Benjamin Moore vs Sherwin-Williams, The Answer To The Best Paint

May 30, 2024·By Tyler Bains

Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams have been batteling to be the best paint for decades and it is becoming harder to figure out which is the go to paint. While Benjamin Moore typically is a bit more expensive, they are seen as a more premium product, while Sherwin is a better everyday option.

Whichever project you have in mind, be it a rental property or personal home, the painting work can be a real game-changer.

A view of nature in combination with a boiling urban environment means one cannot underestimate how your space will look. So let's look at Benjamin Moore paint vs Sherwin Williams, which should you use?

bc brushworks team member painting wall with roller in langford bc

Quality and Overall Longevity

The BC Brushworks team has years of experience in the painting industry. We've put this expertise to work by testing over ten gallons of each product featured in this guide.

Our goal is to share insights and practical advice from our hands-on experience to help you make an informed decision for your next project. The debate between Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams has been a hot topic in the painting industry for nearly a decade, with Sherwin Williams continually improving its quality and challenging for the top spot.

From a painter's perspective, it's all about quality and performance.

When it comes to quality, it's hard to choose between Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams. Quality paint isn't just about vibrant colors; it's also about how long the finish lasts and how well it handles wear and tear.

Based on our case studies of projects throughout our service area, both brands consistently deliver on durability, coverage,

Sherwin Williams Paint

Sherwin WIlliams provides great coverage and high quality paints, their interior paint is where this paint brand shines. Sherwin Williams Duration is one of the brands select lines that every painter should have in their arsenal. It is great for homes in North America in wetter climates espically. Sherwin Williams Emerald, is right behind that dependind on the surface, we personally love the Rain Refresh variant of Emerald, as it gives your home a fresh look every rain.

When using high quality paints like Sherwin, you want to see the same ability of coverage with opposing paints, and this is where it becomes a closer battle with Benjamin Moore Regal Select, outlasting Sherwin Duration and Sherwin Williams Emerald. We have drove by projects nearly a decade later, looking as they did the first day with Regal Select.

The price difference between Duration and Regal Select are night and day, which is where Sherwin gains market share. Addiontally, if your working with a contractor, you will be able to get significant discount on product. Both focus on high quality paints, that offer great coverage.

Where Sherwin is middle to upper tier paint, Benjamin Moore is the Gold Standard. That being said, Sherwin performs better then Benny Moore at all other aspects, with Sherwin Williams Duration costing around $75 per gallon.

Benjamin Moore

Typically known as the #1 paint to use within the industry, Benny Moore typically holds off on the advertising compared to Sherwin, yet focuses on their product.

Benjamin Moore has dumped millions into research and development to ensure their product is superior. With a thicker formula and longer lasting paint, they go as far as putting a second coat as optional with their Regal Select line, compared to Sherwin where they say two coats are mandatory.

We can attest, that when using Regal Select on exterior projects, no matter what we use two coats and the two coat jobs from Regal has lasted longer. Ben Moore is more expensive in their top lines, and that is where it is worth it to use. We recommend to either go all in, or to not at all. With the cost per gallon of Ben Moore Regal Select at $95.

Benjamin Moore, The Benefits and Downsides

For example, when it comes to the best coverage and outstanding color choices, Benjamin Moore has a great reputation. From its Regal Select line to its Aura products, it delivers great options that include solid surface protection and an even, smooth finish on many of their paints.

This color accuracy ensures that the tones remain vibrant for a long time, which can prove to be critically important in highly variable climate. The color matching at Ben Moore, is incredible and would recommend anyone to use it if needing to paint their home to a color they once loved.

They do provide great color consultations, showing their higher quality paints. So before choosing a color, you know you already will love it.

Benjamin Moore color wheel to help customers choose colors

Sherwin Williams, Where They Excel

While Sherwin Williams is outstandingly known for many projects, what shines the brightest in this collaboration has to do more with the user friendliness of products such as Emerald and Duration.

sherwin williams team member rolling paint on wall

They are best known for brilliant coverage, easy application, and can take a beating from any sort of weather. Pair that with the extensive availability in their stores—providing easy access to everything we need for our project—and it's set up perfectly for success. Sherwin Williams Emerald and Duration are their number one paints. When looking for a higher quality look you will want to use these.

