20+ Differences between Gloss And Satin (Explained)

When buying a new house or just deciding to repaint your home, one must decide what kind of pain to use. This can be a very difficult decision, especially for those who know nothing about paints.

Gloss and Satin are two different excellent kinds of paints that are often confused with one another. Gloss and Satin sound almost like synonyms, and the terms are used interchangeably many times. However, the Gloss and Satin paint is similar yet different. This article will explore the differences between these two similar kinds of paints.

Comparison Between Gloss And Satin

Parameter	Gloss	Satin
Meaning	A type of paint that is very glossy.	A type of paint that is very shiny.
Sheen	It has the maximum level of sheen.	It has a moderate level of sheen.
Shine	It is shiny but comparatively lesser than the Satin paint.	It has the maximum level of shine, more than Gloss paint.
Reflectiveness	Its reflectiveness is more than the Satin paint. It ranges from 70 percent to 90 percent.	Its reflectiveness is less than the Gloss paint. It ranges from 25 percent to 40 percent.
Durability	It has high durability and lasts longer than Satin paint.	It has moderate durability and lasts shorter than Gloss paint.
Imperfections	Due to high reflectiveness, it is known to highlight imperfections.	Due to moderate reflectiveness, it is known to hide imperfections.
Retouch	If the surface requires another coat of paint, it is significantly easier to do so with Gloss paint.	Doing another coat of Satin paint when a surface demands retouching is delicate.
Cleaning	It is comparatively easier to clean Gloss paint than Satin paint.	It is comparatively more difficult to clean Satin paint than Gloss paint.
Stain & Moisture resistance	This type of paint has very high Stain and Moisture resistance.	This type of paint has moderate Stain and Moisture resistance.
Price	It is comparatively more expensive than Satin paint.	It is comparatively cheaper than Gloss paint.
Advantage	High durability, easier cleaning, high sheen, stain, and moisture resistance is the significant advantages of Gloss paint.	The major advantages of Satin paint are hiding imperfections, making it not so difficult to clean, advancing shine, and providing a smooth, velvety finish.
Disadvantage	The major disadvantage associated with Gloss paint is that it highlights imperfections.	The significant disadvantages of Satin paint are that it is less durable and is delicate to retouch.
Areas of use	Gloss paint is primarily used on ceilings, doors, and furniture.	Satin paint is primarily used on bigger surfaces such as walls, bedrooms, living rooms, lobbies, etc.

The Major Differences Between Gloss And Paint

What exactly is Gloss?

As the name suggests, Gloss is a kind of paint that is known for its advanced level of sheen. Gloss paint is shiny, lasts long, and is significantly easier to clean. Gloss paint has a reflective level of 70% to 90%, no other color offers this level of reflectiveness, and thus, it has the power to make a room brighter.

Gloss, considering its reflectiveness, has the ability to highlight everything; if there are any bumps on a wall or the surface is not smooth, it will highlight the imperfections; thus, one should make sure that the surface is smooth before painting. Because of Gloss’s features, this paint is widely used to paint ceilings, furniture, and doors.

Features of Gloss

The most superior paint in terms of the sheen.

It offers an outstanding amount of shine.

It has very high durability.

It is significantly easier to clean.

It is easier to apply multiple coats of Gloss paint.

It is very reflective, with a reflective level of around 70 to 90 percent.

Gloss paints can be a little expensive.

The significant advantage of Gloss paint is that it is durable, reflects light, is easier to clean, and is stain and moisture-resistant.

The major disadvantage associated with Gloss paint is that it reflects everything, including imperfections.

Mostly ceilings and woodwork such as furniture and doors are the main areas where Gloss paint is used.

The major advantage of Gloss paint is that it is durable, reflects light, is easier to clean, and is stain and moisture-resistant.

The major disadvantage associated with Gloss paint is that it reflects everything, and that includes imperfections as well.

Mostly ceilings and woodwork such as furniture and doors are the main areas where Gloss paint is used.

Key Differences: Gloss

Gloss paint is the only kind of paint that offers the most sheen.

Gloss paint has an extreme sheen but is less shiny than Satin paint.

Gloss paint tops the charts of durability.

The reflective levels of Gloss paint range from 70 percent to 90 percent.

The price of Gloss paint is comparatively higher than Satin paint.

What exactly is Satin?

Satin is another painting that belongs to the class of shiny paints. Satin paint usually has a velvety texture with a moderate amount of sheen. Satin paint has average durability and offers a pro level of shine.

This paint has a reflective level of around 26% to 40%, meaning it does reflect light, but at a lower rate. Thus Satin is also considered to have a matte finish. Since it does not offer much reflectiveness, unlike Gloss, it can hide imperfections better than Gloss paint.

One of the biggest problems associated with Satin paint is that it can be challenging to reapply it, especially with visible imperfections. Satin paint is used on large surfaces such as bedrooms and living rooms.

Features of Satin

Paint with a velvety matte texture and moderate sheen.

It has an advanced level of shine.

It has moderate durability.

It can be a little uneasy to clean the Satin surface.

It can be a little delicate to apply multiple coats of Satin paint.

It is moderately reflective, with reflectiveness ranging from 26 to 40%.

Satin paints are very budget-friendly.

The major advantage of Satin paint is that it hides imperfections, is not difficult to clean, and makes a surface feel velvety.

