The article provides tips for finding cheap paint near you, focusing on the best brands and prices available at various hardware stores. It suggests researching the brands each big-box store carries, such as Valspar paint from Lowe’s, and purchasing 5-gallon, mid-grade interior paint from Home Depot. Home Depot is known for offering high-quality paint at an affordable price, while Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Sherwin-Williams, and Behr are also considered.
The paint prices at Lowe’s and Home Depot are nearly identical, with only slight differences. Valspar is the most affordable brand at Lowe’s. Interior paint ratings indicate how well a paint hides what’s underneath it, whether it resists stains and scrubbing, and if it’s self-priming. Sherwin-Williams SuperPaint Interior Acrylic Latex is the best overall paint, followed by Glidden Premium PPG Eggshell Interior Latex Paint as the best bang for the buck.
Home Depot offers a wide variety of interior and exterior paints in various colors, coverages, and finishes. They also offer the latest promotions for paint and paint accessories. Consumer Reports tests show that the best paints from these stores are as close as those found at Home Depot, Ace, and Lowe’s.
Home Depot is considered the most affordable decent paint, with “oops” cans that are super cheap and sometimes have neutral colors. They also offer free shipping on qualified clearance products or pick up in-store. Lowe’s is generally seen as having lower prices than Home Depot, making it a more budget-friendly option. All brands, including Ben Moore and Sherwin-Williams, make cheaper lines of paint designed for rentals and apartment buildings that get repainted often.
In addition to finding cheap paint, shoppers should also look for mistints and sample paints under $3, which can paint small areas.
📹 Comparing 4 Types of Home Depot Paint (Don’t Waste Your $$$)
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How much does 1 gallon of paint cover?
A gallon of paint typically covers 350 to 400 square feet, making it suitable for small spaces like bathrooms. The average amount for a typical room is one to two gallons, depending on the number of coats needed. Primer is also essential for painting a room, covering 350 to 400 square feet. The amount of primer needed depends on several factors, including drywall, unfinished walls, dark or bright colors, and neutral colors.
Drywall and unfinished walls may require two coats, dark or bright colors may require two or three coats, and neutral colors should require one coat to prepare the wall for new color choices. Consult the manufacturer’s advice for precise measurements.
How much should a gallon of paint cost?
Paint prices can vary significantly, with lower-quality flat finish paint costing around $15, while high-end paints can cost up to $30 or $40. Designer brands may even charge up to $120 per gallon. Flat finish paints are typically used for living areas and ceilings, while satin or eggshell paints are best for bathroom ceilings, cabinets, and interior or exterior walls. Semi-gloss paints are best for trim, while high-gloss paints are best for hallways, kitchens, and doors. When pricing paint, it is better to think in terms of price per square foot, as some brands offer better coverage.
What time of year is paint the cheapest?
Seasonal sales are a great way to save on paint costs. Shop the week leading up to Memorial Day or the Fourth of July, as paint manufacturers and retailers typically offer sales. Ask about oops paints, which are gallons of returned or mixed paints that customers change their mind about. Some stores even sell top-shelf paints that have been returned for $5 a gallon. Buy in bulk and request a quantity discount when buying enough paint for your home or exterior. Choose one of the CR Best Buys from 65 interior paints, such as Glidden Premium Satin paint, which is $24 a gallon at Home Depot and $20 a can.
What is Home Depot’s paint called?
Behr, Home Depot’s house brand since 1978, is often compared to Benjamin Moore’s paint quality and is displayed on the best shelves. Behr Marquee is its highest-end paint. When shopping for interior paint, Home Depot paints are suitable for budget-conscious projects or smaller projects like a kid’s room or guest bathroom. Paint contractors may advise purchasing from standalone stores like Sherwin-Williams or Benjamin Moore. However, Home Depot paints are suitable for smaller projects and come with necessary tools like ladders or sprayers. The choice between Behr or Glidden depends on the specific needs and budget.
Is Behr paint as good as Sherwin-Williams?
The Sherwin-Williams paint product demonstrates superior performance in terms of durability, washability, and ease of application when compared to the Behr paint product. Consequently, it can be considered a more optimal choice for consumers willing to pay a higher price. Both brands have their respective advantages and disadvantages.
Is flat the cheapest paint?
Matte paint is more expensive due to its unique finish and longer-lasting durability, while flat paint is cheaper as it doesn’t require multiple coats and produces a durable finish with fewer materials. Factors such as labor costs and the area being painted also affect the cost considerations. For large or high-traffic areas, a matte finish is more durable and resistant to stains and wear and tear.
