Yes, Sherwin-Williams offers multiple grades of paint, primarily categorized into Good, Better, and Best tiers. The difference largely comes down to the quality of resins, pigments, and additives, which determine coverage, durability, and scrubbability.
Sherwin-Williams categorizes its paint into three primary tiers: Premium, Mid-Grade, and Entry/Contractor-Grade. The best choice depends on your budget and the room's traffic. Top-tier paints offer superior durability and stain resistance, while mid-grade options balance quality and affordability.
No, the Sherwin-Williams paint sold at Lowe's is not the same quality as the paint sold at physical Sherwin-Williams retail stores. While manufactured by the same company, they feature different chemical formulations and are produced in different “good, better, best” tiers.
Sherwin-Williams SuperPaint is a dependable, mid-range paint with excellent breathability, making it ideal for older homes or budget-friendly projects. Duration is a thicker, premium coating featuring advanced cross-linking resins. It provides superior durability, dirt resistance, and longevity, making it the better choice for high-traffic areas or extreme weather.
Sherwin-Williams and Home Depot (which primarily sells Behr paint) cater to different needs. Sherwin-Williams offers premium, professional-grade finishes with exceptional coverage and expert support. Home Depot’s Behr brand is heavily favored by DIYers for its budget-friendliness, wide color selection, and easy one-coat coverage options.
Commercial painting contractors generally purchase Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams paints in 2-gallon cans, which brings cost savings to clients. Each brand charges roughly the same amount for their paint, including their top-quality premium paint.
Sherwin-Williams is generally considered the superior paint, especially for durability, washability, and professional performance. However, Behr is highly rated for value and is much more accessible for DIYers.
The absolute best quality interior wall paints are premium formulas that offer outstanding hide, color richness, and long-term scrubbability. The top industry standards are Benjamin Moore Aura and Sherwin-Williams Emerald. Both retail for around $75–$110/gallon but drastically reduce the number of coats required.
Sherwin-Williams Emerald is a luxury, top-tier paint featuring advanced cross-linking resins and excellent stain-blocking technology. In contrast, SuperPaint is a dependable, mid-tier "workhorse" formulated with solid acrylics. Emerald offers superior longevity, washability, and scratch resistance, while SuperPaint delivers great value but requires more frequent repainting.
Generally, Sherwin-Williams is considered the superior paint brand for longevity, coverage, and professional use. While Valspar (now owned by Sherwin-Williams) is a highly accessible and budget-friendly DIY option, Sherwin-Williams offers more durable formulas, requires fewer coats, and provides an industry-leading warranty.
Sign-up in-store for Savings every day on paints, stains and supplies.
To make a house feel more spacious, opt for light, airy neutrals and soft, cool tones. These colors reflect the maximum amount of natural light and create an optical illusion that makes walls appear to recede.
Yes, Valspar is owned by The Sherwin-Williams Company. Sherwin-Williams officially completed its acquisition of The Valspar Corporation in June 2017, making Valspar one of the many leading brands under the Sherwin-Williams corporate umbrella.
Yes, you can absolutely get Sherwin-Williams colors at Lowe's. Lowe's carries a dedicated line called HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams and can also mix classic Sherwin-Williams colors using their color-matching system.
Eggshell Paint
Eggshell finish, perennially popular with professional and DIY painters alike, has a low-sheen reminiscent of flat or matte, but it is infinitely more durable than its namesake.
Sherwin-Williams’ highest quality, premium paint line is Emerald. Priced at a premium point, it features advanced, self-cross-linking acrylic technology that creates an exceptionally durable, smooth finish with top-tier stain resistance, washability, and fade protection.
A gallon of Sherwin-Williams SuperPaint normally retails between $83.49 and $88.49 depending on the sheen and base. However, Sherwin-Williams runs frequent 30% to 40% off sales, bringing the promotional price down to roughly $58.00 to $62.00 per gallon.
While Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel is highly durable once cured, it is known for several common issues during application: long soft cure times, poor coverage (especially dark colors), sagging/runs, pinholing and bubbles, and brushing difficulties.
Acrylic paints are a favorite among professional painters for their long-lasting performance. Known for resisting stains and fading, they're especially effective in busy areas like kitchens, hallways, and entryways.
Eggshell is generally better for high-traffic areas (living rooms, hallways) because it is durable and easy to clean, while matte is superior for hiding wall imperfections in lower-traffic rooms (bedrooms, dining rooms) due to its non-reflective, soft finish. Eggshell offers a slight, subtle sheen, whereas matte absorbs light.
The most popular Sherwin-Williams interior color is Agreeable Gray (SW 7029). It is a top-selling "greige" (a perfect balance between warm beige and cool gray) that designers favor for its high versatility and ability to fit well into both modern and traditional interiors.
Whether Home Depot paint is as good as Sherwin-Williams depends on the specific product line. While professional painters generally favor Sherwin-Williams for durability and application, top-tier Home Depot paints like Behr Dynasty and Behr Marquee frequently rival and sometimes outperform Sherwin-Williams in consumer testing.
Red is universally considered the hardest paint color to cover. Vibrant red pigments are highly transparent and inherently prone to bleeding through subsequent layers. Other notoriously difficult colors to cover include black, dark blue, dark green, and bright yellow.
The top five paint brands widely recognized for quality, durability, and color selection are Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, Behr, PPG, and Valspar. Whether you are a DIYer tackling a weekend project or hiring professional painters, these brands offer the best balance of coverage and long-lasting finishes.