When it comes to choosing the best caulk for a job there are a lot of options. Find out how to choose the right formula for your next project and see our top picks.
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Caulk and sealant are necessary for several home projects, from tiling a bathroom to repairing a driveway. The best caulk (or the best sealant) will close up cracks and keep moisture out. This prevents mold and mildew issues down the road and gives any project a nice, clean finish.
According to Gregg Cantor, President/CEO at Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel, it pays to know the differences between each kind of caulk. This makes it easier to find the best sealant for the job, every time.
Choosing the best caulk (or the best sealant) for any project isn’t easy when hundreds line the hardware store shelves. Don’t worry—the DIY experts at Family Handyman did the research and located the best caulks for every home project.
When it comes to finding the best caulk, it’s important to consider longevity. Most caulking mistakes occur when the product dries out, revealing cracks and imperfections that moisture can enter. A good, flexible caulk like Big Stretch keeps its shape when the conditions around it expand and contract, meaning fewer cracks and touchups.
Despite latex caulk being typically less flexible than other caulks, Sashco achieved tremendous flexibility with its latex-based Big Stretch—without the addition of silicone. Not only does it last for years, but it stretches up to 500% of its original size, making it perfect for foundation cracks and other areas that see extreme temperature changes. That’s impressive!
On a home’s exterior, high-quality caulk is critical—it locks out water, protecting homes against rot and peeling paint. Although some inexpensive acrylic latex caulks are rated for exterior use, we recommend hybrid caulks because they offer better adhesion and flexibility.
Dynaflex Window, Door and Trim caulk easily adheres to a wide range of building materials. This includes wood, MDF, fiber cement, vinyl, aluminum, PVC polystyrene and composite trim board. As a bonus, it lasts a pretty long time for caulk and doesn’t shrink as it cures.
For just a couple of bucks you can find a caulk that dries fast, is easy to work with, easy to clean up, and can handle a little movement. Alex Painter’s Caulk is our top choice for painting projects thanks to a quick dry time and a 25-year durability rating. Apply it at least two hours before going over the caulked trim or door with latex or oil-based paint.
If you are dealing with a large recurring crack in a wall corner or in a crown molding joint, choose a product with better flexibility such as a hybrid formula or Big Stretch acrylic caulk.
Caulk in bathrooms and kitchens is often visible, so choosing a product that’s easy to apply neatly is important. It also needs to be waterproof and mold and mildew-resistant. Choose a product labeled with those traits. Acrylic latex kitchen and bath caulks are the easiest to work with, but hybrids generally have a longer life span.
AMP Kitchen and Bath Sealant is a hybrid that provides a 100% waterproof seal. It’s also able to be applied to damp and wet surfaces and only requires a 30-minute dry time, making it ideal for high-traffic areas like kitchens and bathrooms.
A caulk specially formulated for concrete and masonry will outperform general-purpose products. Most masonry and concrete sealants are polyurethane or hybrid formulas. Some concrete and masonry caulks are self-leveling and can be used only on level surfaces.
Loctite Construction Adhesive is a polyurethane-based adhesive that sets in 30 minutes and fully cures within 24 hours. There’s no strong solvent odor, and it’s completely weather-resistant for a finish that lasts through those chilly Midwest winters.
Any caulk that lives on a roof is going to get hammered by the elements. Roof repair caulk needs to be able to survive extreme exposure to sunlight and temperature variations yet remain flexible. Lexel Adhesive Caulk can be applied on wet surfaces, making it ideal for roof repairs—even in damp weather!
It’s called the “duct tape” of caulks thanks to its flexibility. It adheres easily to almost any material and works well for both interior and exterior applications. If cracking and mildew are a concern, consider upgrading to this all-around useful product.
It’s no surprise that a product designed to fix roof and gutter issues needs to be 100% waterproof. But it also needs to be tough—tough enough to handle the abrasion from debris and ice in colder climates. Most gutter sealants do a good job on metal, but not all will adhere to plastic gutters.
DAP Gutter and Flashing Sealant dries to a waterproof, paintable seal and adheres to wet and dry surfaces with ease. It works on metal, plastic and indoor applications like bathrooms in a pinch. Once cured, the weatherproof seal keeps mold and mildew out of gutters, drain spouts, lap joints, flashing, roof vents and aluminum siding.
Rope caulk is extremely simple to use. It comes in a long, rope-like form that requires no caulk gun or applicator, so it’s a quick and easy solution to draft-proof windows and doors. Because it doesn’t fully cure, it’s ideal for weatherizing during colder seasons. When it’s time to remove, simply peel it away.
Duck Brand Press to Seal Rope Caulk comes in a 1/8-inch wide by 35-foot long rope. It’s malleable, which makes it incredibly easy to mold into shape. If it’s too warm to work with, simply stick it in the refrigerator to help harden it a bit before using.