On the other hand, for small areas with minimal traffic, flat paint is suitable due to its lower cost and one-coat application process. Cleaning and maintenance requirements for flat paint are easy, as it can be easily wiped down with a damp cloth without the need for special cleaners or tools.
What is better, flat or eggshell paint?
An eggshell finish provides a subtle sheen, rendering it an appropriate option for those who are not yet prepared to embrace the full sheen of a satin finish. The eggshell finish is more lustrous than flat but not as reflective as satin. Additionally, it is more straightforward to clean than flat.
What is better, eggshell or satin?
Satin paint is a popular choice for interiors due to its higher gloss and better stain resistance compared to lower sheens like eggshell. It is ideal for areas that require definition. Benjamin Moore offers a variety of paint finishes, including flat, matte, eggshell, pearl, satin, semi-gloss, and high gloss. Sheen is a measure of how much light reflects off a painted surface, resulting in gloss or lack thereof. Benjamin Moore’s legacy of innovation ensures premium performance across the sheen spectrum. Some common sheen uses include flat, matte, eggshell, pearl, satin, semi-gloss, and high gloss.
How much is a can of paint?
Paint cans come in various sizes, allowing you to buy the amount you need. However, it’s important to check the store’s return policy, as many outlets won’t accept returns for mixed paint. Despite this, you can save leftover paint for future projects. The most common paint can sizes are five gallons, which can cover 1, 750 to 2, 000 square feet for a single coat or 800 to 1, 000 square feet for two coats.
A gallon, on the other hand, can range from $10 to $100 or more, with an average cost of $20 to $30. A gallon typically covers 350 to 400 square feet in a single coat, and one gallon can cover a small accent wall.
How can I save money buying paint?
To reduce expenditure on paint, it is advisable to be flexible with regard to colour choices, to source supplies from local hardware stores, to recycle materials at recycling centres, to utilise the services of local groups, to employ a paint calculator, to make purchases before the weekend, and to procure high-quality paint in bulk.
Is it worth buying cheap paint?
Buying cheap paint can be a costly mistake, as it requires multiple coats and takes up more time. It also doesn’t last long, as cheap paint can start peeling quickly and is less durable than premium paints. Additionally, cheap paint is harder to apply due to its runny consistency, making it difficult to achieve a smooth finish.
On the other hand, high-quality paint offers several advantages, such as a long-lasting paint job, reduced need for multiple coats, increased durability due to good resins, and protection against mold and mildew. Premium paints don’t require a higher sheen to be more durable, and they provide a layer of protection, lasting up to 15 years.
High-quality paint brands include Benjamin Moore, PPG, and Sherwin Willaims, which offer upper, more expensive paints like Aurora, Regal, Ultralast, Manor Hall/Prominence, Hi-Hide, Emerald, and Duration. Low-quality paints are found in big box stores and can be difficult to find and maintain.
In conclusion, buying high-quality paint is a wise decision for both cost and time savings. High-quality paints offer more pigmentation, better coverage, and protection, while low-quality paints may require more time and effort to apply. It’s essential to choose the right paint brand for your project and to consult with sales reps at a dedicated paint store for expert guidance.
📹 How Bad is Cheap House Paint? Let’s Find Out!
Best house paint brand? One paint coat coverage, ease of application, stain coverage, stain resistance tested. Valspar Pro …
Todd, I would like to personally thank you for all that you do here in your continued reviews of products and the awesome testing and fact checking that goes behind them. You are one the few YouTube personalities who hasn’t sold themselves out to outside advertisers and/or the free trial product endorsement vultures. Thank you for this! You’ve made my business (and i’m sure others) way more efficient and reliable when it comes to product purchasing. It’s a pleasure to donate to your Patreon page and I hope it does you and your family well! Please keep up your great work.
Coming from a sherwin employee who funny enough didn’t use Sherwin’s products before working there I can say the cost of the paint over time definitely decreases in the long run as you’ll need more of the other brands sooner then the emerald (I’m just a part time employee too so this isn’t a marketing scam 😂🤙) another very good product to use is the duration from the Sherwin line, similar to the emerald is has moister and mildew protection so that’s most likely why the mustard stains and such came off fairly easily
This is handy to know. I’ve been using Behr paint for at least 25 years, but had no experience with the Sherwin Williams and came here looking for info after it was recommended to paint kitchen cabinets. Great review on the products, and this has definitely swayed me toward the Sherwin Williams Emerald for cabinet painting.