The major disadvantage of Satin paint is that it can be delicate to retouch or do another round of paint.

Large surfaces, such as big walls, living rooms, bedrooms, lobbies, etc., are generally painted with Satin paint.

Satin

Satin paint is known for its matte look with a moderate sheen.

Satin paint might have a medium sheen, but when it comes to shining, no paint has a shine level of Satin paint.

Satin paint is less durable than Gloss paint.

The reflective levels of Satin paint range from 26 percent to 40 percent.

The price of Satin paint is comparatively lower than Gloss paint.

The Contrast Between Gloss And Satin

Origin of the word

Gloss – The word Gloss originated from the Greek word “glossa,” which has three different meanings: “tongue,”; “language,”; and “obscure word.”

Satin – The word Satin is a late Middle English word that originated from the Arabic word “zaytūnī,” which means “of Thinking.”

Meaning

Gloss – A type of paint.

Satin – A type of paint.

Sheen

Gloss: Gloss paint offers a sheen like no other paint. Moreover, it provides the maximum amount of sheen.

Satin: Satin paint has a comparatively lesser sheen than Gloss paint.

Shine

Gloss: Gloss paint is comparatively lesser shiny than Satin paint.

Satin: Satin paint has an advanced level of shine. It is shinier than Gloss paint.

Sheen vs. Shine –
The difference between Sheen and Shine can be challenging to understand as both the terms sound synonyms, and the objects look synonyms too. Sheen is like a shine that is seen when light reflects on it. Shine, on the other hand, is shiny on its own. Shine is something that is coming up from within.

Texture

Gloss: The texture of Gloss paint is very smooth and shiny.

Satin: The texture of Satin paint is very velvety, smooth, and matte.

Reflectiveness

Gloss: Gloss paint has more reflectiveness than Satin paint ranging from 70 percent to 90 percent.

Satin: Satin paint has less reflectiveness than Gloss paint ranging from 26 percent to 40 percent.

Multiple coats

Gloss: Applying multiple coats of Gloss paint is comparatively more accessible than Satin paint.

Satin: Applying multiple coats of Satin paint is comparatively more challenging than Gloss paint.

Cleaning

Gloss: It is easier to clean Gloss paint than to clean Satin paint.

Satin: It is a little delicate to clean Satin paint.

Durability

Gloss: Gloss paint lasts longer than Satin paint.

Satin: Satin paint lasts lesser than Gloss paint.

Hiding imperfections

Gloss: Instead of hiding imperfections, Gloss paint highlights flaws.

Satin: Due to low reflectiveness, Satin paint has the ability to hide imperfections.

Stain Resistant

Gloss: Gloss paint is a better stain resistor than Satin paint.

Satin: Satin paint is a moderate stain resistor.

Price

Gloss: Gloss paint is more expensive than Satin paint.

Satin: Satin paint is cheaper than Gloss paint. It is a budget-friendly paint.

Advantages

Gloss – High durability, easier cleaning, high sheen, stain, and moisture resistance are the significant advantages of Gloss paint.

Satin: Hiding imperfections, not so difficult to clean, advanced shine, provides a smooth velvety finish are the significant advantages of Satin paint.

Disadvantages

Gloss: The major disadvantage associated with Gloss paint is that it highlights imperfections.

Satin: The major disadvantages of Satin paint are that it is less durable and delicate to retouch.

Used in

Gloss: Gloss paint is primarily used on ceilings, doors, and furniture.

Satin: Satin paint is primarily used on more extensive surfaces such as walls, bedrooms, living rooms, lobbies, etc.

Conclusion

Gloss and Satin paints are two of the most widely used paints. Due to similarities in their nature, both colors are often confused with one another. But despite all the similarities, they have numerous differences.

Gloss is mainly used on ceilings, woodwork, and doors, whereas Satin is mostly used in large surface areas such as beds and living rooms. Gloss paint is known for its excessive sheen. It has a moderate shine, is easy to clean, and has high durability.

On the other hand, Satin paint has a medium but advanced shine. As a result, it is easy to clean and has moderate durability. Another essential difference between Gloss and Paint is that the former is a little expensive while the latter is budget-friendly.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is the reflective rate of Gloss and Satin paint, and what does it indicate?

The reflective rate of Gloss is 70% to 90%, whereas the reflective rate of Satin is 25% to 40%. The reflective rate of paints indicates their capacity to reflect light. The more reflectiveness, the more light it reflects. Lesser the reflectiveness, the less light it reflects.

Q2. What are the areas where Gloss and Satin’s paints are widely used?

Gloss and Satin paint can be used wherever one desire, but most commonly, Gloss paint is used on doors, ceilings, and furniture, and Satin paint is used on larger surface areas such as big walls and living rooms, bedrooms, etc.

Q3. What are the major differences between Gloss and Paint

The major differences between Gloss and Paint are
1. Gloss paint has the maximum sheen, whereas Satin paint has a moderate sheen.
2. Gloss paint has a good amount of shine, but Satin paint has an advanced level of shine.
3. Gloss paint can be considered a little expensive, but Satin paint is very budget-friendly.
4. Gloss paint highlights imperfections, while Satin paint hides imperfections.
5. Gloss paint has the highest durability, whereas Satin paint has moderate durability.
6. Gloss paints are easier to clean, while Satin paints can be a little delicate to clean.