Not all paint is created equal, and the brand you choose has a real impact on the final result. Premium paint brands invest heavily in research and development, using higher quality pigments, superior binders, and advanced additives that improve coverage, durability, and application. The difference between a budget paint and a premium one is not just marketing. It is chemistry.
This review compares the leading premium paint brands available today. We evaluate each brand on five criteria: coverage and hiding power, durability and washability, finish quality and smoothness, color selection and accuracy, and overall value for money. Our assessments are based on manufacturer specifications, independent testing data, and field experience from professional painting applications.
Benjamin Moore is consistently rated as one of the best paint brands by professional painters and consumer testing organizations. The company is known for its proprietary Gennex colorant system, which is water based and low in VOCs, allowing their paints to maintain excellent performance while meeting strict environmental standards.
Regal Select: This is the mid tier line that many professionals use for standard interior wall painting. It offers excellent coverage, a smooth finish, and good durability. Available in multiple sheens from flat to semi gloss. Coverage is rated at approximately 400 square feet per gallon, which is above average. The paint levels well, minimizing brush and roller marks.
Aura: The flagship premium line, Aura is one of the most expensive interior paints on the market, and it earns its price. Aura uses a proprietary water based colorant that is integrated into the resin, resulting in exceptional color depth and durability. It is self priming on properly prepared surfaces, covers most colors in one coat, and is extremely washable without burnishing. Aura is the paint of choice for deep, saturated colors that other paints struggle to cover.
Benjamin Moore Summary: Excellent color accuracy and selection with over 3,500 colors. Superior coverage and hiding power. Low VOC across all lines. The main drawback is price, with Aura being significantly more expensive than competitors. Benjamin Moore is sold only through company owned and independent dealers, not big box stores, which limits availability in some areas.
Best for: Whole house interior painting where quality is the priority. Aura is best for deep colors and high end projects. Regal Select is the best value for general use.
Sherwin Williams is the largest paint manufacturer in the United States and is the brand most commonly used by professional painters. The company operates its own retail stores, which means knowledgeable staff and consistent product availability.
ProClassic: This is a water based acrylic alkyd enamel designed for trim, doors, and cabinets. It levels like oil based paint, leaving a smooth finish with minimal brush marks. It is extremely durable and washable. For trim and cabinet painting, ProClassic is one of the best products available at any price point.
SuperPaint: SuperPaint is the workhorse of the Sherwin Williams line. It is a paint and primer in one that offers good coverage, reasonable durability, and a smooth finish. It is competitively priced for a premium paint and is a popular choice for residential repaints. Coverage is rated at approximately 350 square feet per gallon.
Emerald: The premium line, Emerald offers superior coverage, exceptional washability, and antimicrobial properties that inhibit mold and mildew growth. Emerald is self priming and covers most colors in one to two coats. It has the smoothest finish of any Sherwin Williams interior paint and is their most durable washable product. Emerald is available in matte, eggshell, satin, and semi gloss.
Sherwin Williams Summary: Excellent availability with company owned stores nationwide. Very good color selection with the ColorSnap system. Emerald and ProClassic are standout products. The main drawback is that the mid tier products like SuperPaint and Duration do not quite match the quality of Benjamin Moore equivalents at similar price points. Sales and promotions are frequent, which can significantly reduce the effective price.
Best for: Trim and cabinet painting with ProClassic. General interior painting with Emerald. Projects where availability and professional support are important.
Behr is the premium house brand of Home Depot and is one of the most widely available paint brands. Behr has improved significantly over the years and now competes with professional brands on quality, though it is generally priced lower than Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams premium lines.
Behr Premium Plus: This is the standard line, a paint and primer in one that offers good coverage and durability for the price. It is a solid choice for budget conscious projects. Coverage is rated at approximately 350 square feet per gallon. The finish is slightly less smooth than premium competitors, with more visible roller texture.
Behr Marquee: Marquee is the flagship line and is marketed as one coat coverage paint. In practice, it does cover many colors in one coat, especially when painting a similar color over a properly prepared surface. For dramatic color changes, two coats are still needed. Marquee offers good durability, stain resistance, and washability. It is available in matte, eggshell, satin, semi gloss, and high gloss.
Behr Dynasty: Dynasty is the newest premium line, positioned above Marquee. It offers improved stain resistance, one coat coverage claims, and a smoother finish. Dynasty is only available at Home Depot and is the most expensive Behr product.
Behr Summary: Excellent availability at Home Depot stores. Good value for money, especially during sales. Marquee and Dynasty are competitive with professional brands on coverage. The main drawbacks are a slightly rougher finish than Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams premium lines and a color selection that, while large, lacks the depth and nuance of professional brand palettes. Customer service and returns are handled through Home Depot, which is convenient but less specialized than paint brand stores.
Best for: Budget conscious projects where coverage is the priority. DIY painters who want good quality without the premium price tag. Projects where Home Depot availability is convenient.
