A paint sealant is a synthetic protective layer that makes water bead and dirt rinse off, and most last longer than a wax. For long life from a quick spray, AutoBead Spray Sealant is our first pick; for a sealant you can spray onto wet panels, Stjarnagloss Pärla; for gloss and filling, Infinity Wax Turbo6. Here is how the paint sealants we stock compare.
What is the best paint sealant in the UK?
The one that suits how you work. AutoBead Spray Sealant claims 9 months of durability from a spray you wipe on and buff off. Stjarnagloss Pärla is the quickest, sprayed onto wet or dry panels. Infinity Wax Turbo6 adds filling and a wet look as well as protection, and Menzerna Power Lock is the choice if you seal with a machine after polishing.
Does paint sealant really work?
Yes, as protection rather than repair. A sealant bonds a thin synthetic layer to clean paint that makes water bead and sheet away, takes the first hit from road grime and makes the next wash easier. It does not remove swirls or scratches: some, like Turbo6, fill light marks for a while, but correction needs a polish. Our guide to wax vs sealant vs ceramic coating explains how sealants sit between the two.
What does the magazine testing say?
Auto Express put Stjärnagloss Pärla in the top 10 of its 2022 car wax and sealant test, run on a bonnet left outside for six weeks of winter. It noted the spray sealant had repeated the top 10 result of Stjärnagloss's paste wax, and that Pärla "had started to slow by the end of our test", while still working. Read the Auto Express test. None of the other sealants below were in that test, and we do not claim results for them.
Our picks by job
Every pick below is in stock with us, and every claim comes from the maker's own listing or website.
Longest life from a spray
A blend of silicone polymers and silica resins that AutoBead says bonds strongly to the paint for a durability of 9 months, on paintwork and wheels. Spray it onto a microfibre applicator, spread it in straight lines, leave it 1 minute to bond and buff with a short pile microfibre.
Its listing describes a graphene-enhanced SiO2 polymer sealant with a durability of up to 1 year, made to be applied in hot, cold or damp conditions.
Quick protection on wet or dry paint
A water-based nano sealant that Stjarnagloss says gives 3 to 5 months of protection. Because it is water soluble, you can spray it onto wet panels after rinsing, buff with a soft microfibre, and use it on wheels too.
A spray-on sealant that Sonax says seals, protects and makes a whole car dirt repellent in about 5 minutes during the wash, and freshens up paint that is already sealed. Its listing says to spray it on the wet car and rinse it straight off.
Gloss, filling and protection in one
A cream sealant that pairs carnauba with two SiO2 polymers. Infinity Wax says it fills light defects, adds a deep wet look and lasts 6 months or more. It has no abrasives, so it suits all paint finishes, and it goes on by hand or machine: by hand for the most durability, by machine for the most filling.
A finishing glaze and sealant in one that Stjarnagloss says fills minor swirls and protects for up to 4 months, using the same sealant technology as Pärla.
By machine after polishing
Menzerna Power Lock Ultimate Protection
A polymer sealant for all automotive clear coats with a service life of about 6 months, which Menzerna calls a genuine alternative to a ceramic coating. Apply it with a wax foam pad at low speed or by hand, leave it 25 to 30 minutes, buff off without pressure and let it harden for at least 3 hours.
Paint sealants compared
Durability figures are each maker's own claim, not our test. A dash means the maker does not state it.
| Sealant | Type | Maker's durability | How it goes on | Wet panels? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AutoBead Spray Sealant | Silicone polymer and silica resin spray | 9 months | Spray onto applicator, 1 minute, buff | No, clean and dry |
| Infinity Wax Obsidian | Graphene-enhanced SiO2 sealant | Up to 1 year (listing) | - | Listing says damp conditions are fine |
| Stjarnagloss Pärla | Water-based nano spray sealant | 3 to 5 months | Spray onto the panel, buff | Yes |
| Sonax XTREME Spray+Seal | Spray-on, rinse-off sealant | - | During the wash, about 5 minutes per car | Yes |
| Infinity Wax Turbo6 | Carnauba and SiO2 cream sealant | 6 months or more | Hand or machine | No, clean and dry |
| Stjarnagloss Glasyr | Glaze and sealant | Up to 4 months | By hand with a microfibre pad | - |
| Menzerna Power Lock | Polymer sealant | About 6 months | Wax foam pad or by hand, 3 hours to harden | - |
How do you apply a paint sealant?
Apply it to clean, cool paint in a thin coat, give it the maker's bonding time and buff it off with a short pile microfibre. Each maker's own times are in the steps below.
- Prepare the paint: wash and dry the car, and decontaminate the paint if it feels rough. A sealant bonds best to bare, clean paint, so polish first if you want the defects gone underneath it.
- Choose a cool panel: work out of direct sun, one panel at a time.
- Apply a thin coat: keep it even. For sprays like AutoBead, mist onto a microfibre applicator rather than the paint and spread in straight lines; Pärla goes straight onto the panel.
- Wait for it to bond: give it the maker's time, 1 minute for AutoBead Spray Sealant and 25 to 30 minutes for Menzerna Power Lock.
- Buff off: use a clean, short pile microfibre. AutoBead warns that long pile buffing towels can leave ghosting.
- Let it cure: keep it dry where the maker asks. Menzerna says at least 3 hours under cover, and allows a second coat after 4 hours.
A soft applicator keeps the coat thin and even. For buffing, see our buffing and finishing towels.
Microfibre Blue and Grey Coating Applicator
An applicator that its listing describes for coatings, sealants and waxes.
Common questions
How long does a paint sealant last?
Anywhere from a few months to around a year, depending on the product, how well the paint was prepared and how the car is washed. The makers here claim 3 to 5 months for Pärla and 9 months for AutoBead Spray Sealant. Menzerna gives a general rule of up to three months for a wax and up to six for a sealant. Washing with a pH-neutral shampoo, as in our guide on how to wash your car safely, helps any sealant last.
Can you put a sealant on top of wax, or wax on top of a sealant?
Sealant first is the usual order, because a sealant needs to bond to clean paint, and a wax can then sit on top for extra gloss. Infinity Wax describes Turbo6 as a last stage product for clean, dry paint. If your sealant's maker gives a layering order, follow it.
Can you use paint sealant on wheels?
Some, yes. AutoBead lists its Spray Sealant for paintwork and wheels, and Stjarnagloss says Pärla works as a wheel sealant with the same water repellence. For a sealant made only for wheels, browse the wheel sealants we stock.
Need help choosing?
Tell the TDHQ team how you wash, whether you polish by machine and how long you want the protection to last, and we will point you to the right sealant. You can also browse every paint sealant, applicator pad and the full AutoBead range.
Last updated 14 October 2026.