I worked in a paint lab in the U.S., it’s all about the resin used. At that time, it was very expensive to manufacture latex resin and most paint companies purchased latex resin by the truckload or railcar from either Borden or PPG. P.S. more titanium dioxide used makes for better hiding. Oil based resin paints are a different story altogether, however, the amount of TiO2 used in the pigment blend for either oil or latex based paint – is the key to good “hiding” .
Back in the 80’s my kids “decorated” one of the bedrooms of our apartment with wax crayons. We were getting ready for a move but I didn’t want to be held responsible for refurbishing the walls,so, I experimented. First thing I tried was to coat the wall with shellac. This was followed by a middle of the road interior egg=shell paint. Lo and behold,the crayon “art” was totally covered by the paint with nothing showing through. Try it,what’s to lose?
3 of the top 5: Emerald, Valspar Signature, and the Lowe’s HGTV paint are all owned by Sherwin-Williams 😂 as someone who sells paint, this was very thorough and an excellent review! While I can understand that time is an issue with doing these extensive tests, keep in mind that curing can take over a week depending on the conditions of where you live. The longer the paint is allowed to cure will greatly improve all of the metrics measured here. But as a comparison article it doesn’t matter as much. Amazing work! Subscribed
This was a great article. Thanks for putting it together. I think you used flat paint in the tests. As a home diy-er, I hate, hate, hate flat paint. It’s the worst for cleaning and maintenance. At least an egg shell or something close. Semi gloss seems best but sometimes it gives too much shine. Depends on the application. Thanks again. Much appreciated.
When I painted my house (around the time this article was posted) where I live Behr basic was $22 and Marqee was $45. I was trying to save money so I did basic in the 1st room. For the next room they accidentally mixed Marquee, but honored the price of basic. The rest of my house was Painted with Marquee. Twice the cost, but only 1 coat instead of 2, so that meant half the paint use, and more importantly half the time spent!
When I was selling paint Ben Moore has a anti scuff specific paint called ultra spec scuff x I’d be curious how it compares to emerald for scuff resistance and coverage of emerald vs aura Ben Moore. I was impressed by emerald since it’s only 50 and Ben Moore scuff x is around 52 a gallon and aura is around 65 a gallon. Great article
I worked at Home Depot in the Paint Department for 4 and a half years, and I can say I’m glad my interpretations of all literature and TDS’s were accurate. I’d love to see you try out the new and improved Behr Ultra line, they made it MUCH more scuff resistant and I think it would perform extremely well in these tests you made!!! 🙂 Thanks for all your hard work, Project Farm!!
Great article as always. I just finished painting a whole house with the customer directed Behr Marquis.satin finish. The uniformity of the gloss is terrible. This paint dries very quickly and leaves little time to work the paint. As the article pointed out, it however hides very well. I found adding a small amount of Flowtrol help with trim work applied by brush. I’ll stick with Ben Moore Aura or Sherwin William Emerald and pay the premium.
Perhaps it’s already been said but the paint with the best coverage isn’t necessarily the best paint option for a project. Even the top paints that claim 1 coat coverage are far from it depending what you’re covering. I’ve recently repainted a medium blue room a lighter shade of gray using Behr Marquee. The first coat covered okay but you could still see the blue through it. We inevitably ended up pulling on a second coat which required a second gallon. Take away point: Assume you’re going to have to do two coats so buy two gallons of a mid grade paint and save yourself $40.
As someone who used to paint houses and finish sheet rock for a living (10 years) it is hard to beat Behr paints right now. My go to was always Sherwin Williams in the past while also using Valspar which isn’t as good as it once was. I have also used Benjamin Moore, Kelly Moore with success, and PPG brands which I hate. Also in the article since you used white paint a common test is how white a paint truly is. Look at titanium dioxide. The Walmart Colorplace paint was beige compared to many of the others. Also PPG states their paints get about 100 more sqft of coverage. I also used to be a paint salesman and can tell you it doesn’t cover more. It is actually less coverage because it is so thin. Thanks for the article. I always enjoy.
I own a house and was always a Behr guy. After perusal this, I tried the Glidden Pro. It was GREAT! Very smooth rolling+trimming. Covered very well. Of course I always do 2 coats, and it looks perfect! None of the usual bleed-thru at the cutting of the corners. I highly recomend it. That’s what I will be using from now on.
