Is Benjamin Moore Paint Better Than Sherwin Williams? Essential Showdown
Both Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams are top-tier paint brands offering excellent quality. The “better” choice depends on your specific needs, such as required sheen, color matching accuracy, local store accessibility, and budget. For interior DIYers, Benjamin Moore often wins on premium feel, while Sherwin-Williams provides wider contractor access and frequent sales.
Choosing paint can feel like a huge first step in any home project. You want your hard work to last, look fantastic, and not break your budget. Two names always come up: Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams. Both are giants in the paint world, and folks often ask me, “Which one should I grab?” It’s frustrating because both promise great results! Don’t worry. As someone who spends a lot of time finishing wood and painting walls, I’ll break down exactly where each brand shines. We will look at coverage, durability, cost, and ease of use so you can confidently pick the right can for your next weekend job.
Understanding Why This Choice Matters (It’s More Than Just Color)
When you buy paint, you are not just buying a color. You are buying chemistry. Good paint hides imperfections better, lasts longer against scrubbing, and applies smoothly without frustrating drips or streaks. For a DIY beginner, a good quality paint is actually easier to use because it levels out nicely. A lower-quality paint might need three coats where a premium one only needs two. That extra labor adds up!
We are going to compare these two giants across the most important categories for the everyday homeowner.
The Head-to-Head Comparison: Benjamin Moore vs. Sherwin-Williams
Deciding between these two often comes down to what you value most in a paint job. Let’s look at the most popular lines these companies offer for interior walls, which is where most DIYers start their painting journey.
Coverage and Hide: Getting That Smooth Finish
Coverage refers to how well the paint covers the old color in one or two coats. This is crucial for saving time and paint.
Benjamin Moore’s Top Performers
Benjamin Moore is famous for its flagship line, Aura. Homeowners consistently praise Aura for its incredible “one-coat coverage,” especially when painting a light color over a medium or dark one. This is due to their high pigment concentration.
Aura: Exceptional coverage, rich color depth.
Regal Select: A fantastic mid-to-high tier option, known for being extremely durable and having great coverage, often considered the workhorse for serious DIYers.
Sherwin-Williams’ Top Performers
Sherwin-Williams offers the very popular Duration Home and the ultra-premium Emerald line. They have also significantly improved their formulas over the years.
Emerald: Their premium line aims for the same ultra-low-VOC and high-hide capabilities as Aura. It’s known for being highly scrubbable once cured.
Duration Home: A great balance of price and performance, often used by professionals for reliable results.
If pure, effortless hide is your absolute top priority and budget is secondary, Benjamin Moore’s Aura often edges out the competition slightly in user reviews for that first-coat magic.
Durability and Washability: Standing Up to Real Life
If you have kids, pets, or a busy kitchen, you need paint that can handle a scrubbing brush. Durability is a major factor that separates premium paints from budget options.
When paint dries, it cures, meaning the binder hardens. Better binders create a tougher shell. Both brands offer excellent durability in their top lines, but they emphasize it differently.
Durability Focus
Benjamin Moore (Aura/Scuff-X): Benjamin Moore’s Aura Matte and Eggshell finishes are surprisingly durable. They market their Scuff-X line specifically to commercial spaces for extreme resistance to scuffs and marks—a great feature for high-traffic hallways.
Sherwin-Williams (Emerald/Duration): Sherwin-Williams heavily promotes the washability of their Emerald line. Many users find the finish feels slightly harder or more resistant to surface marring right out of the can compared to other mid-range paints.
Comparative Durability Table
| Feature | Benjamin Moore (Top Tier) | Sherwin-Williams (Top Tier) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Line | Aura / Scuff-X | Emerald | |
| Scrub Resistance | Excellent; Scuff-X is industry-leading for abrasion. | Excellent; very smooth and easily wipes clean. | High traffic areas. |
| Sheen Development | Rich, deep, matte finishes that hide imperfections well. | High build; dries to a very consistent, solid finish. | Walls needing camouflage for minor surface issues. |
| Cure Time Note | Allow 2–4 weeks for full hardness/washability. | Allow 2–4 weeks for full hardness/washability. | All high-quality paints need time to fully cure. |
Color Accuracy and Selection: Finding Your Perfect Shade
This is where many DIYers get stuck—the color! Both companies have thousands of colors, but their approaches to color matching and creating new hues differ slightly.
