers or fingers
- Made in the USA
Pros:
- Generous 4 oz bottles
- Washable formula suits young children
- Lowest price tier for the volume
- Finger-friendly application
Cons and limitations:
- Not permanent; will not hold up to handling or moisture
- Not intended for wood, glass or fabric projects
- Shimmer is milder than the heavy-flake craft paints
Buying consideration: Treat it as a tempera-style paint for paper and cardboard. If a child’s project needs to last, seal it with a clear acrylic spray once dry.
4. FolkArt Glitter Paint, Hologram, 8 oz — Best for a clear glitter top coat over any color
Sometimes you do not want glitter paint in a color; you want sparkle added to the color you already painted. FolkArt’s Hologram is that product: an 8 oz bottle heavily loaded with ultra-fine holographic glitter in a clear acrylic base. Brush it over a dried base coat and the color shows through with a rainbow shimmer on top.
The listing says it adheres to most surfaces, suits any skill level and makes applying glitter mess free. At the lowest price tier here and in a generous 8 oz bottle, it is the cheapest way to add glitter to many projects.
Best suited for: Anyone who wants to glitter-coat painted ornaments, signs, frames or canvases without changing their color.
Key features:
- 8 fl oz (236 ml) bottle
- Hologram glitter in a clear acrylic base
- Heavily loaded with ultra-fine glitter
- Adheres to most surfaces (per listing)
- Non-toxic; soap-and-water cleanup while wet
Pros:
- One bottle covers a lot of surface area
- Ultra-fine flakes give an even shimmer
- Works over any base color
- Lowest price tier
Cons and limitations:
- Single effect only; no color
- Fine glitter is subtle from a distance
- Still needs a sealer for outdoor or handled items
Buying consideration: Stir rather than shake before use so the glitter redistributes without introducing bubbles, and apply with a soft flat brush to avoid streaks.
5. AUREUO Galaxy Glitter Acrylic Paint Set, 8 x 0.71 oz — Best for space art, small details and mixed media
AUREUO’s set is eight 21 ml tubes in space-themed colors: Celestial Blush, Cosmic Rose, Solar Flare, Graviton Gold, Stardust Silver, Sky Trail, Stellar Flash and Viridian Vortex. The listing describes extra-large glitter flakes with strong pigmentation, a lightfast formula and compatibility with canvas, wood, resin art and more.
Tubes are the right format for accent work. You squeeze a little onto a palette knife for texture, splatter it or pick out stars on a night sky. The paint is listed as non-toxic, odorless and conforming to EN 71 and ASTM D-4236, with the glitter described as staying suspended for even application.
Best suited for: Canvas artists painting galaxies and fantasy scenes, nail artists and crafters who need small amounts of several glitter colors.
Key features:
- 8 colors x 0.71 fl oz (21 ml) tubes
- Extra-large glitter flakes, strong pigmentation
- Lightfast and crack-resistant listed
- Surfaces: canvas, rocks, wood, fabric, ceramic, resin art
- Conforms to EN 71 and ASTM D-4236; odorless
Pros:
- Tube format suits palette-knife and splatter techniques
- Curated cosmic palette for galaxy paintings
- Lightfast claim is rare in glitter paints
- Low price tier
Cons and limitations:
- Small tubes empty quickly on anything larger than a canvas accent
- Large flakes are unsuited to fine lines
- Eight colors only
Buying consideration: Use this for highlights over a painted nebula rather than as a base; a little goes a long way and the small tubes reward restraint.
6. ARTISTRO 12 Glitter Paint Pens, Extra-Fine 0.7 mm Tip — Best for lettering, outlines and glass
A brush cannot write a name on a wine glass or outline a mandala on a rock in glitter. ARTISTRO’s pens can. Twelve glitter-infused markers with 0.7 mm extra-fine tips deliver an opaque, sparkling line that the listing says dries quickly and shows on both light and dark surfaces.
The surface list is broad: glass, rock, wood, paper, metal, ceramic and plastic. They conform to ASTM D-4236 and are pitched at both beginners and professionals. For glitter detail work, this is the format that gives you control.
Best suited for: Card makers, rock painters, glass decorators and anyone adding glitter lettering or outlines to a finished piece.
Key features:
- 12 glitter paint markers
- 0.7 mm extra-fine tips
- Opaque, quick-drying glitter ink
- Surfaces: glass, rock, wood, paper, metal, ceramic, plastic
- Conforms to ASTM D-4236; water resistant listed
Pros:
- Precision no brush-on paint can match
- Works on glass and dark surfaces
- No brushes, water or palette needed
- Twelve colors in a portable set
Cons and limitations:
- Cannot cover large areas
- Pens need priming and can clog if left uncapped
- Higher price tier than a single bottle of paint
Buying consideration: Prime each pen on scrap paper until the ink flows, then store horizontally. On glass, let the ink cure fully before handling.
7. Colorations Washable Glitter Paints for Kids, Set of 11 x 16 oz — Best for classrooms and large groups
Colorations is a school-supply brand, and this set shows it: eleven 16 oz wide-mouth bottles of washable glitter paint, totaling 176 oz. The listing describes it as AP certified and ASTM D-4236 certified for non-toxicity, paraben-free, and free from common allergens including latex, dairy, egg, gluten, peanut, tree nut and soy.
Wide-mouth bottles let children dip brushes and sponges directly, and the tight seal is designed to stop the paint drying out between sessions. It is the highest price tier on this list, but on a per-ounce basis it is the cheapest glitter paint here by a wide margin.
Best suited for: Teachers, daycare centers, camps and large families who go through paint by the pint and need allergen-conscious labeling.
