BENJAMIN MOORE VS SHERWIN WILLIAMS
The two biggest names in professional paint, compared on coverage, durability, color selection, price, and real-world performance. Here’s what actually matters.
Which Paint Brand Is Better, Benjamin Moore or Sherwin-Williams?
THE SHORT ANSWER
- Both brands make excellent paint; most professional painters stock both and choose by project.
- Benjamin Moore wins on color accuracy, volume solids (Aura ~45%), and self-leveling, per Benjamin Moore product specs.
- Sherwin-Williams wins on availability (4,850+ company stores plus Lowe’s) and on pro pricing thanks to standardized contractor accounts.
- Sherwin-Williams runs 30–40% off sales several times a year, which can make SW on sale cheaper than BM at retail.
- Benjamin Moore is sold through independent dealers only; Sherwin-Williams is sold through its own stores plus Lowe’s.
BENJAMIN MOORE WINS
Color accuracy, coverage per coat, premium finish quality
SHERWIN WILLIAMS WINS
Availability, pro pricing, thicker consistency, self-leveling
How do Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams differ?
Both brands have been making paint for over 140 years. The biggest practical difference is where you buy them — Benjamin Moore through independent dealers, Sherwin-Williams through their own stores. This affects pricing, availability, and pro account perks.
Key difference for pros: Sherwin-Williams offers contractor accounts with volume pricing, job-site delivery, and dedicated reps. Benjamin Moore dealers often provide personalized color consulting and tinting expertise. Both matter — it depends on what your painting business values most.
How do Aura, Emerald, Regal and Duration match up by tier?
Each brand organizes its lineup into tiers. Here’s how the product lines map against each other. Both brands publish retail list prices online; Sherwin-Williams also runs frequent sales and prices PRO accounts separately, so what you pay at SW varies most.
PREMIUM TIER
Aura
~$109/gal
~45% volume solids, Color Lock technology, low VOC (under 50 g/L)
Emerald
$101 – $106/gal list
~40% volume solids, antimicrobial, self-leveling finish
MID-RANGE TIER
Regal Select
$79 – $85/gal
~45% solids, self-priming, 400–450 sq ft per gallon
Duration Home / SuperPaint
$83 – $101/gal list
Acrylic latex, strong scuff resistance
VALUE TIER
Ben
~$61/gal
Zero-VOC, easy application, great for DIY
Cashmere / ProClassic
$83 – $88/gal list (Cashmere)
Smooth buttery feel, good for trim work
ECONOMY TIER
N/A (no economy line)
—
BM doesn't compete at the economy tier
ProMar 200 / ProMar 400
PRO pricing, not listed online
Zero-VOC contractor workhorses, suitable for rentals and flips
Volume solids measure the amount of paint left on the wall after drying. Benjamin Moore’s higher solids mean better coverage per coat — which can offset the slightly higher price. Use our paint calculator to estimate how many gallons you need.
Which brand wins feature-by-feature?
Highlighted cells mark the winner in each category. We compared mid-range lines (Regal Select vs Duration/SuperPaint) as the most popular choice for both pros and homeowners.
| FEATURE | BENJAMIN MOORE | SHERWIN WILLIAMS |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage (1st coat) | Excellent — higher volume solids fill fasterWINS | Very good — thicker formula, needs steady hand |
| Color Accuracy | Industry-leading Gennex colorant systemWINS | Strong, but slight batch variance reported |
| Self-Leveling | Good — Aura and Regal self-level well | Excellent — Emerald is best-in-class for brush marksWINS |
| Durability | Very good — resists fading and scuffs | Excellent — Duration and Emerald are scuff-proofWINS |
| Color Selection | 3,500+ colors with fan deck systemWINS | 1,700+ colors, strong trending collections |
| VOC Levels | Zero VOC in ben; under 50 g/L in Aura and Regal Select | Low VOC; zero-VOC ProMar 200 and 400 for pros |
| Ease of Application | Smooth but thinner — sprays beautifully | Thicker consistency — great brush control |
| Availability | Independent dealers only — fewer locations | 4,850+ company stores + Lowe'sWINS |
| Pro Discounts | Dealer-negotiated, varies by location | Standardized pro accounts + 30-40% salesWINS |
| Touch-Up Blending | Exceptional — Color Lock holds trueWINS | Good, though some sheen mismatch reported |
The split tells you everything: Benjamin Moore wins on paint quality while Sherwin-Williams wins on business convenience. For a deeper look at how finishes compare regardless of brand, see our satin vs semi-gloss comparison.