When you’re looking for a good silicone sealant to keep around for odd jobs, Gorilla Waterproof Caulk & Seal is our top pick. It seals out water, air and moisture for a mildew-free finish. In only 30 minutes it’s ready to come into contact with water, so it works well for both interior bathroom applications and exterior trim.
This particular caulk is white and isn’t paintable, so use it on white surfaces or use this caulk-matching hack.
Refractory sealant isn’t like your average caulk. It can be either cement-based or silicone, but either way, it offers incredible heat-resistance. That makes it ideal for projects in and around the fireplace, furnace or heating ducts. Rutland Furnace Cement seals metal-to-metal or metal-to-masonry joints, so it’s perfect for ceramic logs, stoves and firebrick. As a bonus, heat helps cure it up even faster.
For outdoor applications or projects that don’t require such high temperature resistance, opt for a high-heat silicone seal instead.
There are a lot of options in the caulk aisle, and trying to spot the little differences on the label can be tough if you don’t know what you are looking for. We’re here to help you make sense of those ever-expanding choices and choose the right caulk for specific jobs, so you never load your caulk gun with the wrong product.
“Caulk should be chosen based on the application,” notes Cantor. “For exterior use, where weather and waterproofing is a factor, silicone or Butyl rubber sealant is the best choice. Acrylic or latex caulking works well for interior conditions, especially painted areas. Tub and tile caulk is often used around fixtures. I prefer silicone sealant because it’s more elastic and a better seal. Our company only uses proven products such as DAP and GE.”
The following traits are those he considers most important:
Silicone or polyurethane is the most elastic. This is especially important for materials exposed to extreme temperature changes like heating and cooling. These temperature changes can cause non-elastic materials to split and crack.
“Drying and curing time depends on the type of material,” says Cantor. “Silicone and acrylic is about the same, 30-180 minutes drying and 1–10 days for curing. Butyl dries to the touch in one hour and cures in 24 hours.”
“Caulk, silicone, Butyl and refractory sealants come in different colors,” notes Cantor. “For textures to match tile, grout manufacturers like Laticrete and Custom Building Products make corresponding silicone caulking to their colors in sanded and non-sanded textures.”
Cantor says that when it comes to adhesion, the more silicone the better. “For exterior, Butyl typically has better adhesion and holds up well under weather conditions,” he notes.
These types of caulk dominate the shelves at tool supply stores. Labels don’t always tell you what’s in the tube, so we’ve included examples of each type of sealant.
I’m an experienced Assistant Editor with a demonstrated history of working in the publishing industry. My work mainly focuses on home projects, repair and DIY. Emily Way is an Associate Shopping Editor for Family Handyman with experience researching products and recommending the best designs to consumers. She researched and updated this piece. Way consulted Gregg Cantor, President/CEO at Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel.
Gregg Cantor began working for Murray Lampert Design, Build, Remodel in 1977 learning all things for the home from the ground up, inside and outside. Over the years, Gregg has been responsible for managing the design and build of over 2,500 home construction and remodeling projects including landscaping, pools and outdoor living. He also has made many appearances on local news in San Diego, co-hosted shows on ABC TV and iHeart Radio, guested on national podcasts, as well as being quoted in national publications, educating consumers on all aspects of architectural, interior design, home improvement, construction and maintenance. Gregg’s experience also includes expert witness work, feasibility studies, cost estimation and consultations with home buyers.
Caulk is not a one-size-fits-all product. That’s why we combed through our resources to figure out the most common uses for caulk. From there we spoke to construction experts, learning about the different ingredients and sealant types and which projects each is suited to. Finally, we used our own experiences and read through hundreds of user reviews to locate the very best products for each DIY project.
The result? We’re confident that each caulk on this list is the best bang for your buck.
“Caulk is made from latex and acrylic materials which is prone to shrinkage when cured,” says Cantor. “Sealant is primarily silicone, making it elastic and water resistant.”
According to Cantor, caulking should not be used on wall or ceiling surface areas, where it will stand out after painting due to textures. “Caulk should not be used to fill gaps more than 1/4 inch. Around electrical trim, heat registers, door casing, baseboards, caulking paints up well and is not noticeable,” he adds.
Years ago, silicone caulk was a good choice for many jobs. Today, there are dozens of different options for almost every situation. So why is silicone still so popular? Cantor says that this popularity is based on performance. Plus, silicone is used by most widely recognized brands.
“Dap and GE are both good silicone brands. For textures, Laticrete and Custom Building Products are good. All of these manufacturers offer different levels of adhesion and warranty. I always recommend spending the few extra dollars to buy trusted, recognized brands,” he says.
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