Ask ten contractors which paint they reach for on their own walls and you will get four or five answers, all defensible. The query which interior paint is best mintpalhouse comes up often because homeowners researching premium brands want to know whether the extra $20 to $40 per gallon actually shows up on the wall. The short answer is yes, within limits. Top-tier paints from Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams, Behr, and Farrow & Ball differ in coverage, durability, and color depth in ways you can feel under your hand and see in photos.
This guide ranks the major brands on honest, repeatable criteria — hide, washability, color accuracy, smell, and price — so you can match the right product to the right room without overspending or regretting a cheap skim coat.
What Actually Matters in a Paint
Before judging brands, know what separates good paint from bad. Four variables do most of the work.
- Solids content — higher percentage of resin and pigment means better hide, richer color, and fewer coats
- Binder quality — 100% acrylic binders outperform vinyl-acrylic blends for washability and adhesion
- Pigment load — more and finer pigment particles give deeper color saturation
- Sheen consistency — premium paints dry uniformly; cheap paints show lap marks and flashing
Volatile organic compound (VOC) levels and low-odor formulas also matter for families with kids, pets, or sensitivities. All major brands now offer low- or zero-VOC lines, and the quality gap between these and traditional formulas has essentially closed.
Benjamin Moore
Benjamin Moore is the default recommendation from most professional painters and designers in the northeast US. The Regal Select and Aura lines are the workhorses — Regal Select for everyday walls and Aura for high-traffic, deep-color, or one-coat-dreams situations.
Strengths
- Color library — Ben Moore has the deepest, most pigment-rich color fan in the industry
- Touch-ups disappear — the Gennex colorant system means touch-ups blend even a year later
- Even sheen — no lap marks, no flashing in low-angle light
Weaknesses
- Price — Aura runs $85 to $110 per gallon, Regal $55 to $75
- Availability — only sold through independent dealers, not big-box stores
Use Benjamin Moore for main living areas, bedrooms, and anywhere you want rich saturated color. Hale Navy, White Dove, and Chantilly Lace are three of the most-used paint colors in America for a reason.
Sherwin-Williams
Sherwin-Williams is the volume leader and the go-to for contractors who need consistent product across multiple job sites. Emerald and Duration are the two premium interior lines.
Strengths
- Scrubbability — Emerald Interior Acrylic Latex is class-leading for kitchens, bathrooms, and kids’ rooms
- Professional network — Sherwin-Williams stores cater to contractors with quick color matching and bulk pricing
- Color accuracy — the SW color fan rivals Benjamin Moore and is the industry benchmark in commercial design
Weaknesses
- Retail pricing is high but sales are frequent — watch for 30-40% off promotions monthly
- Duration Interior needs two coats over most colors despite marketing claims
Sherwin-Williams Emerald at $90 per gallon is a legitimate competitor to Benjamin Moore Aura and often wins on washability head-to-head.
Behr
Behr is the big-box leader and the most-improved premium brand of the last five years. Behr Dynasty and Behr Marquee are both sold at Home Depot and land within 5 to 10 percent of Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams premium lines on performance.
Strengths
- Price — Marquee runs $50 per gallon, Dynasty $60, well below competitors
- One-coat coverage — Marquee actually delivers on the claim for a defined color list
- Availability — every Home Depot in the country, evenings and weekends
Weaknesses
- Color depth — saturated dark colors look slightly flatter than Ben Moore equivalents
- Colorant matching — Behr colors do not translate cleanly to other brands for touch-up
For DIY homeowners on a budget, Behr Marquee is the best value in the market. Use it in hallways, guest rooms, and utility spaces where absolute color depth is not critical.
Farrow & Ball
Farrow & Ball is the British specialty brand every designer name-drops. At $130 per gallon it is the most expensive mainstream paint sold in the US, and the premium buys a genuinely different product.
Strengths
- Pigment depth — Farrow & Ball colors have a richness and patina that photographs beautifully
- Estate Emulsion matte finish — an unmatched chalky, velvet surface
- Color curation — 132 carefully edited colors, each developed over years
Weaknesses
- Price — roughly 2x Benjamin Moore Aura
- Durability — traditional Estate Emulsion is less washable than modern acrylic lines
- Coverage — often needs three coats for saturated colors
Reserve Farrow & Ball for feature rooms — dining rooms, studies, powder rooms — where the finish will be seen up close and rarely scrubbed. Railings, Hague Blue, and Downpipe are three flagship colors worth the splurge.
How to Choose Between Them
- For main living rooms with medium to dark colors — Benjamin Moore Regal Select or Aura
- For kitchens, baths, and high-traffic hallways — Sherwin-Williams Emerald
- For a budget whole-house repaint — Behr Marquee
- For a statement feature room or study — Farrow & Ball
- For trim and doors — Benjamin Moore Advance or SW Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel
Test each brand with a sample quart before committing. Paint behaves differently on your specific wall, under your specific lighting, and against your specific furniture.
Application Tips Regardless of Brand
Even the best paint fails if applied poorly. A $40 roller, a $20 brush, and proper prep deliver better results than premium paint rolled with a bargain-bin setup. For related finishing guidance on walls and surfaces see our home improvement guides.
- Sand glossy trim and previously painted surfaces before coating
- Prime bare drywall, patches, and stains with a quality primer like Zinsser BIN
- Use a 3/8 inch nap roller cover for smooth walls, 1/2 inch for textured
- Cut in and roll in the same session to keep wet edges blending
- Two thin coats always beat one thick coat, no matter what the label claims
Homeowners who follow these rules with a mid-tier paint end up with walls that outperform contractors who cut corners with premium product. The paint matters, but the prep matters more.