Which is cheaper per gallon (including Behr)?
Sticker price doesn’t tell the full story. Sherwin-Williams runs 30–40% off sales several times a year that can drop their mid-range below Benjamin Moore’s retail. Meanwhile, Behr at Home Depot offers the lowest entry point. Here’s how all three compare per gallon.
Last verified: October 2026 (Behr: approximate Home Depot ranges, by sheen and promotion)
| TIER | BENJAMIN MOORE | SHERWIN WILLIAMS | BEHR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium | ~$109 (Aura) | $101 – $106 (Emerald) | About $50 – $60 (Marquee) |
| Mid-Range | $79 – $85 (Regal) | $83 – $101 (SuperPaint / Duration Home) | About $45 – $55 (Ultra) |
| Value | ~$61 (Ben) | $83 – $88 (Cashmere) | About $35 – $45 (Premium Plus) |
| Economy | — | PRO pricing (ProMar, not listed online) | — (Premium Plus is the entry line) |
Published retail list prices before pro or sale discounts: benjaminmoore.com and sherwin-williams.com (October 2026); approximate Home Depot ranges for Behr. Sherwin-Williams was running 40% off its list prices when we checked, so its shelf price swings more than the other two.
THE REAL COST: PER-COAT MATH
A cheaper gallon that needs 2 coats costs more than a pricier gallon that covers in 1. Benjamin Moore’s higher volume solids (~45%) often mean true one-coat coverage on repaint jobs, while economy paints at ~30% solids almost always need two coats.
$85
BM Regal (1 coat)
$96–$202
SW Duration Home (1-2)
$90–$110
Behr Ultra (2 coats)
Cost per 400 sq ft wall (1 gallon coverage). Assumes repainting over a similar color. New construction or drastic color changes always need 2 coats regardless of brand.
For a full job cost breakdown including labor, materials, and prep, use our interior painting cost calculator. See also: Behr vs Sherwin Williams for a deeper dive on the budget vs. pro debate.
Which brand should pros pick by project type?
The best brand depends on the project. Here’s what experienced painting contractors actually reach for in each situation.
Interior Walls (Repaint)
BENJAMIN MOORERegal Select — Matte or Eggshell
Higher solids mean true one-coat coverage on repaints. Color Lock keeps touch-ups invisible. See: how to paint a room.
Kitchen Cabinets
SHERWIN-WILLIAMSEmerald Urethane Trim Enamel
Self-leveling acrylic-alkyd hybrid dries hard as traditional oil without the fumes. Best brush mark resistance in the industry. See: painting kitchen cabinets.
Trim, Doors & Baseboards
EITHERBM Advance or SW Emerald Urethane
Both make excellent trim paints. BM Advance is thinner and sprays beautifully. SW Emerald Urethane brushes on smoother. See: painting trim.
Exterior (Full Repaint)
BENJAMIN MOOREAura Exterior — Low Lustre
Superior fade resistance, wider application temperature range (35°F+), and industry-best adhesion to chalky surfaces. See: exterior painting costs.
New Construction / High Volume
SHERWIN-WILLIAMSProMar 200 or Duration
Pro accounts get contractor pricing well below retail. Job-site delivery, consistent supply, and standardized pro pricing make large projects more predictable.
Specialty (Ceiling, Concrete)
EITHERBM Waterborne Ceiling or SW ceiling paint
Both brands have excellent specialty products. For ceilings, ultra-flat from either brand works well. See: painting a ceiling.
BOTTOM LINE
Most successful painting businesses don’t pick one brand exclusively. They stock Benjamin Moore for color-critical work and repaints, Sherwin-Williams for high-volume and trim, and sometimes Behr for budget-conscious clients. The right paint is the one that fits the project, the client, and the margin.
Need to price a job? Start with our painting estimate template or painting invoice template.