Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams are two of the top paints on the market. They’re both high-quality products that are used widely by professionals all over the world. Many people wonder which of these paints is the better choice, and the real answer is that they’re both great.
Basically, it really comes down to personal preference. The best thing you can do is compare and contrast these two paints to see which one appeals more to your needs. Take advantage of the information below when trying to decide between Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams.
Affordability
When it comes to price, Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams are just about the same price. For a 2-gallon can of paint of Benjamin Moore, you’re going to pay around $45 to $50, and for Sherwin Williams you’ll usually pay a little more.
These prices sometimes go up when it comes to their special colors. If you’re looking to save a little cash, watch for coupons and deals in your local ads. Companies that buy in bulk might also get a discount on certain sized orders, but you’ll have to contact the company about that information.
Accessibility
Both Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams are commonly sold in paint stores. However, the difference is that Sherwin Williams actually have their own stores whereas Benjamin Moore is sold in authorized dealer stores. By either doing a simple Google search or going to the website for these two companies, you can find the locations for these stores and authorized dealers in your geographical area.
Performance
When it comes to performance, there’s two main categories you want to focus on. These to categories include coverage and cover-ups. Coverage is how many coats it takes to cover a surface, and if a paint has good coverage, it should take no more than two coats. On the other hand, paint with bad coverage will take more coats to cover a surface and can end up being more expensive in the long run. Typically, the thinner the paint, the lower the performance.
The second category is paint touch-ups. Why is this important? Well first, many painting companies offer their customers a warranty on their services. This means that if the paint chips away, they’ll come back and touch it up. Using a high-quality paint is essential when it comes to making touch-ups. A good touch-up paint will blend into the rest of the wall. A bad touch-up paint will be quite noticeable. As a result, the rest of the wall will need to be repainted. This is why choosing a high-quality paint is important.
Both Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams paints are excellent when it comes to performance. In fact, they’re considered by a lot of professionals as the best. However, when compared, Benjamin Moore products tend to go on easier, are more durable, are more cleanable than Sherwin Williams.
Which is the better paint, Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore?
Now that you know a little about both Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore paints, it’s time to compare and contrast some of their products. By doing this, you’ll have a much easier time choosing the right kind of paint for your specific needs. All of the information used for the products listed below come from the reviews of professional painters and the honest testimonials of past customers.
Benjamin Moore Advance vs. Sherwin Williams ProClassic
Benjamin Moore’s Advance
According to 2 Cabinet Girls, an online site that features home improvement ideas and opinions, Benjamin Moore’s Advance paint is a better choice than Sherwin Williams’ ProClassic. Why? Well, first, the Benjamin Moore’s Advance paint typically spreads easier on surfaces than Sherwin Williams ProClassic.
In addition to this, Benjamin Moore’s Advance paint is also more durable too. 2 Cabinet Girls reported than the ProClassic chipped easier during the installation process. The Advance paint is also a thicker paint that requires fewer coats, and when applied onto a surface through sprayer, the shine was also prettier and more appealing as well.
Lastly, Benjamin Moore’s Advance paint doesn’t have an odor like Sherwin Williams’s ProClassic does. This makes for a much more pleasant working experience. The odor from the ProClassic paint isn’t really all that bad, it’s just than the Advance paint is completely odorless.
All around, Benjamin Moore’s Advance is a better choice than Sherwin Williams ProClassic. The best part? It’s a less expensive product too. Now, that doesn’t mean that Sherwin Williams ProClassic isn’t a quality product, because it is.
Sherwin Williams Alabaster vs. Benjamin Moore White Dove
Both of these paints are high-quality whites that are definitely worth the buy. Although they’re very similar, they’re also slightly different in their own ways. The Alabaster paint tends to dry faster and have a shiner coat where as the White Dove paint is said to spread easier, easier to clean when dried, and all around more durable than the Alabaster paint. The Alabaster and the White Dove paint are both around the same price for a 2-gallon bucket, but the White Dove paint is the better pick.
Benjamin Moore Regal Select vs. Sherwin Williams Cashmere
Benjamin Moore Regal Select
According to Wirecutter, a New York Times company, the Regal Select paint is a better choice, but not by much. Sherwin Williams Cashmere paint is still a high-quality paint, it’s just a cheaper choice when compared to Benjamin Moore’s Regal Select. Although the Cashmere paint has a lower quality than the Regal Select, it tends to cost more. Typically, Regal Select paint is about $50 for 2 gallons where as the Cashmere paint is on average $62 for the same amount.
In addition to this, Wirecutter also reports that even though the Cashmere paint is a top-notch interior paint, the Regal Select spreads easier, is more durable, and is more cleanable. The only downfall to Regal Select is that this paint is only available at dedicated retailers and specific hardware stores.
Other Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams paints
In addition to the products listed above, there other Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams products to compare and contrast. Examine the chart below. The information provided here was gathered from a paint test performed by a Nick May, a professional contractor who contributes regularly to the website Walls By Design.
| Name of Paint | Average Retail Price for 1 Gallon | Quality of Coverage After One Coat |
| Benjamin Moore’s Coronado | $23.00 | One of the worse |
| Benjamin Moore’s Super Hide | $22.00 | Medium coverage |
| Sherwin Williams Super Paint | $56.00 | Excellent coverage, one of the best |
| Sherwin Williams ProMar 200 | $66.00 | Medium coverage |
| Benjamin Moore’s Ben | $40.00 | Excellent coverage, one of the best |
| Benjamin Moore’s Ultra Spec 500 | $34.00 | Medium coverage |
| Sherwin Williams ProMar 100 | $59.00 | The worse coverage of them all |
According to this chart, after one coat, the two best paints are the Sherwin Williams Super paint and Benjamin Moore’s Ben paint. Both of these paints are just about equally good, but Benjamin Moore’s is a little less expensive.
Now, the worst coverage possible is by the Sherwin Williams ProMar 100 followed by Benjamin Moore’s Coronado. As far as Benjamin Moore’s Super Hide, Ultra Spec 500, and Sherwin Williams ProMar 200, you’ll get average coverage, not the best and yet not the worst.
So, now the question remains, how many coats does it take for each of the paints listed above to fully cover a surface? This is important because applying two or even three coats is much more time consuming than applying a single coat. It’s also much more expensive too.
| Name of Paint | Number of Coats to Fully Cover a Surface |
| Benjamin Moore’s Coronado | 2 Coats |
| Benjamin Moore’s Super Hide | 2 Coats |
| Sherwin Williams Super Paint | 1 Coat |
| Sherwin Williams ProMar 200 | 2 Coats |
| Benjamin Moore’s Ben | 1 Coat |
| Benjamin Moore’s Ultra Spec 500 | 1 Coat |
| Sherwin Williams ProMar 400 | 2 to 3 Coats |
When choosing the right kind of paint for the interior portion of your home, always compare and contrast the cost with the amount of coats you’ll need to apply. Like mentioned above, having to apply a second or third coat is time consuming and also expensive. In addition to this, consider other things like the durability, the shine, and the cleanability of the paint too.
A final thought
Although both Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams produce quality paint, Benjamin Moore wins the contest. Benjamin Moore products tend to be more durable, easier to spread, require less coats, and are less expensive than Sherwin William paints. Now, that doesn’t mean that Sherwin Moore paints aren’t good, because they definitely are.
The important thing to remember is whether you choose Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams, go with one of their higher quality paints. By doing so, you won’t have to apply as many coats, the paint itself will be more durable, and you’ll be able to clean it better when it’s dry. Higher quality paints also have a better shine. There really are a lot of benefits to choosing either Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams’ paints. Give them a try and you won’t be sorry.
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