Sherwin does use water based paints, so it at times can be not as thick as a Benjamin Moore paint. Sherwin does also provide free color consultations, ensuring you have the best experience with the paint. You should expect this with higher quality paint companies.

Which Should I Pick?

Now that you understand the basics of both Sherwin Williams vs Benjamin Moore, it's time to talk specifics. We will analyze each field of importance when selecting the right paint for your next project.

Environmental Impact and Sustainability

As a green-minded entrepreneur, we are very careful as to the level of "greenness" of the products we use for painting. Another stride towards earth protection would be the recent lines of low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) and zero-VOC paints introduced by Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams. We use their new lines of low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) and zero-VOC paints not only for earth protection but also in providing our clients with the safer quality of air indoors.

Colour Options and Preferences

Color choice is one area in which both brands shine, offering their clients an extensive amount of colors and an array of tools to get the perfect match for you. Both have premium paints and both have a great variety of colors.

color of the year from benjamin moore 2024

Benjamin Moore offers an updated annual Color of the Year and hand-selected color palettes for a great dose of inspiration in our projects. Sherwin Williams, using their tool of ColorSnap® Visualizer, makes it easier for anyone to match and virtually see the color they choose for their space. If you are looking to do any color matching for your home, insure to go to both and compare to your current wall.

Price Comparison: Value for Money

In our experience, the cost of each is nearly the same when considering value per project. While Benjamin Moore may seem slightly more expensive at first glance, its value becomes obvious with the quality and durability it provides the paint, thus allowing for less frequent touch-ups and repainting over the long term, thereby giving a net overall lower cost.

Depending on which lineup you go with the average cost per gallon in 2024 for Benjamin Moore paint is $65 where Sherwin Williams is $57. Over the last few years prices have increased across the board.

Sherwin Williams consistently provides excellent value, with frequent deals and PaintPerks bonuses that particularly cater to those who do a lot of painting. When dealing with premium paints, both have very comparable lines with similar lengths of use.

Application and Ease of Use

The application to be used will have great influence on the execution and hence the results of the project. For application, both companies are friendly as their products could be brushed, rolled, or even sprayed with ease. Sherwin williams and Benjamin act a bit different in this segment. All premium paints typically act a bit different, which we will go over.

applying paint to wall with painting company for Sherwin Williams vs Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore's paints are smoother in their application; thus, for those projects that involve finer detailing finishes, it is most recommended. Sherwin Williams paints, on the other hand, dry fast and are durable; this makes them the most suitable use for high-traffic areas and exterior use in open, exposed areas.

Coverage and Drying Time

Critical path factors include coverage and drying time. Our team found that both Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams offer outstanding coverage in a majority of the most common series, needing fewer coats than other brands at times. With such acceleration, project schedules are not unaccommodated for and quality is not sacrificed. Some products may vary from there in drying times, but with each, accelerated project schedules are not unaccommodated for and quality sacrificed. Professional painters will not have an issue with either when trying to paint your home, this typically is more of an issue for newer painters.

Product Availability and Accessibility

Accessibility is something where Sherwin Williams slightly takes over with its wide-reaching network of stores.

Sarehole Mill By George Willis Pryce — Sherwin Williams Locations 2023, Canada. Credits: ScrapeHero.

On the one hand, Benjamin Moore's commitment to local businesses and their distribution through independently owned stores supports local economies and provides a more personalized shopping experience. For BC Brushworks, it often comes down to specific requirements of the project at hand - whatever the suitability of sourcing materials. Professional painters should be able to work with either paint that the client would select.

Deciding Which Your Going To Pick

You have all of the information to make your decision now, but which are you going to pick? You may have noticed we left out one imporantant category for any business which is Customer Service and Support. Simply said, both are amazing. They both take the cake in offering the full gamut of advisory services, color tools and after-sale support. Paint companies have to have great support to keep their long term contractors for years to come.

sherwin williams customer support repersentive smiling at customer

Our every interaction with them had always been pleasant, wherein the responsive staff exert every effort to solve knowledge challenges. Mention is made here of expert opinions and contractor preferences.

