Sherwin-Williams vs Benjamin Moore: Bay Area Homeowner's Guide

If you're planning a painting project in Lafayette, Lamorinda, or anywhere in the East Bay, you've probably narrowed your paint choices down to two premium brands: Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore. Both are excellent options, and we've used both extensively since Lamorinda Painting started serving the Bay Area in 2003.

The truth is, both brands make high-quality paints that perform beautifully in our unique Bay Area climate. The "better" choice depends on your specific project, your color preferences, and what matters most to you—whether that's durability, coverage, color accuracy, or local availability. Let's break down the real differences so you can make an informed decision for your home.

Two Premium Brands with Different Strengths

Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore have both been around for over a century, and they've earned their reputations through consistent quality and innovation. Sherwin-Williams, founded in 1866, operates the largest paint store network in North America with over 4,000 locations. Benjamin Moore, established in 1883, built its reputation on color expertise and premium formulations distributed through independent dealers.

Here in Contra Costa County, you'll find both brands readily available. Sherwin-Williams stores are everywhere—from Lafayette to Walnut Creek to Concord—making it convenient for contractors and DIY homeowners alike. Benjamin Moore products are available through authorized retailers, including several hardware stores and specialty paint shops throughout the East Bay.

Both brands invest heavily in research and development, creating paints specifically formulated for different surfaces, climates, and performance needs. They both offer premium, mid-range, and economy lines, though we'll focus on their top-tier products since that's where you see the most significant differences.

Interior Paint Lines: Where Each Brand Shines

When it comes to interior paints, both brands offer excellent options, but they approach formulation differently. Understanding these differences helps you choose the right paint for your specific rooms and needs.

Sherwin-Williams Emerald Interior is their flagship acrylic latex paint. It offers exceptional coverage, often achieving one-coat hiding over properly prepared surfaces. The paint has excellent flow and leveling properties, meaning brush and roller marks tend to disappear as it dries. Emerald's stain-blocking capabilities are impressive, which matters in kitchens and bathrooms where moisture and cooking oils are present. The finish is durable and scrubbable, holding up well to cleaning in high-traffic areas.

Benjamin Moore Regal Select is their premium interior line, known for its smooth application and rich, color-saturated finish. The Gennex color technology provides exceptional color accuracy and depth, particularly in darker, more saturated colors. Regal Select has excellent hide and coverage, though it typically requires two coats for optimal results. The paint flows beautifully, making it a favorite among professional painters for achieving smooth, brush-mark-free finishes.

For ultra-premium projects, Benjamin Moore Aura stands out. Aura is their top-of-the-line interior paint, offering superior color retention and the best resistance to moisture-related issues like mold and mildew. The Color Lock technology means colors stay true over time, without fading or yellowing. Aura provides exceptional one-coat coverage in many colors and is particularly impressive in high-moisture environments like bathrooms.

Sherwin-Williams Duration is another excellent interior option, positioned between Emerald and their mid-range products. Duration offers outstanding durability and washability, making it ideal for hallways, kids' rooms, and other high-traffic areas. It's formulated with a ceramic-like finish that resists stains and scuffs better than many competitors.

In our Lafayette projects and throughout the East Bay, we often recommend Benjamin Moore Aura or Regal Select for living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms where color accuracy and a beautiful finish are priorities. For kitchens, bathrooms, and high-traffic areas, both Sherwin-Williams Emerald and Benjamin Moore Aura perform exceptionally well, with the choice often coming down to color selection preferences.

Exterior Paint Performance in Bay Area Climate

Our Bay Area climate presents unique challenges for exterior paint. We deal with coastal fog in Richmond and El Cerrito, intense UV exposure and heat in Walnut Creek and Concord, and everything in between. The right exterior paint needs to handle temperature swings, moisture, UV radiation, and mildew growth.

Sherwin-Williams Emerald Exterior is engineered for outstanding durability and weather resistance. The advanced acrylic resin formulation provides excellent adhesion and flexibility, which matters when wood siding expands and contracts with temperature changes. Emerald Exterior includes anti-microbial agents that resist mildew growth, crucial in foggy coastal areas. The paint also offers exceptional color retention, maintaining its appearance even under intense Central Valley sun that hits our inland communities.

Sherwin-Williams Duration Exterior is another solid choice, offering a self-priming formula that works well over properly prepared wood, vinyl, and aluminum siding. Duration has excellent moisture resistance, which is important for homes in Lafayette and Moraga where morning fog is common. The PermaLast technology provides long-lasting protection against peeling, blistering, and fading.

Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior is their premium offering, featuring a proprietary Color Lock technology that delivers outstanding color retention and fade resistance. The paint has excellent adhesion to a variety of surfaces and provides superior resistance to mildew and moisture. Aura Exterior is particularly impressive on wood siding, where its breathability allows moisture to escape while preventing water intrusion.

Benjamin Moore Regal Select Exterior offers excellent durability at a slightly lower price point than Aura. It provides good hide and coverage, typically requiring two coats for optimal performance. The paint resists fading, chalking, and mildew, performing well in both coastal and inland Bay Area conditions.

