Best Car Wax? Top 10 Revealed

A car wax can transform your old man’s trusty pickup truck into a sexy, muscle truck fresh from the country hall’s showroom.

It is important to invest in a car wax, and not just run-of-the-mill pastes you use on your brass plates. It should be the best car wax your money can buy if you want to benefit from superior results.

How We Reviewed

The best car wax options on our list were chosen based on the following criteria: features, pros and cons, and price.

Overall Price Range

The best car wax doesn’t always mean the most expensive one. However, premium brands often sell higher than other brands. The car wax brands on our list ranges from $10 to $55. The prices are always subject to change, but we put on the average selling retail price.

If you are lucky, you can get discounts during a sale. The products on our list are all available on Amazon.

What We Reviewed

Here’s a rundown of the best car wax we highly recommend:

• Meguiar’s G18216 Ultimate Liquid Wax
• Chemical Guys WAC_201_16 Butter Wet Wax
• Aero Cosmetics Wet or Waterless Car Wash Wax Kit 144 Ounces
• P21S 12700W Carnauba Wax
• CarGuys Liquid Wax – The Ultimate Car Wax Shine with Polymer Paint Sealant Protection!
• Meguiar’s Gold Class Carnauba Plus Premium Paste Wax
• Meguiar’s Deep Crystal Carnauba Wax
• Collinite 845 Insulator Wax
• Optimum (SW2008P) Car Wax
• Griot’s Garage 10962 Spray-On Wax

Meguiar’s G18216 Ultimate Liquid Wax

Features

Topping our list of the best car wax is the offering from Meguiar, one of the most popular brands among car owners and detailers. It comes in a liquid form, which maximizes its applicability.

G18216 boasts what Meguiar calls ThinFilm which allows it to be applied evenly and thinly. It also contains Meguiar’s proprietary Hydrophobic Polymer technology, which gives your car’s surface water-beading and light-amplifying properties.

It also protects your car from harsh elements like rain and UV rays and enhances your car’s color. Apply a small amount and turn your old hatchback into a shiny and sexy beast!

Price

You can get a bottle of this miracle liquid for around $15.

Chemical Guys WAC_201_16 Butter Wet Wax

Features

If you want to give your ride a shiny wet sheen, then the Chemical Guys are your go-to guys. Their WAC_201_16 Butter Wet Wax is one of the best premium grade carnauba-based wax option on the market.

Carnauba wax is considered the king of wax. It is 100% natural and organic. Using Chemical Guys formulation is ideal as this miracle palm product can be applied quickly and easily. You can use a piece of cloth with your hand or a motorized buffer for a more thorough application.

The Butter Wet Wax’s formulation embeds the carnauba deep into your car’s paint, giving it an extra layer of protection from UV rays, dust, water stains, dirt, and even bird droppings. Best of all, it brings out the deep color and mirror sheen of your paint job.

Price

A bottle costs around $15.

Aero Cosmetics Wet or Waterless Car Wash Wax Kit 144 Ounces

Features

If a car wax is good enough to be used for commercial and military aircraft, then it is guaranteed to give your car that showroom finish. This is the selling point of Aero Cosmetics Car Wash Wax Kit.

The solution is made from biodegradable water and plant-based formulations that meet the standards of the aircraft manufacturers. The Aero Cosmetics cleans your car and leaves a non-sticky UV coat on there at the same time.

Another bonus is that you can use this solution on both wet and dry surfaces! It can be used as a waterless spray cleaner or as post-wash wax.

Price

A gallon bundle costs around $35.

P21S 12700W Carnauba Wax

Features

For the environmentally conscious car owner, nothing beats the qualities of the king of wax: the carnauba wax. The P21S offers the deep shine and protection of carnauba with its 12700W wax. This formulation also contains beeswax, another miracle organic product.

The P21S 12700W is non-powdering so no worries about residues on your paintwork. It also does not leave any stains or wet spots. What it leaves though is long-lasting luster that brings out the deepest colors of your car’s paint.

Price

A 6.2-ounce tub costs around $35.

CarGuys Liquid Wax

Features

The thing with car waxing and detailing is that some products need regular applications each year. Not with CarGuys Liquid Wax. They claim you only meed to apply their product one or two times a year. This is good news for people who don’t like to wax their cars often.

Developed with CarGuys very own nano-technology, each formulation is designed to go deep into your paintwork and last for a long time. The liquid form makes it easy to apply in multiple ways. Just apply a little amount and your car will look as good as new!

Price

An 8-ounce bottle costs around $25.

Meguiar’s Gold Class Carnauba Plus Premium Paste Wax

Features

If you are a fan of Meguiar and don’t like their synthetic wax formulas, there’s an organic alternative. The Gold Class Carnauba Plus is a premium-grade carnauba in paste form. This wax goes deep into your paint’s surface to bring out the color and shine of your car.

Carnauba wax is naturally hydrophobic, so your car gets extra protection from water stains and harmful UV rays. Despite its paste form, this wax is easy to apply and buff.

Price

An 11-ounce tub can cost around $15 to $20.

Meguiar’s Deep Crystal Carnauba Wax

Features

The Deep Crystal is Meguiar’s liquid version of the Gold Class Carnauba wax. Like its paste cousin, the Deep Crystal is made of the same high-grade carnauba wax sourced from the best Brazilian palms.

Carnauba wax is proven to be a natural coat for exterior finishes. It provides a natural barrier that protects from sun, dirt, dust, oil, and water stains. It also enhances a surface’s natural color and gives it a deep shine.

