Benjamin Moore vs. Sherwin-Williams vs. Behr: Which Paint is Worth the Cost?

Want to transform the walls in your home? Interior painting is an easy, cost-effective way to achieve a striking makeover. When you start looking into interior paint products, you’ll notice that the price for a gallon of paint can vary greatly. These products also offer a wide array of characteristics, from types of paint to surface finishes. 

How should you go about evaluating the different brands for interior paint products ? In this article, we will focus on comparing Benjamin Moore vs. Sherwin Williams vs. Behr. These are three of the most commonly available paint products across Canada. 

Benjamin Moore vs. Sherwin Williams : what types of paint products do they offer ?

Source : Duoco

Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams are both residential paint manufacturers known to offer products that are in the mid-to-high quality range. Both companies market different kinds of paints meant to fulfill a variety of needs.

Let’s look at what they currently have on offer, focusing on interior paint for walls : 

Benjamin Moore paint products and their characteristics : 

Sherwin Williams paint products and their characteristics : 

What kinds of paint products does Behr manufacture ?

Although we are focusing mainly on Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams, we also wanted to add another option to our comparison. Behr is another paint manufacturer with products that are easy to find at home renovation retailers all over the country. 

These are the main products they have on offer : 

Benjamin Moore vs Sherwin Williams vs Behr : price per gallon comparison

Source : RenoQuotes

Here is a comparison of the different paint products mentioned above and their current prices (as of 2025-2026) : 

How much do I need to budget for a house painting project ?

For a DIY house painting project, you’ll have to calculate the number of gallons required and whether you have to buy equipment (ladder, paintbrushes, tarps, tape, paint rollers, cleaning products, adequate clothing). If we’re talking about one room, starting with no paint and no equipment whatsoever, you’re looking at around 300-500$. 

Of course, you’ll want to think about hiring a certified professional. House painting experts work efficiently, already own their equipment and have access to special prices for paint. 

Their rates will vary depending on their experience, the type of paint they use and the complexity of the project, but a ballpark range would be somewhere between 600 and 1000$ for one small room (150 sq. ft.). 

Here’s an article that goes more into detail about house painting projects and how much they should cost : 

 How Much Does It Cost to Paint a House? 2025 Cost Guide

Which interior paint offers better coverage ?

If the surface you are trying to paint requires good coverage (e.g. dark walls, stains, damaged surfaces), here are the best products from the three paint manufacturers we are focusing on in this article : 

• Benjamin Moore Regal Select Interior paint

• Benjamin Moore Aura Interior paint

• Behr Marquee

• Sherwin Williams Emerald

Which interior paint has the best durability ?

Source : Construction TRC

Painting is considered one of the more simple tasks in the world of home renovations. That being said, it’s not one you’d want to take on regularly. Therefore, some of the best paint products are known for their durability. Here are the top-rated options amongst those we have compared : 

• Behr Premium plus 

• Behr Marquee

• Benjamin Moore Regal Select Interior paint

• Benjamin Moore Aura Interior paint 

• Sherwin Williams SuperPaint 

• Sherwin Williams Emerald

• Sherwin Williams Cashmere 

Which interior paint has the lowest V.O.C. level ?

Homeowners are increasingly concerned with the materials used in their interior environments. In the past, house paint contained lots of harmful chemicals, including lead or asbestos, but also emitted a lot of volatile organic compounds that occupants would breathe in. Nowadays, most paints available on the market contain much fewer harmful ingredients and lower levels of V.O.C.. 

Here are the paint products that contain zero V.O.C. : 

• Sherwin Williams SuperPaint with Air Purifying Technology

• Sherwin Williams Emerald

• Sherwin Williams Duration

• Benjamin Moore Ben

• Benjamin Moore Regal Select Waterborne Interior Paint Ulti-matte

• Benjamin Moore Bath & Spa Interior Paint - Matte

Learn more about volatile organic compounds by reading these articles : 

Is Zero-VOC Paint Always Eco-Friendly?

The New and Improved Latex Paint

All about volatile organic compounds

Comparison guide for Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams and Behr paint products

Here is a basic overview :

Interior painting project : hire a pro or DIY?

Source : Finition 3P Inc.

You may be wondering if you should take on the house painting job yourself or hire a team of professional painters. The answer will depend on several factors, notably : 

• The size of the project : is it 1 wall, 1 room or a whole house ?

• The complexity of the surfaces to paint : are there any angles, trims, mouldings, anything that will make the work more difficult to complete if you don’t have a lot of experience.

• Your budget.

• Your expectations. 

The fact is that if you have a low budget and aren’t set on having perfect results, this is a task you can probably try to carry out yourself. However, professional painters are experts for a reason. They have years, sometimes decades of experience, they know a lot about the different types of paint products on offer, they have access to rebates and good equipment.

Without proper experience, you could easily select an inadequate product, use inefficient techniques and waste money on useless equipment. You also have to value your time, and if you need to take a day or two off of work to paint your house, that’s another factor to take into account.

Professional painters will carry out the job faster, often with better results. They can also take on complex patterns and textures, different colours for different elements and other challenging aspects of a paint job. 

House painting projects don’t carry the same risks and skill requirements as other home renovation projects, but you still want them to be done right. You’ll have to live with and look at your walls for years to come, so if they don’t look good, you’ll likely be upset.

Here is an article to check out if you are thinking about hiring a house painting company : 

How to find a good house painter

In a nutshell : which paint is best for what situation ?

Different paint products are meant for different applications. It’s important to pick the right product for the right area of the home, especially in kitchens, bathrooms and high-traffic areas (hallways, living rooms).  

Most professional painters will only want to work with high or premium quality products. Basic paints are an acceptable option for beginner painters and budget-conscious clients. In that sense, Behr paints are best for DIY projects and their higher-end lines offer good results in common spaces, bedrooms and offices.

Professional painters often favour the premium lines manufactured by Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams, which offer great coverage, smooth finishes and good durability. You’ll also want to look into their products for a high-end DIY project.