This has become one of my favorite review websites I like the mentioning of cost. In some cases, paying more money for less coats ends up making up for it. What if you are hiring painters? The cost of labor may dwarf the cost of paint. $10, $20, maybe even $30 more for the bucket starts looking less expensive. $8-20/hr, and you need to hire then for x hours to paint another coat? If you can do it in 1-2 coats vs 2-4 coats, then the $50 can may also make a difference even if you are doing it as a DIY painting project. If your walls are pretty clean, then the bang-for-the-buck paints will probably make the most sense Mr. Clean Magic Erasers might be out of scope, but at one apartment after the move-out, I think I ended up removing some of the paint when I removed the stain.
Why no Benjamin Moore ? Benjamin Moore Aura is by far the best interior paint on the market . For durability Ben Moore scuff X can not be beat . As a contractor getting it done with a higher quality paint that has more consistent millage and a more even coat is better texture is worth the extra cost . Stop buying your paint at the same store that sells toilets . You wouldn’t go to a paint store for lumber, would you ? Cheap paint is just that, cheap paint . You get what you pay for and thicker isn’t always better . A lot of painting has to do with the surface you’re putting it on and what you’re using to put it on . A cheap roller gets or brush gets cheap results . one of the things that gets me so many repeat and new word of mouth customers is the quality of material along with the workmanship .
I have always used Behr paints for all of my painting needs but I decided to go with the Sherwin William Emerald on my new to me house repainting. The Emerald paint has been a real joy to work with. I just love how it works and looks and it makes me look really good afterwards. I highly recommend the Sherwin William’s Emerald paint. It is worth the extra cost, but you can catch it on sale often and it doesn’t cost much more than the Behr paint this way.
Love your stuff! Suggestion for a article: Which stainblocking primer is the best? Maybe include regular primers as well. Overall what caused me to wonder is I painted a ceiling and ran out of main primer for the last 8 boards. I just got finished repainting those boards because of tannin bleed through. Thanks.
I have used the BEHR brand recently and you are correct it is like spreading mud with a paint roller, worked well but with any of these higher level paints one coat is not going to cut it for a premium looking finish. Two coats is a must and I was going over a similar color. It’ll cover in one coat but you won’t be happy. The upside is that the second coat will require less paint and seems to go quicker.
I know it’s hard to eliminate outside Influences in these test, but the roller brush material makes a huge difference when applying paint. We’ve used several of these paints in different rooms in our home and the biggest factor in one coat coverage wasn’t the paint itself but the roller material. Maybe you should test rollers next.
Not bad. Paint roller pressure could be a variable in rating the coverage though. I’ve had nothing but bad luck with Valspar Signature semi-gloss on brand new doors though. It peeled so easily at the lightest scuff and left a tacky feeling despite days and weeks of drying. I went with Sherwin Williams on the same doors and never looked back.
Just finished painting much of my interior with Sherwin Williams Duration for the walls and Emerald for the trim, and I have to admit that I will probably never ever go back the cheap Home Depot/Lowes stuff again. Huge difference in all ways, including application, coverage, finish. No regrets, definitely worth the extra money.
I’ve been using Bahr for a decade in my home and decided to try a the PPG paint form Home Depot because it was super cheap (by comparison) and I was painting something I didn’t care much about the quality of (a dark closet) I couldn’t believe how much easier the PPG was to work with. Most of my disdain regarding painting can be attributed to how difficult Bahr Premium/Marque make the process. It’s heavier and more difficult to roll, and you need twice as much to cover the same area because it’s so thick it covers significantly less sq ft. I’ve always heard from pro painters that Sherwin Williams is worth the money, and these tests back it up. It’s more durable than thicker paints while having better coverage and easier application. In the long run the PPG at half the price is the best value I think. But if I were doing a project I cared about the results of, I’d prime first. And after seeing these results I think for a few bucks more I’m going to try Sherwin Williams next time…
I’ve used a ton of the Behr Marque paint but recently the folks at the Home Depot were too busy to help me so I went to Lowe’s and picked up the valspar reserve interior paint. I never had one coat coverage with the behr paint but the valspar did cover in a single coat. I was shocked and pleased that I didn’t have to put a second coat.
3 years ago I painted my entire house using Behr Marquee and while being very good paint, this stuff is so damn thick and viscous it’s a real PITA and struggle to paint without runs – I hated it. I ended up having to put 2 thin(er) coats everywhere. And it still was a PITA. It does hold up to washing and scuffs well but next time I might just try the Emerald instead.
