Matt or gloss floor varnish: choosing the sheen

Øens HåndværkerCentralPublished 3 August 2026 · 10 min. read

Choose gloss level based on light and wear, not taste alone. Matt floor lacquer is around gloss 8 and hides scratches, dust, and footprints best, while high-gloss lacquer around gloss 70 highlights the wood's structure and shows everything. Satin with gloss 25-30 is in between, and the wear resistance is the same for all three levels, as the gloss is only due to a matting agent in the lacquer.

• 175 kr/m2Including VAT and a standard finish, from 36 m2
• 24 hoursResponse with fixed price
• Workmanship guaranteeOn all work performed

The short overview

• Gloss changes the appearance, not the durability. Wear resistance is determined by the lacquer type and number of coats, and EFApaint recommends 3 coats of Faxe GOlak for optimal wear resistance regardless of gloss level.
• Matt lacquer (gloss 8) is the safe choice in rooms with large windows and heavy foot traffic.
• Satin (gloss 25-30) provides a soft sheen similar to an oiled floor, but with the lacquer's easy-to-clean surface.
• White matt lacquer is pigmented and permanently lightens the floor. It can only be removed by full floor sanding.
• Standard floor sanding costs 175 kr per m2 including VAT from 36 m2, including a standard finish. Choosing a different standard lacquer sheen does not change the base rate.

What does the gloss level of a floor lacquer mean?

The gloss level indicates how much light the surface reflects. Matt floor lacquer is typically around gloss 8, satin around 25-30, and high-gloss around 70. The gloss value itself is measured according to the standard DS/EN ISO 2813:2014, which describes the determination of gloss at 20, 60, and 85-degree angles.

The manufacturers' own figures make the difference concrete. Faxe GOlak is available in gloss 8, gloss 25-30, and gloss 70 according to EFApaint's product data for Faxe GOlak, while Dyrup Floor Lacquer Clear 40 is a water-based semi-matt floor lacquer with gloss 40.

If you want to see the entire process from sanding to the finished coat, you can read more about the lacquering of wooden floors.

Is matt lacquer less durable than high-gloss lacquer?

No. Matt and high-gloss lacquer in the same product line have the same wear resistance, because the only difference is a matting agent that diffuses light on the surface. Durability is determined by the lacquer type and the number of coats. EFApaint recommends 3 coats of Faxe GOlak for optimal wear resistance and states that the high-gloss variant can advantageously be given 4 coats.

Træinformation has an independent industry guide, TRÆfakta 07 on lacquering wooden floors, which specifically deals with lacquering, drying times, and re-lacquering as the factors that control the result. At Øens HåndværkerCentral, we estimate that a lacquered floor lasts about 10 years before it needs to be sanded again. If you skip a coat to save time, you shorten that lifespan, regardless of whether the floor is matt or high-gloss.

What hides scratches, dust, and footprints best?

Matt lacquer clearly hides the most. A surface around gloss 8 diffuses light, so scratches do not break a uniform reflection. A high-gloss surface around gloss 70 acts as a faint mirror and shows every scratch, every footprint, and every layer of dust. This is pure optics, not a matter of quality.

Standard DS/EN ISO 2813:2014 precisely reflects this difference: a 60-degree angle is used for most paint films, while very glossy surfaces are measured at 20 degrees and almost matt surfaces at 85 degrees, because otherwise the reflection cannot be precisely distinguished. The same optics are the reason why a matt floor looks good for longer.

If you live in an apartment with floor-to-ceiling windows, the afternoon light hits the floor at a very low angle, and precisely that low angle is harshest on high-gloss lacquer. Regardless of the gloss level, the right routine extends the lifespan, and you can find it in the guide to maintaining a newly sanded wooden floor.

When is satin lacquer the right choice?

Satin lacquer with gloss 25-30 is the level we most often apply in private homes. It provides a soft sheen reminiscent of an oiled floor, but with the lacquer's easy-to-clean surface and typically about 10 years of lifespan before new sanding. Faxe GOlak satin is precisely at gloss 25-30 according to EFApaint's product data.

Satin is also the most forgiving choice in practice: it is light enough to give the room depth, and matt enough that small signs of wear disappear on the surface. In a kitchen-dining area with daily traffic, this means the floor looks newly sanded for more years than a high-gloss floor in the same room.

What is white matt lacquer and when does it make sense?

White matt lacquer is a pigmented floor lacquer that permanently lightens the wood and simultaneously applies a matt, durable surface. It is typically used on pine, spruce, and light oak, where many desire the light Nordic look without the yellowish tint that clear lacquer gives over time.

Two things are worth knowing before choosing white lacquer. Firstly, the pigment must be applied to clean, newly sanded wood in a smooth process: if the roller stops in the middle of a board, the overlap is clearly visible because the pigment covers. Secondly, white lacquer cannot be spot-repaired. If you want to return to natural wood, it requires full sanding through the entire pigmented layer.

Solid wood floors, in our experience, tolerate 4-6 full sandings in their lifetime, while engineered parquet tolerates fewer, depending on the thickness of the wear layer. If you are unsure how much wood your floor has left, Træinformation's industry guide TRÆfakta 10 on sanding wooden floors describes the limits, and our guide to sanding parquet floors explains what is possible with an engineered wooden floor.

Matt lacquer or oil for a natural floor?

Choose matt lacquer for a protective film with relatively little maintenance, or oil if you want to maintain and repair worn areas locally. A lacquered floor may last around 10 years before resanding, depending on use. Oil penetrates the wood and typically needs reapplication every 1 to 2 years.

Drying time also distinguishes them. Oil is typically ready for light use after about a day, while lacquer needs to dry for 1-3 days depending on the number of coats. EFApaint states that Faxe GOlak can be overcoated after 4-6 hours at 20 degrees. Wait with carpets and heavy furniture until the lacquer is fully cured, not just dry to the touch.

What does sanding and lacquering cost per m2?

The standard floor sanding rate is 175 kr per m2 including VAT from 36 m2, including a standard finish. The base price does not change between standard matt and gloss lacquer. We assess the floor, access and any additional work before confirming the quotation.

Standard sanding with a standard finish costs 175 kr per m2 including VAT from 36 m2, with the same base rate for standard lacquer and oil. A light surface refresh requires an individual assessment and quotation. See more in our guide to what floor sanding costs.

You receive a fixed price before work begins, a response within 24 hours, and a workmanship guarantee on the job. Call 20 98 88 11 or write to us about your floor, and you will get a concrete figure for your specific area and desired gloss.

Can you switch from high-gloss to matt without full sanding?

If the lacquer is still intact, a light keying followed by one or two new coats may be suitable. If the finish has worn through to the wood, fuller sanding may be needed. A light refresh of a 45 m2 parquet floor is assessed and quoted individually; it does not have a published fixed price in this guide.

If, on the other hand, the lacquer is worn through to the bare wood in high-traffic areas or in front of the kitchen counter, an over-lacquering will not hold. In that case, the floor needs to be sanded down, otherwise the worn areas will show through the new lacquer. The difference between the three levels is described in the guide on light sanding, full sanding, or planing.

Frequently asked questions about matt and high-gloss floor lacquer

Frequently asked questions

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Øens HåndværkerCentral

We sand and surface-treat floors, stairs, balconies, wooden terraces, and worktops - based in Aarhus Ø and with jobs nationwide. You get a fixed price before work begins and a workmanship guarantee on the work performed.

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