If you’ve ever looked at your old, dull silver aluminum window frames and wished they were a sleek black instead, you’re not alone! Learning how to paint aluminum window frames is surprisingly painless, and one of the most affordable projects to seriously modernize your home’s interior. The best part? You don’t need to replace anything — just the right prep work, products, and a little patience.
In this post, I’m walking you through exactly how to paint aluminum window frames black, the products I used (linked below), and all the tricks that helped us get a clean, professional finish. Whether you’re painting the interior or exterior sides of your windows (or both), these same steps and products apply!
Affiliate links may be used in this blog post, at no cost to you.
How to Paint Aluminum Window Frames: What You’ll Need
When learning how to paint aluminum window frames, I spent way too much time researching what supplies I needed, and ended up going a little overboard. So to save you time, here’s a list of what we actually we used to prep, paint, and finish our aluminum windows — it’s all from Walmart! You can find each linked below.
Prep Supplies:
- White vinegar
- Dish soap
- Spray bottle
- Paper towels (lots of them!)
- Cheap toothbrushes
- Glass cleaner
- Alcohol swabs
- This exact painter’s tape (don’t use the blue kind!)
- Masking paper
- Clear protective tarps
- Protective eyewear
- N95 masks
- Vacuum with brush attachment (I love this one — it has a built-in light!)
Painting Supplies:
- This self-etching primer for metal (this is key for long-term adhesion)
- This “Stops Rust” Satin Black Spray Paint
- Comfort Grip for Spray Paint (not necessary, but highly recommend!)
- Tiny artist brush for touchups
For Cleanup:
- Graffiti wipes (for removing overspray on glass)
- Mr. Clean Magic Erasers (for removing any paint on walls)
Step 1: Clean and Prep the Windows
Good prep makes all the difference — especially when painting metal. Start by vacuuming the window tracks, corners, and sills to remove dust, cobwebs, and dead bugs.
Next, mix a solution of white vinegar, a drop of dish soap, and warm water in a spray bottle. Spray down the aluminum frames and scrub every surface with an old toothbrush. Repeat as needed until clean and free of debris and mud. Dry the tracks with paper towels or microfiber cloths. Then follow by cleaning the glass with glass cleaner.
Final step: Once dry, wipe down all of the aluminum with rubbing alcohol swabs using a clean paper towel or microfiber cloth. This removes any lingering oils, soap, or detergent so that your self-etching primer adheres perfectly to the metal.
Step 2: Remove the Sliding Window Panel
If your windows have a movable panel, lift it out of the track carefully and set it aside — it’s much easier to tape and paint when it’s removed. You’ll paint both the stationary and movable sections separately for a cleaner, more uniform finish.
Step 3: Tape Off and Protect Surrounding Areas
Now it’s time to tape. Use this exact painter’s tape for clean lines and masking paper to mask off the glass portions of your windows and any nearby walls or trim. This step takes a bit of patience but will save you a huge headache later. Be precise — clean tape lines make all the difference in the final look. Put some clear protective tarps down to protect your floors, countertops, and furniture!
Step 4: Apply Self-Etching Primer
Before paint comes primer — and when it comes to aluminum, this self-etching primer is a must. It chemically bonds to metal surfaces, helping the paint adhere properly and preventing peeling.
Shake the can well and spray one light, even coat across all metal surfaces. Don’t oversaturate; thin coats are better to prevent drips and allow for the quickest cure time. Let it dry completely according to the manufacturer’s directions (usually 30–60 minutes).
Step 5: Spray with “Stops Rust” Spray Paint in Satin Black
Once your primer is dry, apply three light coats of this “Stops Rust” Satin Black spray paint — it is the best paint for aluminum window frames! Hold the can about 8–12 inches away from the surface and move in smooth, even passes. If you’re doing more than one window, this comfort grip attachment is absolutely worth the $13!
Temperature note: Rust-Oleum recommends applying their spray paint when both the air and surface temperatures are between 50 °F and 90 °F (10 °C–32 °C) with moderate humidity. If you try this project in colder winter conditions (below ~50 °F), the paint may not adhere properly or cure fully, which can affect the finish and durability. Plan this project for a mild day, not freezing temps.
Let each coat dry before applying the next one — this helps prevent drips and gives you that soft, even satin finish that looks factory-done.
Step 6: How to Paint Aluminum Window Frames Screens
If your old window screens are still in good condition, you can save a good chunk of change by simply spray painting them rather than re-screening. First, hose down both sides of the old screens and let dry completely. Then spray the whole thing! Spray both the screen frames and the screen with the same “Stops Rust” Satin Black Spray Paint (both sides). This trick is amazing for making dull, gray screens so much easier to see through and makes them look brand new!
If your window screens are damaged or the frames are bent, consider replacing your window screens with these convenient black frame screen kits coupled with black window screens for a modern look! We did that on two windows where the old screens were ripped. For step-by-step instructions on how to re-screen your windows, visit my blog post: DIY Window Screen Replacement.
Step 7: Reinstall & Touch Up
Once everything feels completely dry to the touch, reinstall your movable window panel. For any small missed spots or scratches, spray a bit of paint into the spray can’s lid and use a tiny paintbrush to dab on the color. It blends beautifully.
Step 8: Clean Up Overspray (It Happens!)
Even with careful taping, a little overspray can sneak through. Here’s what worked perfectly for us:
- Graffiti wipes remove spray paint overspray from glass almost instantly — no scraping needed. Tip: use these nitrile gloves to protect your skin while using these powerful wipes.
- Mr. Clean Magic Erasers are perfect for getting paint off the surrounding walls if you catch it early. A little gentle scrubbing and it’s gone.
Final Thoughts on How to Paint Aluminum Window Frames
That’s it — your once-dated aluminum windows are now sleek, modern, and totally transformed. The satin black finish feels high-end and completely updates the look of a space. Learning how to paint aluminum window screens is so worthwhile — this project is such a good one for modernizing your home on a budget!
If you’re ready to tackle your own window makeover, I’ve linked all the exact products I used below (all from Walmart!) so you can grab everything you need in one go.
How to Paint Aluminum Window Frames: Shop the Supplies
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