Behr Paint Vs. Sherwin Williams: Which Should I Buy?
Behr and Sherwin-Williams are two of the most popular paint brands. They both offer quality products and have solid reputations, which can make choosing one a tough decision.
Behr vs. Sherwin-Williams: Which to Choose
Buy Sherwin Williams paints if you value easy application, superior stain resistance, and full coverage. Pick Behr paint brands if you’re looking for competitive pricing.
Both paint brands offer quality products, so no matter what you pick, you can’t go wrong. Read below to learn more about the pros and cons of Behr vs. Sherwin-Williams.
Behr Paint
Founded in 1947, Behr is one of the largest manufacturers and distributors of paint. Its distribution network runs across the United States, Canada, China, Mexico, and Chile.
The Behr Marquee collection is highly regarded for its thick, one-coat coverage. Behr also sells paint primers, wood stains and finishes, floor coating, and painting tools.
Sherwin-Williams
With over 150 years in the industry, Sherwin-Williams is a top paint brand in North America, South America, and Europe. They have an extensive catalog of interior and exterior paints.
Sherwin-Williams paints are popular for their superior quality and coverage. But, these qualities come at a higher price than some other brands. The company also sells its products under other brand names, including Krylon, Valspar, Dutch Boy, Minwax, Purdy, Cabot, Thompson’s Water Seal, and Dupli-Color.
Exterior Wall Paint Comparison
Behr Paint’s Exterior Paint Options
Behr offers four exterior paint collections. The Behr Dynasty is the latest and most advanced type, with a 10-year fade protection guarantee. Other exterior paint types include the Behr Premium Plus, Ultra, and Marquee.
- Color Range and Finishes: Behr exterior paints are available in flat, satin, and semi-gloss finishes. Premium Plus paint is also available in a high gloss finish. Behr’s color range encompasses neutrals, earth tones, pastels, bold reds, yellows, blues, greens, and purple.
- Performance and Durability: Behr paints are mildew, dirt, and stain resistant, contributing to longevity. Behr’s Premium Plus Ultra Flat Enamel holds up well without losing its luster.
- Application Ease and Coverage: Behr’s exterior paint has a thick, sticky consistency. While it offers better coverage in one coating, the paint’s application may be challenging.
Sherwin Williams’ Exterior Paint Options
Sherwin Williams’ exterior paint lines include Emerald, Duration, SuperPaint, Resilience, Latitude, and A-100.
- Color Range and Finishes Available: Sherwin Williams exterior paints come in shades of gray, beige, white, peach, purple, brown, and red. The company offers flat, satin, semi-gloss, and high-gloss finishes to meet aesthetic and functional requirements.
- Performance and Durability: Sherwin-Williams Duration is its best-performing exterior paint. The acrylic latex formulation offers outstanding color retention and resistance to mildew, fading, cracking, and peeling. The SuperPaint line is also durable and cheaper.
- Application Ease and Coverage: Sherwin-Williams paint is applicable on various surfaces, including vinyl siding. Most professionals find the exterior paint easy to work with using brushes, rollers, or spray equipment.
Adhesion to Various Surfaces
Both brands offer paints that adhere well when applied properly. Behr paints provide good adhesion to wood, vinyl, and fiber cement sidings. Sherwin Williams paints adhere to aluminum, concrete, wood, stucco, drywall, and plaster. Proper surface preparation is crucial for achieving optimal adhesion with either brand.
Quality & Durability
Sherwin Williams Duration is a best-seller due to its resistance to mold and mildew. Behr’s Marquee line is one of its best sellers since it offers better durability and coverage than other Behr paints. Standard paints from both brands have similar quality and durability.
Resistance to Weather Elements
Sherwin Williams uses advanced technology to ensure the exterior paints hold up well against weather elements. Resilience features MoistureGuard Technology, which prevents moisture from absorbing in wood, shakes, plywood, and metal surfaces. The company also manufactures Latitude paint with ClimateFlex Technology, enabling painting in humid conditions.
With Behr’s Dynasty paint, you can paint in temperatures as low as 35°F. Behr paint formulas often include resins and binders that enhance the paint’s durability and longevity, helping it to resist cracking, peeling, and blistering.
VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) Content
VOCs are solvents that release into the air as paint dries. Higher VOC levels lead to a strong paint odor. These compounds may cause nausea, headaches, and respiratory issues.
Behr and Sherwin Williams offer options with lower VOC content. However, Behr Paints often have higher VOC levels than Sherwin-Williams.
Sherwin Williams has a larger inventory of zero VOC paints, with a few containing lower VOC levels. It’s worth checking the product labels or visiting the official websites of each brand for accurate VOC information.
Premium paints from both brands contain less than 5 grams of VOCs per liter (g/L). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends paints with VOC levels below 50 g/L to reduce potential health hazards.