Over the years, our team has used a wide variety of paints and products. Most professional choices and preferences derive from specific project needs. Benjamin Moore is my choice for high-end residential projects when it comes to color precision and finish. Sherwin Williams, with its exceptional durability and robust product line, often becomes our preference on commercial works or exteriors.

A Well-Balanced Palette for Your Projects

So when it comes to Benjamin Moore versus Sherwin Williams, you don't have to make an either/or choice. After working with both brands for a very long time, we at BC Brushworks say that each of them has their strength, depending upon how diverse the project can be. Whether you are painting that historic downtown Victoria house or protecting your exterior from that coastal weather, there are choices in products from each that may suit your needs.

We will always advise our customers according to which kind of paint their project needs, the choice in color, durability, effects of painting on the environment, and budget allocation. This way, you will be able to make an informed choice of carrying out the vision that solidly supports our expert advice. Paint companies typically offer incentives, so ensure that you look around for that as well.

You will ultimately have a preference for either the rich heritage of Benjamin Moore or mass accessibility with Sherwin Williams at the end of the day, but BC Brushworks is here to make sure that your project shines regardless. Quality and sustainability guaranteed in every job we perform at BC Brushworks; we are prepared to offer you the best experience you have ever asked for.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Is Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams better?

Both Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams offer excellent paint products, and the choice often comes down to personal preference and specific project needs. Benjamin Moore is known for its superior quality and long-lasting finish, making it a favorite for high-end residential projects.

On the other hand, Sherwin Williams provides excellent coverage and durability, making it a go-to for commercial projects and exterior applications. Both brands have their strengths, and either can be a great choice depending on your requirements.

2. Why do painters prefer Sherwin-Williams paint?

Painters often prefer Sherwin-Williams paint because it provides great coverage and is easy to apply. Their products like Duration and Emerald are known for their durability and ability to withstand various weather conditions, making them ideal for both interior and exterior projects.

Additionally, Sherwin-Williams has a wide network of stores, making it convenient to access their products and get support when needed.

3. Why is Benjamin Moore paint so expensive?

Benjamin Moore paint is often more expensive because of the high-quality ingredients and extensive research and development that go into their products.

Their paints offer excellent coverage, vibrant colors, and long-lasting durability, which can reduce the need for frequent touch-ups and repaints. The premium price reflects the superior performance and longevity of the paint.

The average cost per gallon of Benjamin Moore is $85, compared to Sherwin Williams at $65 to $70.

4. Does Home Depot carry Sherwin-Williams paint?

No, Home Depot does not carry Sherwin-Williams paint. Sherwin-Williams products are primarily sold through their own stores and a network of authorized dealers.

Home Depot carries other paint brands like Behr and PPG, but for Sherwin-Williams products, you'll need to visit a Sherwin-Williams store.

5. What is the Sherwin Williams color of the year for 2024?

The Sherwin-Williams color of the year for 2024 is Upward SW 6239. This soft and calming blue color brings a sense of tranquility and openness to any space, making it a great choice for creating a serene environment in your home.

6. Why doesn't Home Depot sell Benjamin Moore paint?

Home Depot does not sell Benjamin Moore paint because Benjamin Moore prefers to distribute their products through independently owned paint and hardware stores.

This approach supports local businesses and provides customers with a more personalized shopping experience. It also ensures that the quality of service and product knowledge remains high, as the stores that carry Benjamin Moore paint are often more specialized.

7. Do you need a primer for Benjamin Moore paint?

While many of Benjamin Moore's paints, like Regal Select and Aura, are self-priming on most surfaces, using a primer can still be beneficial in certain situations.

For example, if you are painting over a dark color, dealing with stains, or working with a new, unpainted surface, using a primer can help ensure better adhesion and coverage. For the best results, it's always a good idea to follow the manufacturer's recommendations and consult with your paint supplier if you have any doubts.