So you’re wondering what topcoat to use for gel stain cabinets or furniture?

Do you even need a top coat with gel stain?

Can you use a water based topcoat over oil based gel stain?

How many coats of top coat are you supposed to apply over gel stain?

Lucky for you, I answer all that below!

I have so many general finishes gel stain projects in the works so you should probably follow me on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram so you can see those projects as they’re updated. And be sure to check out my general finishes gel stain tutorial to see my before and after photos of the gel stain kitchen cabinets!

First of all, yes, your gel stain furniture (whether it’s gel stain kitchen cabinets, table top, or bookshelf) needs to have a top coat. I know it looks like gel stain doesn’t need a finish coat but it does! This is what’s going to protect your hard work for years to come!

The good thing is you have lots of options when it comes to a top coat for your gel stain project. As long as you wait 72 hours before applying the top coat, you can apply a water based top coat on top of the oil based gel stain.

Gel Stain Topcoat Options

High Performance Topcoat

This was the gel stain top coat I chose to finish my kitchen and bathroom cabinets. This is a water based top coat (so you have to wait 3 days after doing the oil gel stain).

It also has a UV stabilizer which helps protect the finish from breaking down in the sun.

This was my best option because I was looking for something that would protect the cabinet from hands and fingernails, especially around the handle. A minimum a three coats is recommended but I did 4.

Application Method: Brush, Roll or Spray (HVLP .043-.051 medium air cap)
Durability: High
Hardness (Koeing): 59
Water (5max) : 4
Chemical (105 max): 93
Dry Time to Touch: 30 minutes
Dry Time to Re-coat: 2 hours

They offer four different sheens with the high performance topcoat!

Gel Topcoat

General Finishes also offers a Gel Stain Topcoat which is an oil based top coat that “produces a beautiful hand rubbed quality finish” according to their website. I personally haven’t used the gel top coat but I hear some good things about it!

It’s also important to know that this gel top coat will cause the project to amber and darken slightly. It doesn’t much matter on darker colors, but if you used white or grey be weary of the amber affect this topcoat has.

Lastly, it only comes in a satin sheen so if you’re looking for semi-gloss or gloss sheens you’ll have to go with another top coat.

Application Method: Brush or Roll
Durability: Highest
Hardness (Koeing): 49
Water (5max) : 5
Chemical (105 max): 102
Dry Time to Touch: 8 hours
Dry Time to Re-coat: 24 hours

Arm-R-Seal Gel Stain Topcoat

Arm-R-Seal Topcoat is also an oil based gel stain topcoat and it will also amber like the gel topcoat. It’s available in satin, semi-gloss and gloss finishes.

Application Method: Brush, Roll or Spray (spray tip sizes – HVLP .043-.051 medium air cap)
Durability: Highest
Hardness (Koeing): 77
Water (5max) : 5
Chemical (105 max): 99
Dry Time to Touch: 12 hours
Dry Time to Re-coat: 24 hours

So there you have it! Hopefully you can narrow down your options now for what gel stain topcoat to use on your general finishes gel stain projects!

Oh and here’s a neat little infographic for applying gel stain top coat! The instructions are specifically for the high performance top coat but are very similar to all the other gel stain top coat products, just read the instructions!