It’s no secret that cars and trucks look better when they’re buffed and polished. Getting that sleek sheen on your vehicle’s exterior is everything when it comes to presentation, and a high-quality buffing compound rids your vehicle of scratches and minor flaws. It gives your ride a smooth, enviable appearance and can even help your fuel efficiency. Of course, to get the desired results, you need a buffing compound that works. You want something gentle yet effective that will leave your vehicle with a shine that holds up against dust, debris, and weather. Ideally, the buffer should last for multiple uses and store well. To help you find the best buffing compounds available, we’ve compiled a list of the top selections.
Best Overall
Chemical Guys Polish And Compound Kit
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Best Value
TriNova Clear Coat Care
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Best Efficient
3D One Auto Detailing and Buffing Solution
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Best for Deep Scratches
Malco Tru Grit Heavy Duty Buffing and Polishing Compound
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Best for Finishing
Carfidant Scratch and Swirl Remover
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How We Selected The Products
In order to choose the buffing compounds we’ve highlighted here, we sorted through, considered, and compared hundreds of options available online. With some many different buffing compounds, hybrid buffing and polishing formulas, and even multi-step detailing products available to choose from, we started our search for the best options by looking for those that make the tough work of buffing both easy and effective. In order to make our list, the manufacturer needed to have a track record of success, too, and be a name we recognize from the many days we’ve spent polishing our cars.
Additionally, we also selected buffing compounds and solutions that could tackle multiple problems at once. These products needed to be able to handle light scratches, swirls, and a loss of original exterior luster. Each one of our top picks is able to restore a car’s exterior, and we made sure they can be used on more than just one color of exterior paint.
Our product selections, rankings, and awards for this story are based on research. While we haven’t conducted real-world testing yet on all of these products yet, we’ve looked at consumer testimonials and data, tutorials, and general discussions on social media and in forums. We also consider price and specification in the context of the segment. And, of course, we rely on our institutional knowledge of the automotive landscape to weed out weak products.
Buying Guide/What to Look For
Buffing and Polishing Power
The best buffing compounds are often those that include both buffing and polishing power. These hybrid, two-in-one (or sometimes even four-in-one) solutions are able to buff out light scratches, oxidation, and handle swirls and other imperfections all in the same single application. This will save you time and effort if multiple applications of the compound are needed, you’ll just repeat the same simple steps until your flaws are fixed.
Additionally, if your buffing compound also includes polishing compound, you’ll save yourself some extra work. You can tackle both aspects of detailing work at once, and you’ll achieve a glossy finish without needing to purchase separate products.
Safe for All Paint Colors
It’s common for many buffing compounds to work only on certain colors of cars, or just light or dark paint colors. However, many of the best options can actually work on any exterior paint color. You just have to find the right product with quality results on everything from white to red to black car paint. Check the product descriptions, and take a close look at real users’ reviews to assess how well different buffing compounds work on a variety of different paint colors. While you can trust a product’s description, it’s always important to see it in action — even if you purchase a product and need to test it in a small area yourself — before you apply it liberally and potentially wind up with less-than-ideal results.
Safe for Clear Coats
Lastly, you need to make sure the buffing compound you choose is safe for auto clear coats. Too often, low-quality or ineffective buffing products can wind up leaving your car’s clear coat looking worse for the wear. Some products and formulas might even cause damage, leaving behind a hazy gloss-stripping final result or actually removing some of the clear coat. Only choose products that are clear coat safe or those include sealant that can enhance or offer extra protection.
FAQs
Q: What is a buffing compound?
Buffing compounds are designed to buff away imperfections, flaws, and small damage on the exterior of your vehicle. These products, which can be solid or liquid in their formulas, gently buff out light scratches, eliminate rust and spots of oxidation, and get rid of unsightly swirls.
Q: Is rubbing compound the same as buffing compound?
Buffing compound and rubbing compound are similar, but a little different. While both of these products will buff (or rub) out flaws and scratches, rubbing compounds tend to be more abrasive and harsh. If you use a rubbing compound on your car’s exterior, it can actually scratch away your paint. Buffing compounds are best for light exterior flaws, while rubbing compounds are designed for deeper scratches and more serious body work.
Q: Is buffing compound necessary?
Scratches, a loss of luster, and even rust are all part of owning a car. Over miles of driving and years of wear, your car is going to develop some exterior flaws that you don’t like looking at. If you’d like to keep your car’s paint looking perfect, a buffing compound is a must-have in your tool kit. It should be part of your regular in-depth detailing process. However, you should only use this kind of compound when it’s needed — you don’t want to buff your entire exterior every time you detail your car.
Why Trust Us
The Drive seeks to be the internet’s premier destination for news, features, reviews and guides about modern automotive culture.
Founded as the /DRIVE YouTube channel before growing into a full-fledged online publication in 2015, The Drive brings you the best of what’s new in the world of speed, from gear reviews to the latest industry coverage—all from a veteran team of writers and editors with many decades of combined hands-on experience. Our reviews are driven by a combination of hands-on testing, expert input, “wisdom of the crowd” assessments from actual buyers, and our own expertise. We always aim to offer genuine, accurate guides to help you find the best picks.