To provide a water-based coating composition forming a coating film resistant to the adhesion of stain and having easy cleanability of attached stain by a single application and forming a coating film having a thickness to get a design different from the characteristic design of the substrate attained by using a colored pigment, etc., by a single application.

The water-based coating composition at least contains (a) an acrylic resin emulsion, (b) silica particles, (c) water and (d) a pigment. The average particle diameter dispersed in the component (a) is ≥140 nm, the average particle diameter of the component (b) is ≤50 nm, and the ratio of the component (b) is 10-70 wt.% based on the total solid component.