Objective In order to promote the stealth performance of the low-emissivity infrared stealth coatings, the preparation process of water-based infrared stealth coatings was optimized. Methods Infrared emissivity measurement instrument, infrared spectrum analyzer and so on were used in this paper to study the effects of the curing temperature, surface roughness and coating thickness on the stealth performance of the low-emissivity infrared stealth coatings. Results Curing temperature had little effect on the emissivity of coatings and IR absorption spectrum of matrix resin, but the coating curing time obviously shortened with increasing curing temperature. The infrared emissivity increased with the increase of surface roughness. The test angle had larger influence on the infrared emissivity of materials with smooth surface than that of materials with rough surface. Coatings with different coating thickness were perpetrated on substrate, the infrared emissivity was obviously affected by the infrared emissivity of the substrate surface when the coating thickness was below 30 μm, but the influence was relatively small when the coating thickness was above 30 μm. Conclusion Proper curing temperature could be chosen according to the actual need of time. The process of blade coating should be chosen to keep a certain surface roughness. The coating thickness should be between 30 μm and 40 μm.