Behr vs. Sherwin-Williams: Outdoor Paint Comparison
Behr and Sherwin-Williams both manufacture paints that withstand extreme outdoor conditions.
Types of Outdoor Paint Available
Both brands offer fence paint, trim paint, deck paint, porch paint, and masonry paint. Each paint option has specific benefits and long-lasting protection for the intended surface.
Some of Sherwin Williams’ outdoor paints have specific features that enhance their performance. For instance, the Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel paint has outstanding adhesion and gloss retention.
Behr’s Advanced DeckOver, formulated for decks, offers a durable, waterproof, and slip-resistant coating. The brand’s Premium Plus Ultra Exterior paint suits wood exteriors, aluminum siding, and vinyl.
Durability and Resistance to Outdoor Conditions
Both brands prioritize resistance to extreme conditions in their outdoor paint formulations. Behr often incorporates UV-resistant additives to enhance the longevity of the paint finish. The brand’s outdoor paints resist peeling, cracking, and fading.
Outdoor paints from Sherwin Williams incorporate technologies like moisture resistance and mold/mildew inhibitors. These features ensure long-lasting performance and protection. The outdoor paints also have advanced stain-blocking technology and resist dirt and fingerprints.
Application and Coverage
Behr and Sherwin Williams paints are formulated for smooth application, allowing for a consistent, uniform finish. Behr’s outdoor paints reduce the need for many coats since they offer good coverage.
Sherwin Williams paints are designed for easy application. Their formulation reduces roller and brush marks, resulting in a uniform finish. Both brands offer in-depth application guidelines to help users in achieving desired results.
Behr vs. Sherwin-Williams: Interior Wall Paint Comparison
Interior Paint Range and Finishes Available
Behr offers three interior paint lines, including Behr Premium Plus, Behr Marquee, and Behr Ultra. Sherwin-Williams interior paints include Sherwin-Williams Cashmere, Sherwin-Williams SuperPaint, and Sherwin-Williams Emerald. Sherwin-Williams formulates specialty paints like Sherwin-Williams Harmony, which improves indoor air quality.
Both brands offer matte, semi-gloss, high-gloss, and satin finishes, but Sherwin Williams has more sheen levels than Behr, with low-sheen and low-luster available.
Resistance to Stains & Scrubbing
Behr and Sherwin-Williams manufacture scratch and scuff-resistant paint. The Marquee line from Behr is known for its durability and stain resistance. It provides a one-coat coverage and a protective shell that resists dirt.
Sherwin Williams’ interior paints are also durable and stain-resistant. For instance, the Cashmere and Emerald lines feature stain-blocking properties that withstand scrubbing.
Sherwin Williams outperforms Behr in stain and scrub resistance. Their paint lines have higher volume solids. Hence, they have more pigment and binders and fewer solvents.
Color Accuracy and Vibrancy
Both brands have interior paint formulations that prioritize color accuracy and vibrancy. Behr uses color-matching technology to ensure accurate color reproduction. They provide online tools and color swatches to help customers compare colors in different lighting conditions.
Sherwin-Williams provides precise color-matching technology and high-quality colorants as well. Their ColorSnap® system achieves accurate and vibrant results when choosing colors. Sherwin-Williams paints often have better color retention and consistency than Behr paints.
Ease of Application & Coverage
Both brands claim that their interior paints offer good coverage and are easy to apply. They have self-priming product lines that are easy to use over existing paint.
According to consumer reports, Sherwin-Williams paints are thicker and less runny than Behr paints. They are also easier to achieve full coverage and hide imperfections using fewer coats.
Behr vs. Sherwin Williams: Paint Stores Comparison
Behr paint is sold exclusively at The Home Depot. Its target market is homeowners and DIYers who value quality at an affordable price. Home Depot offers seasonal sale discounts on Behr paints, both online and in-store.
Sherwin-Williams operates several physical stores across the U.S. The company also owns more than one hundred paint stores in Canada, increasing the availability of paints. Sherwin Williams’ HGTV paints are sold at Lowe’s.
Behr vs. Sherwin Williams Comparison Table
Both paint brands have their perks and downsides. Here’s a table that summarizes the key differences between Behr and Sherwin Williams:
| Behr Paint | Sherwin Williams Paint | |
| Exterior Paint Options | Behr Premium Plus, Ultra, Marquee, Dynasty | Emerald, Duration, SuperPaint, Resilience, Latitude, A-100 |
| Durability | Good to Excellent | Excellent to Superior |
| Resistance to Stains | Good to Excellent | Excellent to Superior |
| Color Accuracy | Accurate and Vibrant | Accurate and Vibrant |
| Ease of Application | Smooth, but may need a few coats | Smooth and Easy Application |
| Available Sheens | Wide range | Wide range |
| VOC Content | Varies | Low to Zero VOC Content |
| Price and Availability | The Home Depot | Sherwin Williams Stores |