Benjamin Moore’s Color Library
Benjamin Moore has a huge following specifically for its curated color palette. Many designers adore their historic colors and subtle neutrals.
Color System: They are renowned for their ability to produce very specific, hard-to-replicate colors with great accuracy, especially in their lower-VOC, premium lines.
Popular Colors: Historic Collection colors (like Hale Navy or White Dove) are famously consistent across batches.
Sherwin-Williams’ Color Library
Sherwin-Williams excels in sheer volume and accessibility of color. They also have very popular designer collaborations.
Color System: SW colors are widely used and often seen in home décor magazines, giving them a very recognizable, trend-forward feel (think Agreeable Gray or Alabaster).
Accessibility: Because Sherwin-Williams has more stores, it can sometimes be easier to get custom tints made or to grab a quick quart of a specific color when you realize you need just a little more.
The Beginner’s Toolkit: Ease of Application
As a DIY guide, I believe the paint that helps you look like a pro, even on your first try, is the winner. Ease of application often means good “flow and leveling.” This is the paint’s ability to smooth itself out after you roll or brush it, minimizing streaks and roller marks.
Brushing and Rolling Experience
1. Benjamin Moore: Many users report that Benjamin Moore paints feel “thicker” or “creamier” off the brush. This often translates to superior one-coat coverage but sometimes requires a bit more physical effort when rolling out large areas. The self-leveling properties are generally excellent.
2. Sherwin-Williams: SW paints often feel slightly thinner but spread very easily. They cover well, but sometimes beginners might notice slight roller texture if they don’t use a high-quality roller cover and proper technique.
Drying Time and Recoat Window
Drying time affects how quickly you can get that second coat on—crucial for getting your room done in one weekend!
Benjamin Moore: Generally, their top lines have a standard recoat time of about 4 hours.
Sherwin-Williams: Similar, usually 4–6 hours for their premium interior lines.
Always check the specific can, but generally, you should plan for a full day before applying the second coat of any high-quality interior latex paint.
The Practical Side: Price, Availability, and Sales
Let’s talk dollars and sense. For most DIY projects, the paint price per gallon can range from $50 to over $80.
Cost Comparison Table (Approximate Retail Per Gallon)
| Product Line | Benjamin Moore (Approx. Price Range) | Sherwin-Williams (Approx. Price Range) | Notes for Beginners |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Value DIY | Regal Select | Duration Home | Both are great; wait for sales. |
| Premium/Luxury | Aura | Emerald | Expect to pay 20–30% more than the value lines. |
| Sale Impact | Sales are less frequent; usually 10–15% off. | Frequent, deep sales (e.g., 30–40% off “Buy One Get One Free” styles). | Sherwin-Williams sales can drastically lower the final cost. |
Accessibility and Buying Experience
This is a huge practical difference!
Benjamin Moore: Sold through independent, authorized dealers. These dealers are often very knowledgeable about paint chemistry and color theory, offering personalized advice. However, there are fewer locations overall, and they rarely have deep, store-wide sales.
Sherwin-Williams: Sold in their own branded stores (thousands nationwide) and also available at big box retailers like Lowe’s. This ubiquity means you can often grab a last-minute quart or have a quick question answered easily. Their heavy use of sales makes them often more budget-friendly when purchasing large quantities.
If you are deep into a project and run out of paint mid-day, finding a Sherwin-Williams store open late is usually easier than finding a specialized Benjamin Moore dealer.
Exterior Paint Showdown: Which Stands Up to the Weather?
Exterior paint needs to handle UV rays, rain, temperature swings, and mildew. Both brands are excellent here, too, but they have different flagship lines designed for the elements.
Benjamin Moore Exterior Leaders
Aura Exterior: Known for its excellent color retention, meaning it resists chalking (the white powdery residue) and fading better than most. It handles extreme temperatures well without cracking.
Regal Select Exterior: A very popular choice for siding, offering great adhesion to wood and previously painted surfaces.