Meguiar’s liquid formula makes the wax easier to apply. You can apply the solution on a microfiber towel and apply with your hand, or use a motorized buffer for a more consistent and deep application. Meguiar’s formula is proven to be human-safe, non-corrosive and non-toxic.

Price

A 16-ounce bottle can be purchased for around $10.

Collinite 845 Insulator Wax

Features

If you care about a brand’s credibility, then the century-old status of Collinite may be enough for you. This brand has been protecting and polishing since 1912. This decades-old formulation has been used not only on consumer appliances and machines but also in industrial-grade machineries and equipment in the military, aeronautics, construction, and automotive industries.

The 845 is the cream of the crop, the company’s crown jewel of waxes. Its main selling point is its insulation property. It is designed specifically to protect against fires, electric damage, high-voltage failure, and accidental explosions.

That it can withstand these extreme conditions means protecting your car is a breeze. Apply this on your ride and rest assured that you’ll get the best protective coat you can ever wish for. Plus, it gives off a high-gloss shine and water-beading qualities.

Price

You can buy a 16-ounce bottle for around $15.

Optimum (SW2008P) Car Wax

Features

Car detailing doesn’t always apply to your car’s paint job. It also covers other parts like chrome accents, metal decors, windshield, etc. If you are looking for a flexible wax that can be used on any surface, then Optimum lives up to its name.

The SW2008P Car Wax can be applied on any exterior material like glass, metal, paint, chrome, plastic, and rubberized surfaces. Because it comes in a spray-on liquid solution, it is easy to pour, apply and finish.

Although synthetic, it contains no corrosive or toxic chemicals or vapors (safe both for you and your surfaces). Best of all, it dries easily and stays on for as long as five months.

Price

You can buy one bottle for as low as $15.

Griot’s Garage 10962 Spray-On Wax

Features

If you are looking for the best car wax for budget-conscious people then your inexpensive option is Griot’s Garage Spray-on Wax. It has a carnauba base that comes in spray-on liquid form, which means it is easy to pour and apply.

It dries easily and can be used on any surface. It can also be used on existing wax coats. Because it contains carnauba, your car’s paint job will enjoy an extra level of protection from UV rays, dirt and water stains.

Carnauba wax is also the best in bringing out a showroom shine in your car; the color’s depth will come out and the gloss finish will shine through.

Price

A 22-ounce bottle can cost around $10.

FAQs

Before we dive deep into the best car wax brands in the market, here’s some FAQs we answered for you.

 1. What Is a Car Wax?

Car wax is any natural or synthetic formulation insoluble in water but soluble in fats or oil (lipophilic) and other solvents. Chemically, its main component is hydrocarbon. Like most wax products, car wax is sourced from plants (e.g. carnauba), animals (e.g. honeybees), petroleum, or silicone (e.g. synthetic).

2. What Does Car Wax Do?

Car wax performs many functions. First off, it brings out the color and shine of your car’s paint job. By applying a thin layer and buffing it, your car gets a glossy, wet shine finish. 

Wax also forms a reflective barrier that bounces off light, so even your oldest hatchback can have that showroom finish. Second, it adds a beautiful finish to your car’s other parts such as chrome linings, metal accents, plastic surfaces, wood decors, glass finishes, ceramic touches, and even rubber parts.

In addition, because wax is naturally insoluble in water, it repels water easily. Thus it protects your car from water stains (by forming water beads that roll off) and moisture. Heavy rain won’t do much damage to your freshly waxed sedan.

Also, wax forms a thin film of protective barrier that repels other contaminants such as dirt, dust, grease, soil, and even bird droppings. Speaking of protection, most modern car wax formulations offer UV protection.

So even if you’re living in sunny Florida, you can drive your coupe without worrying about sun damaging your car (don’t forget your own sunscreen, though). Last, a wax also has sealing properties. Because of its water repelling quality, water cannot seep into your waxed surfaces. Thus, it provides a protective seal that protects against water damage like rot or corrosion

3. Do You Really Need Car Wax?

If you really love your car, yes you need the best car wax your budget can afford.

4. What Are the Benefits of Car Wax?

The best car wax offers the following benefits: water sealing, deep colors, mirror shine, and protection from the sun, dirt and other elements.

5. What Are the Alternatives for Car Wax?

Commercially, wax base is the most popular among car detailers and owners. But if you want an alternative, there are polishes and finishes based on different ingredients. The most common is silicone-based polishes, but they are often abrasive and hazardous to your health.

You can also consider DIY car polish like using baking soda or toothpaste but we don’t really recommend it; not when the car wax on the market today is very affordable. 

6. What Should You Look for When Buying the Best Car Wax?

Here are the qualities you should look for when buying car wax: base material (is it natural or synthetic?); form factor (paste or liquid spray?); ease of application (spray? cloth? buffing machine?); chemical ingredients (hazardous? corrosive? non-toxic?); UV protection; durability (fit as primary finish? needs regular reapplication?); and price.

Read also: 12 Car Essentials That You Should Always Have with You

The Verdict

The best car wax for you all boils down to your personal preferences. Do you like to use plant-based material? Then go for carnauba-based waxes. Otherwise, go for synthetic ones.So you chose carnauba. Do you prefer it in paste or liquid form? Pastes are much more concentrated thus economical to use. On the other hand, liquid waxes are easier to use but can run out quickly.Always remember: some waxes may require other finishes, so it is best to check each product carefully before buying.