Best Varnish for Miniatures: Matte, Satin and Gloss Sealers
Updated How we research
The Army Painter Anti Shine Matt Varnish Spray for Miniature Painting, 400ml
The Army Painter Anti Shine Matt Varnish spray in 400ml, a quick way to kill gloss and protect finished miniatures.
Vallejo - Acrylic Matt Varnish Spray | Long Lasting Protection | Scratch Resistant & Non-Yellowing | Exterior & Interior Surfaces | 400 ml (13.52 fl.oz.)
Vallejo Acrylic Matt Varnish in a 400ml spray can: a transparent, fast-drying, non-yellowing matt coat for sealing finished figures, models and miniatures. A spray can, not a brush-on bottle.
Varnish is a clear protective coat applied over a finished miniature to shield the paint from chipping, rubbing, and skin oils during gameplay. For tabletop miniature painters whose models get handled every week, sealing is the difference between an army that still looks fresh years later and one with worn edges and bare metal showing through. Varnishes come in matte, satin, and gloss finishes, in spray cans, brush-on bottles, and airbrush-ready formulas. When comparing, look at how truly matte a matte varnish dries, resistance to frosting in humid conditions, whether the coat stays flexible on plastic and resin, yellowing over time, and ease of application. Many painters gloss first for durability, then matte on top for the final look.
The short version
We compared 7 picks. Our scores range from 6.5 to 8.4 out of 10.
- Best overall:The Army Painter Anti Shine Matt Varnish Spray for Miniature Painting, 400ml. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.4/10.
- Also great value:Vallejo - Acrylic Matt Varnish Spray | Long Lasting Protection | Scratch Resistant & Non-Yellowing | Exterior & Interior Surfaces | 400 ml (13.52 fl.oz.). Value score of 8/10, overall 7.8/10.
- Solid build:The Army Painter Satin Varnish, Spray Paint Varnish for Miniature Protection, 400ml. Build and materials score of 8/10, overall 7.8/10.
- Feature-rich:The Army Painter Warpaint Fanatics Gloss Varnish Effects Miniature Hobby Painting with Fanatics Warpaint, Quality Paint for Miniature Wargaming. Features score of 6/10, overall 7.1/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
- 1.The Army Painter Anti Shine Matt Varnish Spray for Miniature Painting, 400ml8.4/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 2.Vallejo - Acrylic Matt Varnish Spray | Long Lasting Protection | Scratch Resistant & Non-Yellowing | Exterior & Interior Surfaces | 400 ml (13.52 fl.oz.)7.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 3.The Army Painter Satin Varnish, Spray Paint Varnish for Miniature Protection, 400ml7.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 4.The Army Painter Warpaint Fanatics Gloss Varnish Effects Miniature Hobby Painting with Fanatics Warpaint, Quality Paint for Miniature Wargaming7.1/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 5.Testors Dullcote Lacquer 1.75oz Clear Matte7.0/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 6.Testors Dullcote Lacquer Mat6.7/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 7.Reaper Miniatures 9107 Brush-On Sealer6.5/10See on AmazonCheck price
#1The Army Painter Anti Shine Matt Varnish spray in 400ml, a quick way to kill gloss and protect finished miniatures.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Spray application seals whole units quickly and evenly
- + Matt finish removes shine left by washes and gloss varnish
- + 400ml can covers a lot of models for large armies
- - Humidity and cold can cause frosting if spraying conditions are poor
- - Needs a ventilated area or outdoor space for use
#2Vallejo Acrylic Matt Varnish in a 400ml spray can: a transparent, fast-drying, non-yellowing matt coat for sealing finished figures, models and miniatures. A spray can, not a brush-on bottle.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Listed as scratch resistant and non-yellowing, with flexible long-lasting protection
- + Clear directions: shake well and spray a thin layer from about 40 cm onto fully dry paint
- + Same Vallejo range offers gloss and satin sprays if you want a different finish later
- - Spray can needs a ventilated space and cannot target single areas like a brush-on varnish
- - General purpose varnish also sold for canvas and wood, not made only for miniatures
#3The Army Painter Satin Varnish spray in 400ml, a durable protective coat with a slight sheen for gaming miniatures.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Satin finish is tougher than matt, so it resists game handling well