Sherwin-Williams Exterior Leaders
Duration Exterior: Similar to its interior counterpart, this is designed for long-term durability and excellent adhesion, even on less-than-perfect prep surfaces.
Emerald Rain Refresh (Exterior): An innovative coating that uses rainwater to help wash away dirt and mildew, reducing maintenance over time.
For extreme sun exposure and fading concerns, Benjamin Moore’s high-end offerings often get the nod for color lock. However, Sherwin-Williams’ ability to adhere strongly to many different substrates (like vinyl or aluminum siding) makes it a reliable choice for exterior siding projects.
Focusing on Specific Finishes and Sheens
The finish you choose (flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss) affects both durability and how the light hits the wall.
The “Matte” Debate
Many homeowners today want a very flat or matte finish for modern aesthetics, but traditional flat paints are notorious for being impossible to clean without shining up the area.
Benjamin Moore Aura Matte: This finish is often cited as the industry standard for a truly flat sheen that is still highly washable. It hides surface imperfections incredibly well, making it perfect for older drywall or plaster walls that aren’t perfectly smooth.
Sherwin-Williams Emerald Matte: A very close competitor. Its performance is excellent, though some users find it slightly less “velvety” than the Aura Matte, which can sometimes make minor imperfections slightly more visible.
Glossy Finishes (Trim and Doors)
For doors, trim, and cabinets, you need a hard, durable sheen like semi-gloss or satin.
Benjamin Moore Advance (Alkyd Hybrid): This is a game-changer for interior trim and cabinets. It’s a waterborne alkyd that levels beautifully, dries incredibly hard, and minimizes brush strokes. It’s slightly slower drying, but the professional finish it provides is hard to beat for DIY cabinetry.
Sherwin-Williams Urethane Trim Enamel: SW’s answer to Advance. It is extremely durable and dries fast. It’s a favorite among cabinet refinishers for its hardness and good flow.
If you are tackling cabinets, I highly recommend looking closely at these two hybrid products rather than their standard interior acrylic lines.
How to Choose: A Step-by-Step Guide for the DIYer
Don’t let the brand name stress you out! Use this simple decision framework to land on the right paint for your project.
Step 1: Define Your Priority (What’s Most Important?)
Ask yourself this first: Am I prioritizing the absolute smoothest, thickest application (maybe one coat is essential)? Or is getting the lowest possible price with a great result the key?
If Hide/Premium Feel is #1: Lean towards Benjamin Moore Aura or Regal Select.
If Budget/Frequent Sales are #1: Lean towards Sherwin-Williams Emerald or Duration Home, timing your purchase during a sale.
Step 2: Verify Color Match and Sheen
If you are repainting over a very specific color you love, bring a large painted sample (the size of a postcard) to both dealers.
The Test: Ask each store to mix a small sample pot of that color in their mid-tier interior line (Regal Select vs. Duration). Paint small test patches on your wall next to each other.
The Result: Sometimes the “same” color looks slightly different when mixed in different base paints. Trust your eye! See which base color matches your original best. This test also helps you see the true sheen development of each brand in your specific lighting conditions.
Step 3: Consider Prep and Location
If you are painting rough, previously unfinished wood (like a backyard fence), you might prioritize adhesion over fine sheen. If you are painting a busy kitchen backsplash, washability rules.
For Rough/Poorly Prepped Surfaces: Sherwin-Williams often offers slightly better adhesion promoters in their exterior lines.
For Indoor Walls Needing Flawless Finish: Benjamin Moore’s smoother application in Aura or Regal Select can be more forgiving.
Step 4: Calculate Cost Based on Sales
Never buy paint at full retail unless you absolutely must finish that day.
Check the current promotions at both local stores. Often, Sherwin-Williams offers a massive percentage discount during holiday weekends or monthly promotions. Factor the actual cost after the discount into your final decision.
By focusing on the task at hand rather than the brand rivalry, you remove the emotion and find the best tool for the job.
Final Verdict: When to Choose Which Brand
It’s tough to declare one universally “better,” but we can establish clear best-use scenarios based on real-world results and pricing structures.
