How To Paint Rubber (Easy DIY Guide + Simple Tips)

The short answer is that yes, you can paint rubber. However, the longer answer is that some types of rubber will take that paint much better than others.  

If your natural rubber material isn’t suitable for painting, you’ll notice streaking, cracking, or peeling soon after. Here are some common painting exterior rubber surfaces you can paint. 

This is a popular DIY project, but you might be wondering if the paint will last on your rain rubber boots clean or the shoe soles. It will if done properly.  

First, remember that rubber is flexible—and flexible rubber surfaces need flexible paint for rubber. Very malleable rubber won’t take paint as well as stiff rubber items, so a good rule of thumb is to only paint rubber tires or boots that can stand on their own when you aren’t wearing them.  

Second, you’ll still want a rubber paint that’s more flexible the rubber when dried. A rubberized spray paint for rubber is perfect for this kind of project, whether you decide to completely coat your shoes or do some stencil work for decoration.  

As for the rubber soles on sneakers, boots, and other shoes, consider acrylics or a specialized spray paint for rubber items like PlastiDip, then finish with a paint sealant. Keep in mind that paint for rubber won’t last forever: soles see a lot of traction, which will rub off the sealant and paint with time.  

Acrylic exterior paints, like the kind you’d paint your house with, will work for minimal traffic. Rubber flooring in a small guest house kitchenette, for example, would do well with this kind of krylon's master paint.  

For heavier daily use, however, opt for acrylic paints specifically formulated to paint adhere to rubber item. You may need a exterior primer and polyurethane sealant, as well.  

Rubber epoxy coatings are a great choice for extremely heavy wear or spills, although you’re essentially putting down a new layer of rubber rather than painting the old.  

Tires are exposed to grease, grime, and other elements that can wear paint down quickly if you use the wrong paint kind or don’t clean them thoroughly. What’s more, most tires consist of rubber mixed with other compounds. This means you’ll need extremely durable paint.  

Tire paints, industrial paints, and general exterior paints will all hold up on rubber tires. Wear depends mostly on the intended use: tire planters, for example, will only need to hold up against the elements.

If you’re painting tires on your car, you’ll notice weather, road salts, and daily use break down the paint faster.  

You can also use tire paint pens to freshen up your wheels: simply trace over the faded lettering on your tires (after giving them a good scrub, of course).  

A type of synthetic rubber, silicone can be very tricky to paint. This is because silicone contains plastic as well and is quite flexible.  

An oil-based paint is best, preceded by a primer and finished with a sealant. You’ll need to clean the silicone well first, even if it’s brand-new.

Releasing agent (the compound to get the silicone out of its mold during manufacturing) might still be on the surface, which will affect your paint’s adhesion. Wipe down the surfaces with acetone or orange solvent, then let it completely dry before you paint.  

If your silicone is very flexible, such as a mask or rubber gloves, painting gets even trickier. Thin down your paint with orange solvent or paint thinner, then spray painting rubber item using a paint sprayer. This ensures a thin but vibrant coat that will move with your silicone when completely dry, prevent paint cracking.  

Removing exterior paint from removable paint rubber is sometimes as difficult as painting it to begin with. Fortunately, products exist to make the job easier.  

Light paint jobs, like craft acrylics, can often be scrubbed and scraped away with little more than rubbing alcohol, followed by mild soap and water. Tougher paint job will require some sanding or acetone.  

Few paint strippers are safe for use on rubber due to their formulations. Because paint strippers are designed to break down the polymers in paint, they’ll also break down the polymers in many types of rubber.   

Citristrip is a gel-based paint stripper that can work on very stubborn paint jobs. Apply to remove most of the paint from your rubber surface, then clean, sand, and re-clean the remainder. This will ensure as little of the stripper comes into contact with the painting rubber as possible.  

Painting rubber can yield impressive, lasting results when done properly.  How you paint rubber depends on what kind it is, its purpose, and whether it will remain outdoors or indoors.

Most painting rubber projects, however, will call for the same three basic steps: great preparation with a thorough cleaning, applying the correct kind of paint for your surface, and sealing it for a beautiful, durable finish.