Key features:
- 11 colors x 16 oz wide-mouth bottles (176 oz total)
- Washable from most fabrics and non-porous surfaces
- AP certified and ASTM D-4236 certified
- Paraben-free; free from listed common allergens
- Surfaces: canvas, paper, wood
Pros:
- Lowest cost per ounce on the list
- Allergen-free formula matters in group settings
- Wide mouths suit sponges and brushes
- Tight seal for long-term storage
Cons and limitations:
- Far too much paint for a single household
- Highest up-front price tier
- Washable, so not for permanent projects
Buying consideration: Decant into small cups for each session. Sixteen-ounce bottles contaminate quickly if children dip dirty brushes into them.
Buying Guide: How to Choose Glitter Paint
Flake size changes everything
Ultra-fine glitter (FolkArt Hologram) produces an even shimmer that looks like a glazed surface. Large flakes (DecoArt Galaxy, AUREUO) read as individual sparkles and suit statement pieces. For a subtle finish on signs and furniture, go fine; for ornaments and galaxy paintings, go large. Listings nearly always say which, so check before buying.
Washable versus permanent
Cra-Z-Art and Colorations are washable children’s paints; they come out of clothes and off tables, and they also come off the project if it gets wet. FolkArt, DecoArt, AUREUO and ARTISTRO are permanent acrylics. Buy washable for kids under about eight and for anything disposable; buy permanent for anything you intend to keep.
Color or clear
Colored glitter paints tint and sparkle in one step. A clear glitter top coat like FolkArt Hologram adds sparkle to whatever color is underneath, which is often the better choice when you already own good acrylics. Many crafters keep one clear bottle plus a few favorite colors.
Surface compatibility
Paper, cardboard, wood and canvas accept almost any glitter paint. Glass, metal and plastic are harder; ARTISTRO pens list them specifically, and FolkArt Hologram claims most surfaces. Styrofoam needs a water-based paint, which FolkArt Extreme Glitter explicitly supports.
Container format
Squeeze bottles (2 oz) suit brush work. Wide-mouth jars suit sponges and fingers. Tubes suit palette knives and accents. Pens suit lines. If you will do several of these, buy the bottle set and add one pen set rather than trying to make one format do everything.
Sealing and durability
Glitter paint dries matte around the flakes, and flakes can shed with heavy handling. For ornaments, jewelry boxes and anything that gets touched, a clear acrylic sealer or varnish locks the flakes down and adds gloss. Several listings here state “not water resistant”, which is a cue to seal.
Safety labeling for children
Look for ASTM D-4236 or the AP (Approved Product) seal. Colorations adds an allergen-free statement that matters in classrooms. Every product on this list has some non-toxic labeling, but washable kids’ paints are the ones designed for small hands.
Make Your Own, or Put Glitter Paint to Work
If you already own acrylics and loose glitter, you can skip the store: this guide to how to make glitter paint walks through mixing your own with a clear medium. For project ideas, glitter paint is a natural finish on a painted DIY birdhouse or as the sparkle layer in scratch art painting crafts.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Shaking the bottle hard before use. It aerates the paint and leaves bubbles in the finish; stir or roll instead.
- Applying one thick coat. It dries cloudy and uneven. Two thin coats give better sparkle and a flatter surface.
- Using washable kids’ glitter paint on a keepsake. It will smear or wash off; use a permanent acrylic.
- Expecting glitter paint to be opaque. Most are translucent; paint a base color first.
- Skipping a sealer on handled items. Loose flakes end up on hands and furniture.
- Using large-flake paint for lettering. Flakes drag out of the line; use a pen or ultra-fine paint.
FAQs
Does glitter paint actually stay on, or does the glitter fall off?
The glitter is suspended in an acrylic binder and bonds to the surface as it dries, so it sheds far less than loose glitter. Heavy handling can still dislodge flakes over time, which is why a clear acrylic sealer is a good idea on ornaments and anything touched often.
Is glitter paint opaque?
Usually not. Most glitter paints are translucent, with the flakes in a clear or lightly tinted base. For solid color, paint a base coat first and apply glitter paint over it, as DecoArt recommends for its Galaxy Glitter.
Can you use glitter paint on glass?
Brush-on glitter acrylics adhere poorly to glass without a primer. Glitter paint pens such as the ARTISTRO set list glass as a surface and are the practical choice for glass decoration and lettering.
What is the difference between washable and regular glitter paint?
Washable glitter paint, such as Cra-Z-Art and Colorations, is formulated to wash out of clothes and off skin, and it will also come off the artwork if wet. Regular glitter acrylic from FolkArt, DecoArt or AUREUO is permanent once dry.
Can you mix glitter paint with regular acrylic paint?
Yes. Mixing a clear glitter paint like FolkArt Hologram into colored acrylic gives a tinted sparkle, though it dilutes the glitter. Layering glitter over dried acrylic gives a stronger effect.
Is glitter paint safe for kids?
Look for ASTM D-4236 or AP certification on the listing. Washable children’s glitter paints are the safest choice for young children; permanent craft glitter acrylics are non-toxic but harder to clean off skin and clothes.
Final Recommendation
For most DIY and craft use, the FolkArt Extreme Glitter 10-bottle set covers the widest range of projects and surfaces at a sensible price tier. If you want bold, visible sparkle on canvas and decor, choose the DecoArt Galaxy Glitter set; if you want to add shimmer to colors you already own, one bottle of FolkArt Hologram does it cheaply.
Parents and teachers should buy washable: the Cra-Z-Art 8-pack for a household, the Colorations 11 x 16 oz set for a classroom. Galaxy painters and detail workers will get the most from the AUREUO tubes, and anyone writing, outlining or decorating glass should add the ARTISTRO glitter pens, because no brush-on paint does what they do.
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