Choose Benjamin Moore If…
You are a detail-oriented DIYer who values a paint that feels luxurious and has superior “leveling” properties (fewer brush strokes).
You need specific, hard-to-match designer colors and trust the consistency of their older color palettes.
You are willing to pay a bit more upfront for what many consider the gold standard in interior finish quality (especially Aura).
You are painting wood trim and want the ultimate smooth finish using the Advance product line.
Choose Sherwin-Williams If…
You are painting a large area, such as a whole exterior, and need to maximize savings through frequent, deep sales.
You need a paint that has phenomenal, industry-leading washability (Emerald).
You prefer buying paint from a store that is widely available across the country.
You are working with professional contractors, as SW is often their preferred primary supplier for volume purchasing.
Safety Note: Low-VOC and Air Quality
No matter which brand you select, for any indoor painting project, choosing a low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paint is the smartest decision for your home’s air quality. Both Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams produce excellent, zero- or near-zero VOC options in their premium lines (Aura and Emerald).
Low-VOC paints smell less harsh during application and contribute to healthier indoor air, which is a huge win for any homeowner, especially those with allergies or sensitivities. Always ensure you use proper ventilation, as recommended by safety guidelines from sources like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), even with low-odor paints (EPA on VOCs).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Beginner Painters
Q1: Which paint brand is generally easier for a total beginner to apply?
Both are good, but many beginners find Benjamin Moore’s higher-end lines (like Regal Select) slightly more forgiving because the paint seems to “self-level” better, hiding minor application mistakes like uneven rolling.
Q2: Do I really need to buy the most expensive gallon of paint?
For high-traffic areas (kitchens, kids’ rooms) or exterior siding, yes, the expensive lines are worth it because they last longer, resisting fading and scrubbing. For a guest bedroom you rarely use, a mid-tier line from either brand will look fantastic.
Q3: Can I trust a custom color match from Sherwin-Williams that started as a Benjamin Moore color?
Generally, yes, the color will be very close. However, the base paint* underneath the color will be different. If color consistency is critical (like matching an existing wall), buying the color directly from the original brand is safest.
Q4: Which paint dries harder and faster for cabinets?
For cabinets, the specialty hybrid paints are best. Benjamin Moore Advance and Sherwin-Williams Urethane Trim Enamel both dry extremely hard. Advance often gets praise for having less noticeable brush marks, while the SW option may cure a bit quicker.
Q5: If I use a Benjamin Moore primer, can I use Sherwin-Williams paint on top?
Yes, you absolutely can. Primers are designed to seal the surface and help the topcoat adhere. As long as the primer is fully dry (check the can, usually 1-2 hours), applying the topcoat from the other brand is perfectly fine for standard latex paints.
Q6: Are Benjamin Moore sales as good as Sherwin-Williams sales?
No. Sherwin-Williams runs larger, more frequent sales (often 30-40% off the entire store), making them generally cheaper if you wait. Benjamin Moore sales are less common and usually smaller discounts (10-15% off).
Q7: Which brand offers better matte finish durability?
Benjamin Moore’s Aura Matte finish is widely regarded as the standard-bearer for durability in a low sheen. It holds up remarkably well to cleaning compared to traditional flat paints.
Conclusion: You Can’t Go Wrong, But Choose Smartly
Stepping back, it’s clear that both Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams deliver premium, durable results for the dedicated DIY homeowner. This isn’t a case where one brand is fundamentally flawed; rather, they offer slightly different paths to achieve excellence.
If your budget allows for a slight premium and you are seeking the most luxurious, flawless application feel, Benjamin Moore, especially in their Aura or Regal Select lines, often provides that extra touch of quality that pays off in appearance.
If you are budget-conscious across a big renovation, rely heavily on sales to manage costs, or need the absolute widest accessibility across the country, Sherwin-Williams is an outstanding partner whose Emerald and Duration lines provide incredible, long-lasting performance that rivals anything on the market.
My advice, as your guide through these projects, is this: Don’t stress over the name on the label. Decide what you need most—a specific color, maximum durability, or the best sale price—and choose the corresponding product line from the manufacturer that fits that priority. Now grab your favorite brush, take your time on the prep work, and get ready to enjoy painting your beautiful space!
