Internet # 100169146

Model # 200241H

Store SKU # 420301

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1 qt. Clear Satin Water-Based Interior Polyurethane

Name: Varathane 1 qt. Clear Satin Water-Based Interior Polyurethane 200241H
Brand: Varathane
SKU: 420301
Price: 24.98 USD
Rating: 4.5 (4066 reviews)

Questions & Answers (922)

$2498

Easy to apply superior poly protection for interior wood surfaces
Self leveling, smooth clear finish with max top coat durability
Fast dry, durable formula covers up to 125 sq. ft. per quart
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Product Details

About This Product

Varathane 1 qt. Clear Satin Water-Based Interior Polyurethane is specially formulated to let wood's natural beauty shine through. High clarity protective coating for indoor wood projects provides a crystal clear finish. Premium polyurethane retains the same clear finish as the day it was applied and will not yellow with time.

Highlights

Ideal for protecting interior wood finishing projects and applications including furniture, doors, cabinets and trim
Covers up to 125 sq. ft., apply at least 3 coats on surfaces
Satin sheen adds a low luster to surfaces in a hard crystal-clear finish
Long lasting, durable formula provides abrasion and scratch resistance on surfaces
Low odor, water-based formula features outstanding stain resistance for interior wood projects and does not require sanding between coats
Dries to touch in 2 hours
New project? Click here to find the right wood stain products
Browse Available Floor Refinishing Tool Rental Options
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Product Information

Internet # 100169146

Model # 200241H

Store SKU # 420301

Additional Resources

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From the Manufacturer

Specifications

Dimensions

Container Size	1 Quart
Coverage Area (sq. ft.)	125 sq ft

Details

Application	Shellac, Lacquer & Polyurethane
Application Method	Brush
Base Material	Water Based
Coating Product Category	Waterproofer/Sealer
Color Family	Clear
Dry to Touch (min.)	60 min
Interior/Exterior	Interior
Number of coats recommended	3
Number per Package	1
Paint/Stain Clean Up	Soap & Water
Paint/Stain Features	Sealer
Product Form	Liquid
Returnable	90-Day
Sheen	Satin
Substrate Condition	Bare Wood, Finished Wood, Old/Reclaimed Wood, Stained Wood, Unfinished Wood
Surface Material Use	Wood
Time before recoating (hours)	2
Transparency	Clear
Vertical/Horizontal	Vertical / Horizontal

Warranty / Certifications

Manufacturer Warranty	Satisfaction guaranteed for full refund of purchase price

Questions & Answers

I mistakenly used an oil based outdoor stain on homemade indoor pine wood shelves and the fumes were causing eye issues. If I sand off that stain a bit and redo with this, will it seal in the stain underneath so my shelves will be safe to be inside?

ByAug 3, 2026

1 Answer |

Answer This Question

Mark, thanks so much for reaching out! Rust-Oleum Varathane Ultimate Water-Based Polyurethane will help seal the surface, but not if the odor is coming from the oil-based stain. We would ensure that the stain is fully cured and the surface is not shiny or sticky. If the shelves can be moved outdoors, we would encourage this to help with fresh air and proper ventilation. If not, we would open windows and have fans blowing to help with air circulation. If you have further questions about this process, you can reach out to the team at 800-901-0411. - Rust-Oleum Product Support 10

By|Aug 4, 2026

(1)

can this be rolled on or does it have to be brushed

ByJul 21, 2026

1 Answer |

Answer This Question

Happy to help, Daniel. We only recommend applying Rust-Oleum Varathane Ultimate Water-Based Polyurethane using a high quality synthetic bristle brush, foam brush, or applicator. We do not recommend using a roller as this can work bubbles into the coating that pop and leave tiny holes in the finish. -Rust-Oleum Product Support 14

By|Jul 22, 2026

Dries faster than 1 hour? If it drys fast, do I still need to wait two hours, per the directions?

ByJul 13, 2026

1 Answer |

Answer This Question

Happy to help, Keldore! For the best results, you will still need to wait at least 2 hours between coats of Rust-Oleum Varathane Water-Based Ultimate Polyurethane. This finish dries from the outside in, so this means that the topmost part will feel drier first, but the lower part will still be wetter for longer. - Rust-Oleum Product Support 3

By|Jul 14, 2026

Can the water based polyurethane be used on top of varathane oil based stain?

