How To Open A Paint Can: Easiest Methods - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Open a Can of Paint: Easy Step-by-Step Instructions PDF download Download Article Plus, how to reseal the paint can when you’re done Co-authored by Patrick Coye and Raven Minyard, BA

Last Updated: November 7, 2025 Fact Checked

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  • Opening the Can
    • |
  • Closing the Can
    • |
  • Why won't it open?
    • |
  • Video
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  • Expert Q&A
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  • Tips
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This article was co-authored by Patrick Coye and by wikiHow staff writer, Raven Minyard, BA. Patrick Coye is the owner and operator of Patrick’s Painting & Home Improvement in Alexandria, Virginia. With over 15 years of experience in residential construction, Patrick specializes in painting, wallpaper removal/installation, drywall, staining decks and fences, and kitchen cabinetry painting. To date, Patrick and his team have painted over 2,000 houses and stained over 800 decks. Patrick's Company won a "Top Job" award from the American Painting contractor magazine in 2020. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 126,400 times.

If you’ve never opened a paint can before, it may seem tricky. Fortunately, with the right tools, it’s easy to avoid creating a big mess. In this article, we spoke to painting specialist Patrick Coye and drywall and painting specialist Ryan Owsiany to teach you how to open (and close) a can of paint. We’ll also explain why your paint can might not open and what to do about it. Keep reading to become a painting pro in no time!

How do you open a can of paint?

Painting specialist Patrick Coye says to place the flat edge of your paint can opener under the lip of the paint can and pry the lid up. Move slowly and methodically, working in sections until the whole lid is loosened. Then, take it off with your hands. Alternatively, use a flathead screwdriver or a putty knife.

Steps

Section 1 of 3:

Opening a Paint Can

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  1. Step 1 Choose a tool to open the paint can. 1 Choose a tool to open the paint can. Coye says there are specific paint opener tools, which are usually your best option.[1] These tools have a small, curved tip that easily gets underneath the lip of the paint can so you can lift it up. When you buy a can of paint, you’ll often get a paint can opener for free, though you can also purchase one at most home supply stores. If you don’t have one, however, try one of these tools you probably already have at home:
    • A flathead screwdriver: For the best results, use a screwdriver with a tip about 1⁄4–1⁄2 in (0.64–1.27 cm) big. If you use a smaller screwdriver, opening the can may put too much pressure on the rim of the can and deform it. If your lid is deformed, it will be harder to close and take off next time.
    • A putty knife: Try a stiff, 1–2 in (2.5–5.1 cm) putty knife as an alternative. These work well because you can easily pry the lid off with the thick, wide blade. Use the side of the knife to maximize your surface area.
    • A painter’s tool: These come as 5-in-1 or 7-in-1 multipurpose tools for various painting purposes. Use the short, flat part of the tool to pry open the lid.
    • Coye adds that for a brand-new paint, “You can basically use anything that’s big enough to get it to open, like a quarter, your keys, [or] the back of a fork or knife.”[2] Just be careful not to damage the paint lid or the item.

    Meet the wikiHow Experts

    Patrick Coye is the owner and operator of Patrick’s Painting & Home Improvement in Alexandria, Virginia. He has over 15 years of experience in the industry.

    Ryan Owsiany is a drywall and painting specialist and the owner of Patch and Paint Pros in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. He has over two decades of experience and specializes in interior and exterior house painting.

  2. Step 2 Hold your tool under the lip of the lid to easily pry it off. 2 Hold your tool under the lip of the lid to easily pry it off. Place the tip of your tool underneath the lip. If you’re using a screwdriver or putty knife, it is helpful to use the side of the tool to gain more leverage.[3] Advertisement
  3. Watermark wikiHow to Open a Paint Can 3 Press down on the handle of the tool to pry open the lid. After you position your tool under the lid, use moderate force on the handle. With a little bit of effort, the lid will separate from the paint can.[4]
    • If the lid does not come off the can in 1 motion, reposition your tool and try again.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Open a Paint Can 4 Open the paint can a little bit at a time to maintain the shape of the lid. Continue prying the lid off in a consecutive motion. Coye recommends that you “slowly, methodically work your way around, prying up a section [then] moving an inch over [to] another section, and completely working it till you can get the can open.”[5] This prevents the lid from becoming deformed and bent.
    • If you’re opening an old can of paint, Coye adds that moving slowly will help prevent any rust on the edges of the can from getting in your paint.[6]
    • If you take the lid off from one side, you will likely bend it. If the lid loses its flat shape, it will be hard to put the lid back on.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Open a Paint Can 5 Take the lid off with your hands. Once you pry the lid off all the way around, place one hand on the lid, and gently lift up. Put the lid down on a flat surface with the paint side facing upwards.[7]
    • This way, you can easily pick up the lid when you are finished painting.
    • If there is rust in your paint, you can strain it out with a standard paint strainer, adds Coye.[8]
    6. Advertisement
Section 2 of 3:

Closing the Paint Can

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  1. Watermark wikiHow to Open a Paint Can 1 Wipe the rim of the can with a paintbrush to remove any excess paint. Owsiany explains, “If you get too much dried paint in that little crease [at] the top of the can, the lid will not seal properly, and it’ll let air in over time. Then the paint dries out and goes bad.”[9] When you’re finished painting, hold the tip of your paintbrush to the rim of your can and move it around in a circle. Then, wipe the tip of your brush against the lid. This moves the paint on the rim back into the can.
    • This way, your lid will not get sticky with paint.
    • Alternatively, use a rag instead of a paintbrush.
  2. Watermark wikiHow to Open a Paint Can 2 Place the lid on top of the rim when you are finished painting. After you wipe around the rim, lift up your lid and put it on top of the paint can with the paint side facing down.[10]
  3. Step 3 Tap the lid into place using a hammer or rubber mallet. 3 Tap the lid into place using a hammer or rubber mallet. Owsiany says, “Put the lid on nice and tight. You can tamp it down with the hammer or the back of a screwdriver or something like that. Make sure it has a good seal.”[11] Continue tapping around the lid until it is securely in place.
    • For best results, use a tool with a small head. You don’t need to pound the lid into place, and you can more easily tap the lid closed using a small tool.
    • To keep your paint in good condition, Owsiany suggests that you store it at room temperature. “Basements are typically a good place to store paint,” he says. “And unless your garage is heated, I would avoid storing it in your garage because if the paint freezes, it will get ruined.”[12]
    • If your paint can is empty, leave the lid off so the remnants can dry, then dispose of it.
    4. Advertisement
Section 3 of 3:

Why won’t my paint can open?

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  1. Dried paint may have sealed to the rim. If you’re trying to open a can of paint you’ve used before, but it won’t open, it’s likely because excess paint has dried around the rim and stuck the lid in place. Use a paint scraper to slice the paint from the rim, then pry open the lid as you normally would.
    • Another option is to gently tap around the edge of the lid with a hammer to break the dried paint seal.
    • For very stubborn cans, spray a solvent like WD-40 around the rim so it can seep into the seam and break the bond.

Expert Q&A

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  • Question What to use to open a paint can? Patrick Coye Patrick Coye Painting Specialist Patrick Coye is the owner and operator of Patrick’s Painting & Home Improvement in Alexandria, Virginia. With over 15 years of experience in residential construction, Patrick specializes in painting, wallpaper removal/installation, drywall, staining decks and fences, and kitchen cabinetry painting. To date, Patrick and his team have painted over 2,000 houses and stained over 800 decks. Patrick's Company won a "Top Job" award from the American Painting contractor magazine in 2020. Patrick Coye Patrick Coye Painting Specialist Expert Answer For a brand new can of paint, you can use a quarter, your keys, or the back of a fork/knife to pry the lid open. There are also specific paint opener tools you can use. You'll want to methodically work your way around the edges of the lid, moving inch by inch and prying it up until you can get the can open. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
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Video

Tips

  • If you have a lot of paint dried in the rim of your can, use a screwdriver to scrape it out. This way, you can easily close it when you are finished painting. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • If you want to prevent paint from staying in the rim of your can, drill 2-6 holes into the rim so the paint can drain back into the can. This way, the paint cannot get trapped in the rim and dry onto the lid. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • When you put the lid back on, make sure it's sealed to maintain the paint’s consistency. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

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References

  1. ↑ Patrick Coye. Painting Specialist. Expert Interview
  2. ↑ Patrick Coye. Painting Specialist. Expert Interview
  3. ↑ https://youtu.be/qhRrGITtBRc?t=19s
  4. ↑ https://youtu.be/qhRrGITtBRc?t=19s
  5. ↑ Patrick Coye. Painting Specialist. Expert Interview
  6. ↑ Patrick Coye. Painting Specialist. Expert Interview
  7. ↑ https://youtu.be/Wt2Q_FhK4QU?t=1m34s
  8. ↑ Patrick Coye. Painting Specialist. Expert Interview
  9. ↑ Ryan Owsiany. Drywall & Painting Specialist. Expert Interview
More References (3)
  1. ↑ https://youtu.be/Wt2Q_FhK4QU?t=224
  2. ↑ Ryan Owsiany. Drywall & Painting Specialist. Expert Interview
  3. ↑ Ryan Owsiany. Drywall & Painting Specialist. Expert Interview

About This Article

Patrick Coye Co-authored by: Patrick Coye Painting Specialist This article was co-authored by Patrick Coye and by wikiHow staff writer, Raven Minyard, BA. Patrick Coye is the owner and operator of Patrick’s Painting & Home Improvement in Alexandria, Virginia. With over 15 years of experience in residential construction, Patrick specializes in painting, wallpaper removal/installation, drywall, staining decks and fences, and kitchen cabinetry painting. To date, Patrick and his team have painted over 2,000 houses and stained over 800 decks. Patrick's Company won a "Top Job" award from the American Painting contractor magazine in 2020. This article has been viewed 126,400 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 6 Updated: November 7, 2025 Views: 126,400 Categories: Paints | Painting Prep and Clean Up Article SummaryX

To open a paint can, slide the tip of a paint can opener beneath the lip of the can and press down on the handle. Move the opener to the side just a little and repeat the motion. Work your way around the lid until it lifts up enough for you to take off the lid with your hands. If you don’t have a paint can opener, use a flathead screwdriver or a putty knife, but be careful not to put too much pressure on the lid or you could bend it. For tips on closing a paint can, keep reading! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Yes No Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Patrick Coye Co-authored by: Patrick Coye Painting Specialist Click a star to vote Co-authors: 6 Updated: November 7, 2025 Views: 126,400

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