Professional painters overwhelmingly prefer premium contractor-grade lines from Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore. Rather than buying consumer paints from big-box stores, pros favor these brands because of their superior coverage, color accuracy, and contractor support.
Professional painters primarily use Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore. This preference is driven by high-quality, durable ingredients, exceptional coverage, and access to dedicated contractor stores and trade discounts.
Michael Harding primarily makes professional-grade handmade oil paints. Known for their rich, buttery consistency and vibrant, highly saturated colors, their oil paints are celebrated for containing exceptionally high pigment loads with absolutely no fillers, extenders, or artificial driers.
Both Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore are top-tier paint brands favored by professionals, but they excel in different areas. Benjamin Moore is generally considered superior for color depth, rich finishes, and overall durability. Sherwin-Williams is often preferred for application ease, value, and frequent sales.
When painting contractors seek out quality paint for their jobs, they often choose Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams – two of the best selling brands on the market. Professional painters the world over have used these paints to great success for many years.
There is no single "highest rated" paint brand because top-tier ratings depend on whether you prioritize professional contractor reviews, independent lab testing, or everyday DIY user satisfaction. However, three premium brands consistently dominate the top of the market.
Hiring a professional to paint a 12x12 room typically costs between $400 and $950 for labor and materials. This generally covers two coats of paint on the walls and standard surface preparation.
Painters prefer Sherwin-Williams because of its superior coverage, high durability, and excellent color consistency, which allows for seamless touch-ups over the years. Professionals rely on their dedicated commercial stores, lucrative contractor loyalty programs, and vast array of specialized primers and formulas.
The hardest colors to paint over are red, black, and deep, dark blues or greens. Because of their strong, saturated pigments, these colors easily bleed through lighter topcoats. Attempting to cover them without proper preparation often results in streaks and requires many frustrating, time-consuming coats of paint.
The best wall paint is generally an acrylic latex (water-based) formula. It is favored for its quick drying time, low odor, easy application, and easy cleanup. For durability and flawless coverage in high-end projects, premium lines like Sherwin-Williams Emerald and Benjamin Moore Aura are widely recommended by professionals.
Bob Ross Oil Colors are a unique firm oil paint which is a bit thicker than conventional artists' colors due to the needs of Bob's famous wet-on-wet technique. Highlight colors such as yellow are a bit thinner to facilitate easier mixing and application.
Houses that sell the fastest are typically painted in neutral, universally appealing colors. Buyers prefer these shades because they act as a "blank canvas," allowing them to easily envision their own furniture and personal touches in the space.
Made in America
Dunn-Edwards manufactured paint products are made in the world's first and only LEED Gold-certified paint factory, located in Phoenix, Arizona.
The "No. 1" paint brand depends on your criteria. Globally, Sherwin-Williams is the largest manufacturer by sales. In the US, for consumer satisfaction and market share, the top brands are Sherwin-Williams, Behr, and Benjamin Moore.
No, Sherwin-Williams paint sold at Lowe's is not the exact same quality or formulation as the paint sold at dedicated Sherwin-Williams retail stores. While they are made by the same overarching parent company, they serve different markets and feature varying formulas, pricing, and durability.
Whether PPG or Benjamin Moore is better depends on your project goals. Professional painters generally regard Benjamin Moore as having superior quality, durability, and color depth, while PPG offers better affordability and great value for everyday use.
Whether you should buy paint from Sherwin-Williams or Home Depot depends on your budget, experience level, and project scale.
Cool gray is being replaced by "mushroom" neutrals (warm taupes and greys with subtle green or violet undertones), warm earthy khakis, and soft, natural sages.
The "most high quality" paint generally refers to premium, ultra-pigmented formulations known for superior durability, color retention, and coverage. Professional painters and designers consistently rank Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams at the top for everyday luxury, while niche European brands take the crown for ultra-premium specialty finishes.
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 best time to paint is generally spring and early fall. During these seasons, temperatures and humidity levels are moderate, allowing paint to adhere and dry properly. However, the ideal timing depends largely on whether you are painting inside or outside.
No, $25 an hour is not expensive for painting; in fact, it is on the very low end of the spectrum for professional services. Labor typically makes up 70% to 90% of a project's total cost.
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 expensive consumer paint brands are European imports known for heavy pigment loads and specialized resins. Fine Paints of Europe and Farrow & Ball top the market, with prices ranging from $125 to over $200 per gallon compared to standard premium paints (like Benjamin Moore or Sherwin-Williams) which range from $60 to $100.
Neither brand is universally "better," as they cater to different needs. Sherwin-Williams is generally preferred by professionals for superior durability, coverage, and long-term performance. Behr is the go-to choice for DIYers, offering excellent value, single-coat options, and easy availability at The Home Depot.