ByJul 10, 2026

1 Answer |

Answer This Question

We are happy to help! Yes, Rust-Oleum Varathane Water-Based Ultimate Polyurethane can be applied over oil-based wood stains. Make sure the stain has been allowed to fully dry before applying the polyurethane. - Rust-Oleum Product Support 10

By|Aug 3, 2026

(2)

Can this product be used for outdoor patio furniture

ByJul 5, 2026

1 Answer |

Answer This Question

Happy to clear things up, Keith! Rust-Oleum Varathane Water-Based Ultimate Polyurethane is suitable for interior surfaces only and will not offer the same durability and protection on exterior surfaces. Instead, we recommend Rust-Oleum Varathane Water-Based Spar Urethane for outdoor furniture. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Varathane-1-qt-Clear-Semi-Gloss-Water-Based-Outdoor-Spar-Urethane-250141H/100164669 - Rust-Oleum Product Support 3

By|Jul 9, 2026

Can I use this to seal in stickers on a coffee table

ByJul 1, 2026

1 Answer |

Answer This Question

We appreciate your interest, Krystal! Rust-Oleum Varathane Water-Based Ultimate Polyurethane is intended for use on wood surfaces. Depending on the sticker material, the polyurethane may not properly adhere, or it can reactivate the adhesive on the sticker. A test application would need to be done to ensure favorable results. - Rust-Oleum Product Support 3

By|Jul 1, 2026

Can rhis be used on wood floors

ByJun 29, 2026

1 Answer |

Answer This Question

Happy to clear things up, Brian. While Rust-Oleum Varathane Ultimate Water-Based Polyurethane provides a durable finish for wooden surfaces, it cannot be used on wood floors. The exposure to foot traffic will cause the robust coating to crack as the floor flexes. Instead, we recommend using Rust-Oleum Varathane Water-Based Floor Finish. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Varathane-1-gal-Clear-Satin-Water-Based-Floor-Polyurethane-2-Pack-230231/202057141 -Rust-Oleum Product Support 14

By|Jun 30, 2026

does thos product have UV protection? im looking to use it on a bare sanded pine dresser and want to maintain the raw color

ByJun 28, 2026

1 Answer |

Answer This Question

Happy to clear things up, Steph! Rust-Oleum Varathane Water-Based Ultimate Polyurethane does not contain UV inhibitors. This product is great for interior wood furniture. Please keep in mind, when using a polyurethane on bare wood, the surface may darken some, so a test application is recommended to ensure a favorable finish. - Rust-Oleum Product Support 3

By|Jun 29, 2026

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Customer Reviews

4.5 out of 5

4.5 out of 4,066 reviews
84% recommend this product

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Showing 1-10 of 4,066 reviews

Jul 20, 2026

Would not reccomend - Matte finish

Ruined a project a have spent 70+ hours prepping. I have a mid century walnut veneer dresser that had been painted by the previous owner and decided I wanted to try to restore it to its former glory. I did a ton of research and felt confident with the project. I spent days stripping the paint and carefully hand sanding my project all the way to the bare wood. I am an amputee as well so this is not at all an easy feat for me. Once the wood was bare I stained using Varathane Kona stain section by section, wiping after 5 minutes. I allowed the stain to dry a full 24 hours and thought I was finally on to the one easy step in this project. I chose the Varathane Matte finish water based polyurethane because water based seemed to be the easiest and quickest choice based on my research. I applied a single, ultra thin coat of this varnish and then waited about 4 hours to check if it was ready for a second coat. When I checked my piece suddenly had a greyish sheen and the texture felt waxy, it did not feel "hard" per the instructions on the can for a second coat. I decided to wait a full 24 hours and this varnish is a disaster. it looks like dried milk all over my dresser, and rubbing the surface causes it to roll and pill up. I am devastated because from the solutions I have looked up the only option is to now try to sand the project bare again and start over. days, hours, and $150 worth of supplies for this project were ruined by this finish. Beyond devastated and now scared of the finishing step because the allowed amount of sanding is so limited on veneer and I don't know if I can fix this without ruining it at this point.

This review is from 1 qt. Clear Matte Water-Based Interior Polyurethane

Thank you for reaching out, Caitlin. Before applying Rust-Oleum Varathane Ultimate Water-Based Polyurethane over any of our stains, it is essential that they are allowed to fully dry per the label instructions. It is important to keep in mind that darker colors can take longer, and factors like the weather and humidity can extend the listed times. All excess stain must also be removed, and the surface should not feel tacky at all after staining. Since the matte finish was used, the polyurethane will have more flattening agents, so it is key to thoroughly stir before use and often during application, as well as taking care to stir along the edges and bottom. We can understand how frustrating this can be and are here to help. Please give us a call at 800-901-0411 to talk with us further about your application. We hope you will give us a chance to try to make things right with you!
- Rust-Oleum Product Support 3 Rustoleum

Jun 24, 2026

I was very pleasantly surprised by this product. Honestly, I was looking to purchase Deft brand which I’d used previously quite successfully - but it was nowhere to be found locally. So I decided to try this and wow - I like it even more. I tried brushing it on with nice results…practically mirror smooth. But then I tried spraying it with an airless spray gun. That’s when I felt like a professional cabinet maker for the first time ever. The finish was also very hard and protective of the underlying soft wood, in my case, so that was another benefit. So…needless to say, I’ll be using this as my number one go-to going forward.

