An aqueous acidic plating bath for the electrodeposition of a bright zinc deposit on a substrate is disclosed and comprises zinc ions, ammonium ions and at least one aromatic sulfonic acid or salt having the general formula ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.3 are each independently hydrogen or lower alkyl groups,X is hydrogen, ammonia or any metal with the proviso that the metal sulfonate is soluble in the bath, andA is a saturated, unsaturated or aromatic ring.Additionally, the plating baths of the invention may contain aromatic carbonyl-containing compounds and particularly aromatic aldehydes containing at least one halogen substituent. Polyoxyalkylated naphthols and polyalkylene glycol ethers as well as poly(alkyleneimines) also are contemplated as being useful in the plating baths of the invention. Methods for depositing a bright zinc coating over a wide range of current densities, and additive compositions for preparing plating baths useful in these methods also are described.