As a home remodeler, Porter Paint seems to be the best for me, disregarding cleaning (don’t have to clean the surfaces I’ve painted). I look at: price, coverage/ease of use (especially with dark colors), and clean up. The best paint for cleaning and durability is quality oil based paints.! (clean up is tougher though)
This is well done, as usual. Durability is always a factor, but that can only be tested with time. I like how you mentioned the viscosity, as it affects how far the paint will go. Having tried many of these paints, I have to say this is pretty accurate. I always end up getting the signature. It always irritates me when someone says the paint doesn’t matter.
Excellent test! Something that is hard to account for is workability/usability. You alluded to it with the thickness of the Behr paint. I painted professionally for about 10 years. Many times the end performance/durability may be good, but actually applying the paint is awful. I used some at times that said it was lifetime warranty but putting it on was the biggest pain in the rear. There are also some that will get runs easier than others. This is something people should consider as well.
There could be a problem with the hide performance testing, but I can’t decide if it matters. There’s no guarantee that the paints are applied to the same thickness wet. I think most claims of hide are based on applying 4 mils wet (going off memory so don’t quote me). But then it’s more practical to test by loading up the roller to the same degree with each paint and applying as similarly as possible each time… So I’m sorta torn… thoughts?
As always, good job. However I was surprised that when testing the Valspar paint that you didn’t use Valspar Reserve. I’ve been using Valspar Reserve ($45.00 per gallon at Lowes) to paint over paneling. It has the primer in it as well and I was very impressed. Another paint that has been really good for me is Clark/Kensington. That said, I’m thinking you probably won’t see many shoe heal marks on your wall. Then again, lol
I wish you would have painted each paint onto a sheet of glass – with and without primer under the paint. Then peeled the paint off to show the actual difference in the paint. The ‘elasticity’ – ‘ and the ability to stop sunlight from passing. I ask this – because, I have seen the Behr paint stand up to this test – just yesterday. It is an amazing paint – and this vlog has made me curious about the others.
Well i don’t know if you will see this but I work at home depot.in the paint department…. I think you should redo this test soon. But I have things you need to make sure you do… Every paint needs to be the same sheen. Flat paint is terrible… Get all your paint in satin or semi gloss. But make them the same across the board.
Best primer for sealing old oil based stains, adhesives, etc? Example, I’m refinishing some cabinets,, the old stain is oil based and it takes 3 coats of primer to seal it in.. I also found the rubber strip they used to hold the center panels in (Rail and Stile doors) had some sort of adhesive on them that didn’t agree with the primer. Tried 3 different primers.. A wax-free shellac helped with the adhesive, and ended up using Kilz.
I was surprised not to see Benjamin Moore. Is it not available in your area Project Farm? I’ve used some cheaper brands lately, friends place, and noticed one brand had to be stirred every morning. I don’t think I’ve even swirled the can of Moore while painting for about 5+ days. Either way thanks for all you do. Amazing website!
I used Valspar for years until I had a Lowe’s worker with an attitude and decided to not buy at Lowe’s. I’ve used Behr since then and live it. I’ve started working with a rental company and they use Valspar. I might become the head person in 4 years after I retire from my full time job and switching paint will be the first thing that will happen.
This fine test confirms the well known fact that when coming to paint there is a strong bond in general between quality and price. The dominating factor regarding coverage is the amount of titan white in the painting. And not surprising, it is the most expensive single factor in the production on paint…..
We used Behr Marquee recently and found out what that asterisk means next to the one coat coverage…you have to make sure the sample card also says it’s one coat. We picked a soft yellow to go over a khaki tan color for our sunroom and after starting the job, I was quickly back at HD getting a 2nd gallon. It took 3 coats. That said, a blue for our powder room only took 2 coats to cover it up. Of course we didn’t know this until after buying the paints. Lesson learned. Hope that saves you $…if you read this far.
I used to use Iowa paint for many years. I liked it a lot and got 10 years of exterior protection from 2 coats. Iowa paint went away (at least in my area). After much consideration I finally went with the Behr brand and have never looked back. And since it’s on MY house, I’m a little OCD in my application. I use 2 coats of Behr primer followed by 2 coats of Behr paint AND primer. Haven’t had to repaint one damn thing since. And since I live in a mid century modern, that includes cabinetry and ceiling beams. Granted, it was quite a bit of work but it sure was worth it in the long run.
