How to Open a Paint Can in 6 Simple Steps

Open with care to keep the color in the can

Woman in a room pouring white paint in a tray
Photo: Charday Penn / E+ / Getty Images
Woman in a room pouring white paint in a tray
Photo: Charday Penn / E+ / Getty Images
Melissa Graham
Written by Melissa Graham
Contributing Writer
Updated Mar 30, 2023
SKILL LEVEL
Easy
COMPLETION TIME
5 minutes
COST
$0
Get quotes from up to 3 pros!
Enter a zip below and get matched to top-rated pros near you.
Geo Icon
What you'll need:
TOOLS
  • Paint can opening tool
  • Flathead screwdriver or putty knife (optional)
  • Old towel
  • Hammer
  • Gloves

When your paint is mixed and canned, it’s carefully sealed to prevent any splashes on the drive home. However, learning how to open a paint can is essential to ensuring you break the seal cleanly. Being too aggressive when opening can leave a spill or splash. Yes, it’s a beautiful color, but probably not what you were thinking for your driveway or living room floor. 

Learn to carefully open your paint can so you don't damage it or cause a mess. If you don’t finish your project in one day, you’ll need to reseal the can ahead of your second coat or touch-ups. If you don’t use it all, don’t worry—you can use leftover paint creatively.

Other Items You Can Use to Open a Paint Can

If you don’t own a flathead screwdriver, you can use a putty knife to pop the lid off a paint can. Other tools such as a 6-in-1 painter’s tool or a designated paint can opener from your local hardware store also work. You can also use household items like the edge of a spoon or a pocket knife to open a can of paint if you run out of other options.

Read more

  1. Place the Tool Under the Lid

    Running screwdriver around a paint can lid
    Photo: RightFramePhotoVideo / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

    To start, place one hand on top of the can. Then wedge your paint can opener, flathead screwdriver, or putty knife between the rim of the can and the lid. 

    If you use a putty knife, ensure it’s stiff. A flexible one might be good for other jobs, but it won’t be effective in breaking a paint can seal.

  2. Press Down

    Gently push down on the paint can opener tool handle to pry the lid away from the can, breaking the seal. You may need to repeat this step a few times to unseal a stubborn lid.

  3. Rotate the Can

    Using paint can opening tool
    Photo: detry26 / Adobe Stock

    Gently run your screwdriver around the can, opening the seal evenly. Often, people turn the can an inch and repeat the second step. But this prying motion can bend or damage the lid of the can, preventing the lid from going back on with a nice seal.

  4. Remove the Lid Slowly

    Closeup of a man lifting paint can lid
    Photo: Image Source / Image Source / Getty Images

    Once you’ve worked your way around the can, lift the lid off slowly. Make sure you’re wearing gloves, or you’ll get paint on your fingers.

  5. Create a Label

    No, we’re not talking about breaking out an actual label maker. But it’s helpful to add a dab of paint onto the can’s lid so you can know what color is inside for future use. 

    It’s also helpful to add a note like “living room trim” when your hands are clean. Paint can last 10 years; that’s enough time to forget what’s in the can. Then place the lid in a plastic bag to prevent it from getting messy.

  6. Puncture the Inside Rim

    Now for a trick from the pros: Puncture a few holes inside the gutter of the paint can. This painting technique will allow any paint that gets in that groove to drip back into the can where it belongs. It’ll go a long way toward keeping your can (and potentially floor) clean.

How to Replace the Lid

When you’re done painting for the day, it’s time to replace the lid. Place it on the can as straight as possible. To reseal it, drape an old towel over the top and use a hammer (or any heavy object) to pound it on tight. The towel will help prevent dents in the can from your hammer.

Make things easy on yourself and have a towel and hammer ready when you open the paint. That way, you don’t have to carefully run through the house–with splotches of paint on your pants–to find them later. If you hire a local interior painter to paint your home, remind them to reseal the leftover paint so you can use it for future touch-ups.

Frequently Asked Questions

While paint drying smoothly on a wall is ideal, a can full of dry paint is not. To open a can of dry paint, you’ll need a tool with a sharp edge, such as a utility knife or a box cutter. Take your tool and score the area where the lid meets the can to break through the dried-up paint. Then, use a paint can opener or a flathead screwdriver to pry the lid open and check the state of the contents. For smaller cans with plastic lids, you can run the top under hot water to loosen the lid. 

Although plastic-sealed paint cans can look tricky, you can open them with adjustable pliers in no time. Grip the plastic seal with the pliers and pull the seal up, moving around the seal until you’ve pried the plastic up in enough spots. Then, you can grab the seal and pop it off the top of the paint can. Depending on the strength of the seal, you may even be able to remove the seal with just your hands by pulling upwards.

Newer paint cans often come with an “easy pour” spout with a twist lid. These can be tricky to open, but the key is to grip the spout cover with your fingers and twist it counter-clockwise. There should be a raised ridge in the middle to make it easy to grab. For more standard twist lids, you can try prying the lid off by turning it with your hands, as you would a jar, or running it under warm water.

Need professional help with your project?
Get quotes from top-rated pros.
Learn more about our contributor
Melissa Graham
Written by Melissa Graham
Contributing Writer
Melissa has spent over ten years writing about home design, style, and DIYs for regional and national publications.

The homeowners guide to interior painting services

From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.

See all articles