Behr Paint Vs. Sherwin Williams: Which Should I Buy?

By Hebe Hatton

Hebe Hatton Home Improvement Journalist

Hebe Hatton is a freelance writer with a knack for interior design and home improvement. With a background in lifestyle and interior journalism, Hebe has a real passion for renovating small spaces and making them feel like home.

Learn more about Homedit's Editorial Process

| Published on Jun 7, 2023

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Behr Paint Vs. Sherwin Williams

Behr Paint Vs. Sherwin Williams: Which Should I Buy?

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Behr and Sherwin Williams are popular brands for interior and exterior painting projects. Their reputation for quality and durability makes it challenging to pick the best fit for your painting needs.

Both brands have paint lines that vary in color selection techniques, quality, durability, and ease of application. There are essential factors to consider when deciding between Behr and Sherwin Williams paints.

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. Behr is a newer player in the paint industry compared to Sherwin Williams.

The brand’s premium paint collection is a best-seller due to its stain resistance and durable finish. 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 and South America and Europe. They have an extensive catalog with various lines of interior and exterior paints. They include different finishes, colors, and specialty coatings.

Sherwin Williams paints are popular for their superior quality and coverage. But, these qualities come at a higher price than some other brands available in the market.

The company also sells its products under other brand names. They include 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. The Premium Plus paint is also offered in a high gloss finish, which doubles as interior wall paint. 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 considered the best-performing exterior paint on the market. 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

Behr and Sherwin Williams offer a range of specialty paints. Sherwin Williams Duration is a best-seller known for its resistance to mold and mildew. The formulation includes PermaLast Technology for better performance.

Behr’s Marquee line offers better durability and coverage compared to other Behr paints. Standard paints from both brands have similar quality and durability.

Sherwin Williams ultra-premium paints offer superior durability and resistance to fading, blistering, chipping, and peeling.

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 also paint in temperatures as low as 35°F.

Behr paint formulas often include resins and binders that enhance the paint’ durability and longevity. The paints resist cracking, peeling, and blistering, ensuring long-lasting protection against elements.

VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) Content

VOCs are solvents that are released into the air while the 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 a range of paint options, including those with a lower VOC content. Behr Paints often have higher VOC levels than those from 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

Both Behr and Sherwin Williams manufacture paints that withstand extreme outdoor conditions.

Types of Outdoor Paint Available

Both brands offer a range of outdoor paint options. They include 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 paint 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

Behr and Sherwin Williams offer a range of wall paints for interior spaces.

Interior Paint Range and Finishes Available

Behr offers various 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.

Both brands offer various finishes, such as matte, semi-gloss, high-gloss, and satin. Sherwin Williams formulates specialty paints like Sherwin Williams Harmony, which improves indoor air quality. The paint brand also has more sheen levels than Behr, such as low-sheen and low-luster.

Resistance to Stains & Scrubbing

Behr and Sherwin Williams promote interior paints designed to resist stains and scratches from scrubbing. 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 a precise color-matching technology and high-quality colorants.

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 good quality paint 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 vs. Sherwin Williams: Final Thoughts

Both Behr and Sherwin Williams offer a range of paints that are durable and excel in quality. They also use advanced color-matching technology to achieve accurate results.

Pick Behr paint brands if you’re looking for easy accessible product lines and competitive pricing. Buy Sherwin Williams paints if you need an easier application, superior stain resistance, and full coverage.