Between Behr and SW Emerald, I found that Behr does not adhere to primed walls. It fails to bond to the primer if not applied within hours of the primer curing. If you wait for more than a day, the primer oxidizes. I had walls that were painted wild bright colors and prime painted them first. I first applied a quality prime paint (Behr) but the color coat would not laydown off the roller. Home Depot told me you have to paint the color coat right after the primer dries. Instead, I bought Sherwin Williams Emerald paint and it performed very well and required one coat over the same primer. The Scuff challenge presented seems to be biased against SW as that sample was at the end of the stroke where the pressure and speed were different than applied to samples in the center of the test stroke. Move SW to the middle of the stroke range and it will perform better than all others. Another oversight in this examination is not noting the differences in pigmentation quality and quantity, the VO & vehicles used, minimum depth of coat. Less expensive paints with low pigmentation are expected to take more than one coat while high pigmentation paints have one coat coverage. Generally paint cost is closely related to the quality and amount of suspended pigmentation. Comparing these paints with only a one coat application, when cheaper paints surely require more than one coat for coverage, durability, lifetime, and UV protection is purely apples and oranges. The same can be said of price. A two or three coat application of a less expensive paint can cost more than a single coat of high pigmentation paint.
Hi PF, article suggestion: Exterior paint I know this one would need much longer testing but would be worth the value for us consumers. I would like to see testing for weather durability and mold/mildew resistance. I had an idea for testing out mold/mildew by getting an old aquarium and using a heat lamp and and piping in moisture from a humidifier.
Great thanks. The Part 2 paint article might focus on a comparison of mid to high level paints: Would get Sherwin (Duration, SuperPaint, Emerald) vs Moore (Aura, Regal Select) vs Behr (Dynasty) vs Pittsburgh (Revolution), PPG Paints (Manor Hall, which is popular among consumers). A table showing ‘Percent Volume Solids’ on each one would be interesting…see if there is correlation between coverage and the percent value.
As a pro painter who’s used all of these brands, maybe not all of the tiers, this was great. It falls in line with my experience and preferences too. (That permanent marker would have been primed before any color I put on it btw, you can’t expect anything to cover that in a single coat) I usually use PPG Diamond (different brand now I think) or Sherwin nearly everywhere. If they are high end customers we usually do Emerald or Marquee though the differences aren’t really worth the premium in my opinion, they do make my job easier. That stuff goes on so nice and smooth. Also regardless of any of their claims, I’ve yet to find a paint that will FOR SURE 100% cover in one coat. It doesn’t exist. The high end ones are better though.
It makes a big difference on the roller and brush you use also. Flat wall paint is not designed to cover over stains (mildew,crayons,etc) stains should be shellacked. You should be using a lamb wool roller half inch nap on textured walls, smaller nap on smooth walls. Lambs wool hold more paint and release better with less splatter. I don’t know if you had those rollers pre rolled, it takes a little while to work the paint in the roller, and if those were straight white paints they were meant to be tinted. Try to avoid tinted paints, they don’t cover nor touch up as well as stock colors, and you need to box all paint together before starting and go corner to corner, if you have to buy more paint it most likely won’t match to the trained eye. A lot of people think they can paint, until they paint with a professional. Prep is very important, and if you can’t cut a line without tape you shouldn’t be painting.and for goodness sakes don’t use no rolling pan! Use a bucket and grid!
The problem with the big name brands like Sherwin Williams is (a) if you only need a small amount to do touch-up, they won’t sell you anything but a gallon (b) Their paint is ridiculously priced. Contractors use it because they get significant discounts and there is a belief with some consumers that it is a superior paint, despite the fact that Consumer Reports consistently rates the Behr paints their top brand.
I used the Lowe’s or HD can’t remember HGTV Sherwin Williams red can for a room and it covered well in one coat but man it’s thick lol. The room was painted pink lol. I think it was on sale lol Surprise to see how bad it did against these others. Wish I saw this first but that stuff worked great. Also did the whole room with less than a gallon even though the calculator said it would take 1.7 gallons haha
These paints have different coverage areas per gallon also. When you get into the the “high hiding” paints like the Behr, which have a very high viscosity, you are going to need more paint to complete the job. So not only are you paying more per gallon, you are buying more gallons per job. It would be nice if you could figure out a way to test the actual coverage against the advertised coverage. I think that would be difficult to setup.
