Painting interior doors requires a different type of paint than for exterior doors, such as your front door. Exterior doors are typically painted with oil-based paint, while the best paint for interior doors generally is a latex-based or acrylic paint.

Use interior acrylic-latex paint on doors. Choose eggshell, satin, or semi-gloss sheens. Avoid using flat or matte paint on doors. Each interior door is typically 68 square feet, including front, back, and edges. One gallon of paint covers about 350 square feet. So, you'll need about one gallon of paint for every five doors.

Fingerprints and grime are to be expected on interior doors in high-traffic areas. So pick paint with a gloss or semi-gloss finish, rather than flat or eggshell, for a surface that’s much easier to wipe clean. A glossier paint also makes doors and trim stand out beautifully against the flatter wall surface.

The type of paint you pick will largely depend on the location of the door. Inside doors, for instance, can be painted with high-quality latex-based paint, suggests Jay Sanders, contractor and founder of Castle Dream Construction, while external doors such as front doors need a much tougher epoxy paint to stand up to the changing weather.

For vinyl-covered or plastic doors, you'll need to apply at least one coat of primer after sanding and before you begin painting. Choose a durable paint finish in a semi-gloss or glossy sheen, which will stand up well to everyday use and frequent cleaning.