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Jun 17, 2026

Simple, very easy to use. Easy to apply and left the perfect matte finish after using two coats.

This review is from 1 qt. Clear Matte Water-Based Interior Polyurethane

Verified Purchase

Jun 3, 2026

This customer chose to rate the product and not provide text.

Verified Purchase

May 22, 2026

Did not dry clear

Used this on top of a white painted surface. We used two thin coats. It dried with a yellowish tinge and made the whole project look dingy. Have to start over. Not happy!

This review is from 1 qt. Clear Matte Water-Based Interior Polyurethane

We may be able to help! It sounds like you are experiencing tannin bleed, and this happens when a lighter, water-based paint is applied over some woods without an oil-based primer. This can happen a lot with oak, cedar, walnut, chestnut, and mahogany. While a clear polyurethane like Rust-Oleum Varathane Water-Based Ultimate Polyurethane will not cause this reaction, it can highlight this bleeding. To prevent any further bleed through, we do recommend priming over the polyurethane with an oil-based primer, such as Rust-Oleum Zinsser Bulls Eye Cover Stain, before repainting and finishing.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Zinsser-Cover-Stain-1-gal-White-Oil-Based-Interior-Exterior-Primer-and-Sealer-3501/100398377
- Rust-Oleum Product Support 3 Rustoleum

May 13, 2026

The water based polyurethane was recommended by one creative polymer clay artist. As she uses it for her exclusive earring designs. She recommended that the polymer clay earring be dipped completely into the water based polyurethane. It worked perfectly for me too!

This review is from 1 qt. Clear Gloss Water-Based Interior Polyurethane

Verified Purchase

1 found this review helpful

Feb 27, 2026

Great! I love the final finish it has

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Verified Purchase

Jan 17, 2026

Total garbage!

First time using this stuff. I needed an MDF work surface and I wanted to protect it with a finish. Did a bit of research. It was either shellac or polyurethane. Decided to go with Poly and bought this at HD. Well… Five coats and three days later, the stain you see is after water contact for less than a minute. This Varathane junk is probably water mixed with discarded coffee creamer. Total garbage.

This review is from 1 qt. Clear Matte Water-Based Interior Polyurethane

Storm, that is not the outcome we were expecting to hear! We'd love to talk further with you and get to the bottom of what did not work out for you. Please give us a call at 800-901-0411, and when calling in, have your can of Rust-Oleum Varathane Ultimate Water-Based Polyurethane close by. We hope you will give us a chance to try to make things right with you.
- Rust-Oleum Product Support 10 Rustoleum

1 found this review helpful

Jan 14, 2026

I’ve been using this for decades. It works well. Dries fast and clear.

This review is from 1 qt. Clear Gloss Water-Based Interior Polyurethane

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Verified Purchase

Dec 10, 2025

Easy to apply and clean up after. Coats smooth.

This review is from 1 qt. Clear Semi-Gloss Water-Based Interior Polyurethane

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1 found this review helpful

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Compare Key Features

Product Snapshot
current item Varathane1 qt. Clear Satin Water-Based Interior Polyurethane (4.5 / 4064) $24.98	Varathane1 qt. Clear Gloss Water-Based Interior Polyurethane (4.5 / 4020) $24.98	Varathane1 Quart Clear Gloss Water-Based Interior Shellac, Lacquer & Polyurethane (2-Pack) (4.5 / 4020) $47.94 /case
Ideal for interior wood projects, this water-based polyurethane offers a satin sheen, scratch and stain resistance, and easy soap & water cleanup.	Ideal for interior wood projects, this polyurethane offers superior scratch and stain resistance with a crystal-clear, gloss finish.	Ideal for interior wood projects, this polyurethane offers a gloss sheen, scratch and stain resistance, and low odor.
Formulation
Water-based	Water-based	Water-based
Sheen Levels
Satin	Gloss	Gloss
Drying Time
Dries to touch in 2 hours	Dries to touch in 2 hours	Dries to touch in 2 hours
Coverage Area
125 sq ft	125 sq ft	125 sq ft
Scratch Resistance

Stain Protection

Self-Leveling

UV Protection

Non-Yellowing

Eco-Friendly