Behr marquee is good in many painting categories, but IT DOES NOT STICK TO THE WALL. I am a professional painter and I have peeled 8×8 foot patches of Behr off the wall like it’s a giant sticker. Only use it if you are doing your own work, because it is easy to apply, and you are selling your place. Use Sherwin Williams Duration if you are staying in your place it’s about 10% cheaper then emerald but it’s 99% as good.
I would like to see a interior primer based article where the adhesion and humidity resistance is tested on various qualities of drywall. Seen enough paints separate from drywall, typically in bathrooms. I’ve wondered if water based primer has gotten better than oil based, or “good enough” in comparison. I’ve been told from mediocre painters that the 2in1 paints are inferior to old fashioned priming and then finish-color painting separately. I’ve been told from amateur painters, painting without primer holds up “good enough” to humidity. I am imagining a humidifier in a sealed drywall box with various types of paint methods on each surface. You’ll probably come up with something more controlled.
And Consumer Report rated Behr as more exceptional than Sherwin Williams overall. I’ve used both and I need literally 2 gallons for Behr Marquee for 15×12 room and just painted new house today (17×18 room) and still have a little less than a quarter gallon left. Consumer Reports need to see this article!!
Just found your website (of course, I subscribed!). What would make this review (or the next one better) is to compare the cheap paints using two coats witha single coat of the expensive ones. Reasoning? If two coats of a $12.95/gal paint is equal to a $50/gal paint…then that’s a real pearl folks should know about. Buying two gals. of cheap paint for $24 is a no-brainier. I hope you are following my logic and will consider this for a future article. Btw…love the website!
I was wondering if you had thought of testing high temperature paints. A lot of different paints for different applications such as bbq, woodstoves, or autoparts. Could be multiple tests based on application and use. I recently found that rustoleom high temp flat black did a very good job with a stove pipe i touched up. Maybe better than a much more expensive stove paint I had been using (stove bright).
There is a reason the pros use Sherwin Williams. It costs more, but covers in one coat, is harder, and looks better. I own a new Toll Brothers house and they used Sherwin Williams in it. I learned that paint is the least expensive part of a job, it can make or break it, and the right one will save you time. I used to use a lot of Behr because it was cheap. Not anymore. You get what you pay for.
Looks to me the Emedald has a tint to it. Like a very night gray. The others are bright white ready grab an go’s which all are terrible at covering in one coat, since the “one coat” doesn’t cover the grab an go bright white. It’s only one coat when tinted. If the Emerald isn’t bright white then the whole test is skewed.
“One coat” is a myth when painting walls and other large surfaces with a roller. No matter what, you Will miss spots so a 2nd coat will be required. You will also drip and get paint on your clothes so plan accordingly. I have years of painting experience as well as running a paint store. Always plan on 2 coats unless it is new construction where you can spray and back-roll. The key is to match the paint with the job. Painting over off-white walls? Use the cheap stuff. Have dark marks/paint and stains? Use a high hide primer first, then 2 coats
I’m a pro painter with 14 years experience painting every day. Nothing is a one coat coverage unless you’re painting the exact color again unless you care nothing about quality. Stain coverage is a separate process done BEFORE painting if you want a quality job done. What you use to hide the stain depends on what the stain is but stains like marker or smoke shellac based sealers like BIN work best but in general you’ll need oil or shellac based products. I can’t tell you the number of times we tried a new water based product claiming to seal stains only to end up running to the store to buy a petroneum based product that WILL always work like a dream. Is it stinky yes but it works. Bottom line cheap paints are no good. The stuff that makes paint durable, hard, washable are more expensive no way around it. I’d say $32 a gallon contractor price is decent paint. General consumer price $37 a gallon or so. Good luck
I never really cared much for the behr paints they work fine but the application kinda sucks, spraying it is fine but brushing feels like it drags a lot and hard to cut in a fine edge on trim because it sorta turns into a clump at the brush tips. I always Ed up adding water to thin it out a bit. Sherwin Williams for the win Benjamin Moore 2nd place
Very good review. It confirms what I’ve known for several years, that is with paint you really get what you pay for. I’m disappointed that you didn’t include any Benjamin Moore paints. They are the premier name for paint in the minds of most consumers and their to of the line aura is $65 per gallon. I’ve used it a lot and it’s a great paint. I don’t think it’s that much better than behr or emerald though.