Farrow and Ball is a British paint brand known for its distinctive, rich colors and full pigment formulation. The brand is positioned as a luxury paint and is significantly more expensive than other premium brands.
Full Gloss and Modern Emulsion: Farrow and Ball offers fewer products than other brands but each is formulated for specific applications. Modern Emulsion is their durable wall paint, available in a matte finish that is washable and resistant to scuffs. Full Gloss is a high gloss finish for trim and doors that creates a traditional, lacquered look.
Color and Pigment: The standout feature of Farrow and Ball is their color formulation. Their paints use higher pigment loads than most brands, resulting in colors with depth and complexity that change with the light throughout the day. Their palette of 132 curated colors is smaller than competitors but each color is carefully developed and has a distinctive character.
Farrow and Ball Summary: Exceptional color quality and depth. Unique, curated palette that is popular with interior designers. The paint performs well in terms of coverage and durability, though not significantly better than other premium brands. The main drawback is price, which can be two to three times that of other premium brands. Availability is limited to Farrow and Ball showrooms and select retailers.
Best for: High end interior design projects where color character is the priority. Accent walls and spaces where the depth and complexity of color matter. Traditional and historic homes where Farrow and Ball colors complement the architecture.
Valspar is a mid tier brand available at Lowe's and independent retailers. It offers good quality at a competitive price point, making it a popular choice for DIY painters.
Valspar Reserve: The premium line, Reserve offers good coverage, a smooth finish, and stain resistance. It is a paint and primer in one that competes with Behr Marquee at a similar price point. Coverage is rated at approximately 350 to 400 square feet per gallon.
Valspar Signature: The mid tier line, Signature is a solid choice for general interior painting. It offers reasonable coverage and durability for the price but does not match the finish quality or hiding power of premium brands.
Valspar Summary: Good value for money. Widely available at Lowe's. The color selection is large, with a wide range of options. The main drawbacks are that the finish quality is not as smooth as Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams, and the durability of the mid tier products is average rather than exceptional.
Best for: Budget to mid range projects. DIY painters who want decent quality without the premium price. Quick refreshes and rental properties where cost is a factor.
Coverage: Benjamin Moore Aura and Sherwin Williams Emerald lead in one coat coverage. Behr Marquee also performs well but does not quite match the premium lines. For deep, saturated colors, Benjamin Moore Aura is the clear winner, often achieving full coverage in one coat where other paints need three.
Durability and Washability: Benjamin Moore Aura, Sherwin Williams Emerald, and Farrow and Ball Modern Emulsion are the most durable and washable. They can withstand repeated cleaning without burnishing or losing their finish. Behr Marquee is good but not in the same category. Valspar Reserve is adequate for normal use but shows wear more quickly under heavy cleaning.
Finish Quality: Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams premium lines produce the smoothest finishes with the least visible roller and brush texture. Farrow and Ball also produces a beautiful finish, especially in their Full Gloss. Behr and Valspar produce acceptable finishes but with more visible texture, which is more noticeable in higher sheens.
Color Selection: Benjamin Moore offers over 3,500 colors with excellent accuracy. Sherwin Williams has a large palette with their ColorSnap system. Behr and Valspar offer large selections but with less nuanced color development. Farrow and Ball has the smallest selection at 132 colors but the highest color quality, with depth and character that other brands cannot match.
Value for Money: Behr Marquee and Valspar Reserve offer the best value for money for general painting projects. Sherwin Williams SuperPaint is a good value when purchased during sales. Benjamin Moore Regal Select is a good value at its price point, while Aura is expensive but justified for difficult colors. Farrow and Ball is the most expensive and is a luxury choice rather than a value choice.
The best paint brand for your project depends on your priorities. If you want the best possible finish and color quality, choose Benjamin Moore Aura or Farrow and Ball. If you want professional quality at a reasonable price, choose Benjamin Moore Regal Select or Sherwin Williams Emerald. If you want good coverage on a budget, choose Behr Marquee or Valspar Reserve.
For trim and cabinets, Sherwin Williams ProClassic is the best product available. For deep, saturated colors, Benjamin Moore Aura is unmatched. For budget projects, Behr Marquee offers the best coverage per dollar. For high end design projects, Farrow and Ball colors offer character and depth that no other brand matches.
Consider availability in your area. Benjamin Moore is only available at independent dealers. Sherwin Williams has company owned stores. Behr is at Home Depot. Valspar is at Lowe's. Farrow and Ball is at select showrooms. Choose a brand you can easily access, because you may need to return for more paint or for color matching.
Premium paint is worth the investment. The difference in coverage, durability, and finish quality is noticeable and lasting. A paint job that costs slightly more upfront but lasts twice as long is the better value. Choose the brand that best fits your project needs, budget, and availability. Use the Frelux paint calculator to determine exactly how much paint you need, so you can budget accurately and avoid waste.
The right paint brand makes your project easier, your results better, and your paint job last longer. Do not compromise on quality for a few dollars per gallon. The walls you paint today will be with you for years, and the quality of the paint you choose will determine how they look for every one of those years.