Annie Sloan Chalk Paint vs Rust-Oleum Chalked
By The DIYPicks Team · Updated July 2026
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Annie Sloan Chalk Paint
The premium boutique chalk paint with unmatched color depth and grip, but you pay for it in dollars and in the waxing labor it demands.
| Type | Chalk paint |
|---|---|
| Coverage | ~150 sq ft per litre |
| Topcoat | Wax or lacquer needed |
| Recoat | ~1-2 hrs |
| Cleanup | Soap and water |
| Use | Furniture, cabinets, decor |
Rust-Oleum Chalked Ultra Matte Paint
The budget-friendly, easy-to-find chalk paint that gets beginners a matte furniture finish fast, as long as you topcoat anything that sees hard use.
| Type | Chalk paint (ultra matte) |
|---|---|
| Coverage | ~150 sq ft per 30 oz |
| Topcoat | Optional clear topcoat for high-wear pieces |
| Recoat | ~2-4 hrs |
| Cleanup | Soap and water |
| Use | Furniture, cabinets, decor |
Our verdict
These two bracket the chalk paint market. Annie Sloan costs roughly $45 per litre and is sold through independent stockists, but rewards you with high-pigment coverage, superior color depth, and paint that intermixes cleanly for custom shades, at the cost of a labor-intensive wax finish. Rust-Oleum Chalked runs under $30 for a 30 oz can at big-box stores, goes on with no sanding, and only needs an optional topcoat on high-wear pieces, though its color range is smaller and more muted. Choose Annie Sloan for a showpiece where color and finish matter most and you do not mind waxing; choose Rust-Oleum when you want a cheap, easy-to-find paint for a fast dresser or shelf makeover. Both grip well without priming, so the real deciding factors are budget and how much finishing effort you want to invest.