For exterior projects in Lafayette and throughout Contra Costa County, both brands perform excellently when properly applied over well-prepared surfaces. We've had great long-term results with both Sherwin-Williams Emerald and Benjamin Moore Aura on exterior projects, with many homes still looking fresh five to seven years after application.

Color Selection and Matching Capabilities

Color is often where homeowners have the strongest preferences, and this is an area where the two brands differ noticeably. Benjamin Moore has long been known for exceptional color depth and accuracy, particularly in their more complex, saturated hues. Their Gennex colorant technology produces colors that look richer and more dimensional than many competitors.

Benjamin Moore's color collection includes over 3,500 colors, with curated collections like the Historical Collection, Classics, and Color Preview making selection easier. Their color chips are known for accuracy—what you see on the chip closely matches what you'll see on your wall. For homeowners working with interior designers or architects in Lafayette and Orinda, Benjamin Moore's colors often align with design specifications.

Sherwin-Williams offers an extensive color palette as well, with thousands of options organized into collections that make selection manageable. Their ColorSnap system, including the mobile app, makes it easy to explore colors, visualize them in your space, and find coordinating colors. Sherwin-Williams also provides Chip It technology, allowing you to match any color from a photo.

Both brands can color match each other's paints, though there's some debate about accuracy. In our experience, matching across brands works reasonably well for standard colors, but complex or deeply saturated colors may not match perfectly. If color accuracy is critical—say, you're matching existing trim or coordinating with specific furnishings—stick with the original brand's formulation.

Sherwin-Williams stores mix paint on-site with sophisticated computerized systems, ensuring consistency batch to batch. Benjamin Moore dealers do the same, with strict quality control standards. Both brands can reproduce custom colors accurately if you need additional paint for touch-ups years later, assuming you saved the formula.

Local Availability in Contra Costa County

Availability matters more than you might think, especially if you're mid-project and realize you need another gallon or want to adjust your color choice. Here in Lafayette, Lamorinda, and the greater East Bay, both brands are readily accessible.

Sherwin-Williams operates numerous stores throughout Contra Costa County. You'll find locations in Lafayette, Walnut Creek, Pleasant Hill, Concord, Danville, and many other communities we serve. The stores typically stock their full line of products, and the staff includes knowledgeable paint experts who can provide advice on product selection, color matching, and surface preparation. Sherwin-Williams stores also offer contractor pricing programs and delivery services.

Benjamin Moore products are available through independent authorized dealers, including Ace Hardware locations, specialty paint stores, and home improvement centers. In Lafayette and surrounding communities, you'll find several retailers carrying the full Benjamin Moore line. These dealers often provide personalized service and expert color consultation.

For professional painters like our team at Lamorinda Painting, both brands offer contractor programs with competitive pricing and dedicated support. Sherwin-Williams' extensive store network means we can quickly get materials for projects throughout Contra Costa County. Benjamin Moore's dealer network is strong here as well, though it may require traveling to specific authorized locations.

If you're a DIY homeowner, Sherwin-Williams' store network offers more convenience for quick runs during a project. Benjamin Moore's authorized dealers often provide more personalized service and color consultation, which can be valuable if you're uncertain about color selection or product choice.

Durability in Bay Area Conditions

Our Bay Area climate demands paints that can handle diverse conditions. Coastal areas like Richmond and El Cerrito face persistent moisture and salt air. Inland communities like Walnut Creek, Concord, and Antioch experience intense summer heat and UV exposure. Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda sit in between, with moderate temperatures but significant morning fog.

Both brands engineer their premium products for climate-specific challenges. Sherwin-Williams Emerald (both interior and exterior) includes advanced resin technology that provides excellent adhesion and flexibility. This matters when wood siding or trim expands and contracts with temperature changes. The paint film moves with the substrate rather than cracking or peeling. Emerald also includes anti-microbial agents that resist mildew, crucial in our foggy mornings.

Benjamin Moore Aura uses Color Lock technology that encapsulates pigments, preventing UV radiation from breaking down color over time. This results in superior fade resistance, keeping your home looking fresh longer. Aura's moisture resistance is exceptional, with the paint film allowing water vapor to escape from within while preventing liquid water intrusion from outside.

In practical terms, both brands' premium products should last seven to ten years on exterior surfaces when properly applied over well-prepared substrates. Interior paints from both brands maintain their appearance for a decade or more in typical living spaces. High-traffic areas or rooms with challenging conditions (bathrooms, kitchens) may show wear sooner, but both brands hold up well compared to mid-range competitors.

We've completed hundreds of projects throughout Lafayette and the East Bay using both brands, and we see excellent long-term performance from both. Proper surface preparation and application technique matter more than brand choice for durability.

Price Comparison and Value Proposition

Both Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore position themselves as premium brands, and their pricing reflects that positioning. You'll pay more for either brand compared to economy options from big-box stores, but you're investing in better coverage, durability, and performance.

Generally speaking, Benjamin Moore Aura represents the highest price point among premium paints from both brands. Aura's superior one-coat coverage and exceptional durability justify the investment for many homeowners, particularly in high-visibility areas like living rooms and main exteriors. Benjamin Moore Regal Select typically costs less than Aura while still delivering excellent performance.