- + Spray covers whole squads in a few quick passes
- + Can be followed by matt varnish for a softer final look
- - Slight sheen may not suit models meant to look fully matte
- - Aerosol needs good weather and ventilation to spray safely
#4The Army Painter Warpaints Fanatic Gloss Varnish is a gloss varnish in a dropper bottle with a mixing ball. It fills the gloss slot in this guide for gems, lenses, slime and wet effects.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10
- + Gloss finish suits lenses, gems, blood and wet effects, or a hard coat under a final matte varnish
- + Spill-free dropper doses small amounts onto a palette for brush application
- + Mixing ball in the bottle and a twist cap described as keeping the contents fresh
- - A small dropper bottle meant for brush work, slower than a spray can for sealing a whole army
- - Gloss only, and the listing bullets are generic to the Fanatic range with no varnish-specific detail
#5Testors Dullcote Lacquer in a 1.75oz bottle, a clear matte lacquer for brushing or airbrushing over models.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 6/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + 1.75oz bottle suits airbrushing flat coats over finished minis
- + Ultra matte lacquer removes all shine from washes and inks
- + Durable finish protects paint on frequently handled models
- - Requires lacquer thinner for cleanup, not just water
- - Brushing lacquer can lift acrylic paint if overworked
#6Testors Dullcote Lacquer Mat, a classic flat clear coat used by model builders to remove shine from paintwork.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 5/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 7/10
- + Lacquer dries very flat, giving a strongly matte finish
- + Long-standing favorite in scale modeling for killing gloss
- + Tough lacquer coat protects paint well against handling
- - Solvent lacquer has strong fumes and needs good ventilation
- - Check whether this ships as a spray can or a bottle
#7Reaper Miniatures 9107 Brush-On Sealer, a protective varnish applied with a brush to seal painted figures.
Fit for the job 7/10 · Features and specs 5/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 7/10
- + Brush application gives control over exactly where sealer goes
- + No aerosol, so it can be used indoors on any day
- + Reaper product fits naturally with Master Series paint users
- - Check the finish and bottle volume before ordering
- - Brush-on sealers can leave a slight sheen needing matte varnish
Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged
No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.
- Humidity and cold can cause frosting if spraying conditions are poor (The Army Painter Anti Shine Matt Varnish...)
- Spray can needs a ventilated space and cannot target single areas like a brush-on varnish (Vallejo - Acrylic Matt Varnish Spray | Long...)
- Slight sheen may not suit models meant to look fully matte (The Army Painter Satin Varnish, Spray Paint...)
- A small dropper bottle meant for brush work, slower than a spray can for sealing a whole army (The Army Painter Warpaint Fanatics Gloss...)
- Requires lacquer thinner for cleanup, not just water (Testors Dullcote Lacquer 1.75oz Clear Matte)
- Solvent lacquer has strong fumes and needs good ventilation (Testors Dullcote Lacquer Mat)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among varnish for miniatures: matte, satin and gloss sealers?
The Army Painter Anti Shine Matt Varnish Spray for Miniature Painting, 400ml is our top overall pick. The Army Painter Anti Shine Matt Varnish spray in 400ml, a quick way to kill gloss and protect finished miniatures. It earns our score of 8.4/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
Vallejo - Acrylic Matt Varnish Spray | Long Lasting Protection | Scratch Resistant & Non-Yellowing | Exterior & Interior Surfaces | 400 ml (13.52 fl.oz.) is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. Vallejo Acrylic Matt Varnish in a 400ml spray can: a transparent, fast-drying, non-yellowing matt coat for sealing finished figures, models and miniatures. A spray can, not a brush-on bottle.
›How much should I expect to spend?
Picks in this guide span See on Amazon price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.
›How were these products chosen?
We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.
Mini Paint Lab independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.
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