The Best Leather Paint

If you have even one creative bone in your body, you might be better off designing your own shoes than spending money on the crazy designer shoes that are hitting the market left and right these days. Think about it: you pay far less and you have a monopoly on the design. Now is that cool or what? Mind you, one cannot merely grab a sharpie and a white tennis shoe and go to town. You must have the right materials to paint on leather and to mix said paints to create the textures and nuanced color shades that you have in mind. We recommend these acrylic leather paint sets that are colorful, easy to use, and quick-drying. Keep reading to discover some of our favorite leather paints.

Angelus Leather Paint

A rainbow of options

Angelus makes great paint for leather, but did you know they offer a beautiful color variety too? This set gives you all the shades of the rainbow and more.
Best Overall

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If you dig lots of color in your designs, Angelus has a great set for you. They’ve included twelve one-ounce jars of paint, each in a different color. This is a great brand known for producing paint that’s flexible, and therefore resistant to cracks and the like. With this set, you get samples of the following colors: white, black, brown, green, turquoise, blue, purple, lilac, pink, yellow orange, and red. We think that about covers it — unless you’ve got bigger ideas. In that case, mix two or more of these colors and see where it takes you. With Angelus’s paint, we have a feeling you’ll be satisfied with the outcome.

Pros:

  • Large color variety
  • Non-toxic
  • High quality

Cons:

  • Smaller bottles; not ideal if you’re looking for larger amount of one color

Angelus 4 oz Black Leather Paint

Bargain in black

This black leather paint from the trusted Angelus brand offers high quality for a great deal.
Best Bargain

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If you’re in for a more minimalist look and just black paint will do the trick, there’s no better bargain out there than this affordable four-ounce bottle of black leather paint from Angelus. Paint it on a white shoe or purse for that New York black-and-white look, or use it to touch up those worn leather shoes that need scuffing. For the price, you’ll be surprised at how much new life and class Angelus’s black leather paint will bring to your wardrobe.

Pros:

  • Affordable
  • Generous amount of paint
  • Great for white surfaces

Cons:

  • Just one color

Smalltongue Acrylic Leather Paint Kit

A kick for your kicks

The folks at Smalltongue don't just talk the talk; they deliver on their painting promises so you can walk the walk.
Best For Shoes

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Do you have a creative eye for homemade shoe design? Smalltongue gets that, and they’ve created a kit that is bound to be as essential as a pair of running sneakers. Smalltongue’s kit comes complete with 12 different paint colors, one leather preparer and deglazer, and one acrylic finisher. The preparer and deglazer liquid is specifically designed to remove factory layers on the shoe that may make it more difficult to paint, giving you as smooth a surface as possible to create on. With the color variety and these bonus features, Smalltongue has spoken to the designer in all of us.

Pros:

  • Finisher and preparer included in the set
  • Color variety
  • Paint dries well and sticks

Cons:

  • Only one-ounce bottles of each color

Klossers Acrylic Paint Set

Any color you like

If having dozens of choices of colored paint isn’t enough for you, you may just have to invent a new one. This set from Klossers is mighty comprehensive.
Best Variety

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If you like your color variety to err more on the side of the jumbo crayon box, Klossers has the set for you. They have a 24-color set of acrylic paint that is great for leather, as well as canvas, glass, or any other rough surface. The paint is thick and has a great texture as well, giving it a great look when it dries. In short, this is a set for the artists.

Pros:

  • Great color variety
  • Thick, rich paint
  • Versatile; can be used on various surfaces

Cons:

  • Small portions of each color

Arteza Craft Acrylic Paint Set

Artist-approved

This paint set is versatile, well-packaged, and certified by the ACMI.
Most Professional

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For a sophisticated acrylic leather paint set, we recommend Arteza’s, which is certified by the Art & Creative Materials Institute (ACMI). That means they conform to ASTM D-4236 and EN71 standards and are safe for all ages. They also just look good, be it on leather or canvas, and they offer an aesthetically pleasing color selection including Sky Blue and Apple Green, to name a few. The colors are light and very blendable, so this is a great set for ambitious folks who want to create some special shades.

Pros:

  • Light colors ideal for blending
  • 20 color set
  • Non-toxic and ACMI-certified

Cons:

  • On the higher cost end

Frequently Asked Questions

Why go with acrylic paint for shoes?

Acrylic is less likely to break, and it prevents peeling or chipping, which can be a risk factor in something that’s used as frequently as your shoes.

Is there anything I should keep in mind when painting leather?

Paint thin. Thick layers of paint are more prone to chip or crack over a shorter period of time. Also, try to paint in the direction of the flex in your shoes or whatever leather accessory you’re painting.

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