I read a Consumer Reports years ago. They tests paints routinely. They said that paint is one of the few products that, in general, falls into the category of the more expensive, the better quality paint. So it’s a matter of getting the best you can afford. Personally, I’ve tried SW but it wasn’t so much better than Marquee that I thought it was worth the additional money. I also like the viscosity of Marquee and the new paint lids.
I have been using the Sherwin Williams Emerald for a couple years or so and recently tried the Behr Marquee at the suggestion of a friend. Both are great paints but I have to say that the Behr seemed to have a “creamy” consistency that I really liked. IMO the Behr edges out the SW Emerald but my opinion is based on painting clean primed walls where I am not looking to hide anything except some poor drywall skills.
You’re not in the Pacific NW, so I guess I shouldn’t expect Miller to be tested. But I’m still disappointed it isn’t here. I appreciate your work overall, but I think you should do some blind tests where you hide the brands from yourself. Some of your tests are pretty fair, but others could be affected by the order you do them, so the order should be changed for every test. Example: It’s doubtful that even the most even-handed moderator could apply paint with exactly the same pressure and roller loading. The first one is unlikely to have the same amount of paint or force applied as the later ones.
Just buy the Emerald, you don’t save any money if you have to use 3 coats to get the same coverage and really, who wants to spend more time painting. I’ve used Behr Marquee twice and been really disappointed in the one coat coverage both times, and the guarantee is worth exactly what you pay for it; without providing any instructions for what technique they expect you to use they just blamed me for using the paint incorrectly and said that they wouldn’t honor the guarantee.
In my experience (DIY homeowner) Valspar of any type is all terrible. Terrible coverage. About three years ago painted a half bath with Valspar and the smell was unbelievable and would NOT dissipate. I vented it for weeks and it still would not dissipate. Didn’t like the color so immediately painted with my go-to paint that I should have stuck with: Clark+Kensington (aka Ace Hardware paint). C+K I’ve used many times and it’s been great every time. Easy to use and almost no stench.
A couple things I would take in to consideration when testing is color. All paints should be tinted to the same color to be a fair and complete test as well as using a draw down bar to ensure the same mill thickness is applied. Also if you look at most one Cato paints there are requirements like being tinted to specific colors to guarantee one coat coverage. Last time I looked at emerald it was $97 a gallon not sure how you picked that up for $51 unless you received a discount
I like your website but this article is definitely for entertainment only. There are standardized ASTM tests for many of the things you’re trying to do. The biggest thing you got wrong though was application consistency. In the paint industry, they use draw downs at specific mil thicknesses so that each paint is equally applied. You’ll never achieve that with a roller or brush or sprayer. Either way, cheap paint will have cheaper resins and more filler ingredients, typically, vs those that cost more. Unless the paint company doesnt care about margins or is operated out of a garage.
If you ever do a follow up test, I would like to see Ben Moore Aura, Ben Moore Scuff-X, PPG Ultralast, PPG Manor Hall, Sherwin Williams Duration Home (which my painting contractor tells me is superior to Emerald despite costing less). It would also make sense to compare the new paints with your 1st and 2nd place finishers from this test. Thanks, for another great article as always!
Thank you sir. I have a huge list of items in various shopping carts because of you and your work. I am excited to see where you go next. If theres any ways we people can get you to your goals sooner please, i would like to know assuming others want to aswell. if you ever stop doing this please find someone you trust deeply to carry the torch. You live a piece of life I had wished for so long ago. i truely hope youre falling more in love with life. if you dont mind.. i wonder if anyone else wants more trade tools tested.. i havent seen a hammer article yet or leather working article if you ever thought, perhaps even a sewing machine, washing machine comparison. Im losing my train of thought trying to spit this out so ima go away. Again. thanks. I got arm an hammer yesterday and wil prob buy it every time now.❤ Two tons of love from Texas. Stay golden please. for people like me
This was not my favorite article, highly subjective, much I didn’t agree with the results. Also very unscientific which is a departure from the norm on your articles. The most disappointing is my wife wants to repaint and I wanted your suggestion to look good! Lol Just constructive criticism, you always do great work! Thank you for the articles!
Would be interested in seeing this test redone in eggshell or satin sheen which typically have more scuff-resistance, would also like to see some more of the Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams contractor grade products included as some of those options can be over $80 per gallon for interior paint, although many of the pros swear by them. I know in my home we used BM Scuff-x and I’ve yet to make a mark on it in nearly a year of use, including at an area which is a built-in painted shelf.