Difference Between Lacquer vs Varnish

There are a few basic differences between lacquer and varnish to be aware of:

Varnish is made up of a resin that is kept in liquid form by the addition of thinners. It also contains a drying oil that will help it dry when it is spread on the surface where it will be used.
Lacquer, on the other hand, is made up of solvents that have dissolved nitrocellulose in them.

Other differences between lacquer and varnish have to do with their color and appearance:

In general, varnish is always clear, while lacquers may have tints or other coloration included along with them.
The ability to tint lacquer is one reason why people opt to use lacquer.
Both products produce a hard, glossy surface that is resistant to weather, dirt, and grime and is easy to wipe clean.

No discussion of what the differences are between lacquer and varnish would be complete without considering how the finishing coat is applied:

The major application difference between lacquer and varnish is that varnish is usually brushed on by hand.
Varnish has to be applied by hand because of the thickness and nature of the chemical compounds that make it up,
Lacquer, on the other hand, is thinner by nature and can also be thinned chemically. As such, it is usually sprayed on as a top coat.
Lacquer will also dry much more rapidly than varnish, so several coats of lacquer can often be applied in the time it takes to set one coat of varnish on a similar surface and under similar environmental conditions.
Both types of materials are very flammable and care must be used with the application method and usage to ensure that no fire hazard exists.
In some cases, the chemicals in either lacquer or varnish can cause an exothermic reaction, meaning that as they dry, they can produce heat. This can cause rags or other disposed cleaning products to potentially spontaneously combust.
It is always good practice to dispose of any rags used with varnish or lacquer by soaking them in water or storing them in a bucket of water with a lid over top to prevent combustion.

Durability

Some final differences between lacquer vs varnish deal with durability:

Varnish is often not as durable as lacquer in the long run because lacquer contains plastic compounds that will lead to better long term surface protection.
Varnish is often used on indoor furniture for this reason, although certain types of varnish, such as marine spar varnish, are especially designed for outside surfaces subjected to severe weather conditions.
Lacquer will generally be used for outdoor surfaces, although both compounds are intended for use on wood and can be used interchangeably as long as the manufacturer’s recommended application and usage instructions are followed by the person applying the varnish or lacquer.

So, now you know what the differences between varnish vs lacquer and when each is used.