Sherwin-Williams Emerald is competitively priced, often comparable to Benjamin Moore Regal Select. Sherwin-Williams Duration typically comes in slightly lower, offering excellent value for high-traffic interior areas and exterior surfaces. Both brands run sales and promotions throughout the year, often offering 30-40% off retail prices.

For professional contractors like Lamorinda Painting, both brands offer competitive contractor pricing. This means we can deliver high-quality results using either brand while keeping overall project costs affordable for our clients. The paint cost represents only a portion of total project cost—labor, preparation, and expertise matter much more for the final result.

When considering value, factor in coverage and longevity, not just per-gallon cost. Both brands' premium products often cover in one coat over properly prepared surfaces in light to medium colors. This reduces labor time and total paint needed. Both brands also maintain their appearance longer, extending the time before repainting is necessary.

Which Paint Should You Choose for Your Project?

The best choice depends on your specific project, priorities, and preferences. Here's how we typically guide our clients through the decision:

Choose Benjamin Moore if: Color accuracy and depth are your top priorities, especially for complex or saturated colors. You're working with an interior designer or architect who specifies Benjamin Moore colors. You value the personalized service often available at authorized dealers. You want the absolute best moisture resistance for bathrooms or coastal exterior applications. You're painting high-visibility interior spaces where a rich, dimensional finish matters most.

Choose Sherwin-Williams if: Convenience and accessibility are important—you want to be able to walk into a nearby store anytime. You appreciate the one-coat coverage of Emerald for faster projects. You're using their ColorSnap tools and want to stick with their formulations. You're painting high-traffic areas where scrubbability and stain resistance are priorities. You value their extensive contractor support network.

For specific rooms and applications: We often recommend Benjamin Moore Aura or Regal Select for living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms where color and finish quality are most noticeable. For kitchens and bathrooms, both brands' premium products (Sherwin-Williams Emerald or Benjamin Moore Aura) perform excellently. For trim, doors, and cabinets, both brands offer specialized products, and the choice often comes down to color preference.

For exteriors: Both Sherwin-Williams Emerald Exterior and Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior deliver outstanding performance in Bay Area conditions. Your choice may come down to specific color selection or accessibility for future touch-ups. In coastal areas with persistent moisture, both brands' anti-microbial formulations prevent mildew effectively.

The honest truth? We've delivered beautiful, long-lasting results with both brands across hundreds of projects in Lafayette, throughout Lamorinda, and across the East Bay. When you choose premium products from either manufacturer and pair them with proper surface preparation and skilled application, you get excellent results.

Why Lamorinda Painting's Experience Matters

Since 2003, we've been helping homeowners in Lafayette, Lamorinda, and the greater Bay Area choose the right paints for their specific projects and conditions. We stay current on product formulations, climate-specific performance, and best application practices for both brands. We're fully licensed and insured, and we stand behind our work with a full 6-year warranty.

Our process ensures outstanding results regardless of which brand you choose. We move your furniture to the center of the room and wrap it with new plastic. Wall and ceiling fixtures are protected, and all floors are covered with drop cloths. We sand and scuff walls, caulk and fill damages with high-quality materials. We use only the finest paints available and use primer where necessary. All repaired areas are primed first to ensure an even look and feel.

After we complete your project, we move furniture back to original positions. Wall and ceiling fixtures are cleaned. All floors and carpets are vacuumed and swept. All garbage is removed. Touch-up paint is labeled and left with the customer. We always leave your home spotless because your satisfaction is our top priority.

Whether you're leaning toward Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, or you're still undecided, we'll help you select the right product for your specific project and budget. Our free estimates include professional recommendations based on your home's conditions, your aesthetic goals, and your timeline.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you color match between Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore?

Yes, both brands can color match each other's paints using their computerized mixing systems. For standard colors and lighter shades, cross-brand matching usually works well. However, deeply saturated or complex colors may not match perfectly due to different pigment formulations. If precise color accuracy is critical, we recommend sticking with the original brand's formulation. We can create test samples so you can see the match in your lighting before committing to the full project.

Which brand holds up better in Bay Area fog and coastal moisture?

Both brands' premium products handle Bay Area moisture well, but they approach it differently. Benjamin Moore Aura uses technology that allows moisture vapor to escape while blocking liquid water, which is excellent for coastal areas like Richmond and El Cerrito. Sherwin-Williams Emerald includes anti-microbial agents that resist mildew in foggy conditions. In our 22+ years serving Lafayette and the East Bay, we've seen excellent long-term performance from both brands in coastal and inland locations when properly applied.

Is one brand easier to apply for DIY homeowners?

Both brands' premium products apply smoothly, but Sherwin-Williams Emerald has a slight edge for DIY application due to exceptional flow and self-leveling properties. This means brush marks and roller stipple tend to disappear more readily as the paint dries. Benjamin Moore Regal Select and Aura also apply beautifully but may require more attention to technique for achieving a perfectly smooth finish. Regardless of brand, proper surface preparation and using quality tools make a bigger difference than brand choice for DIY success.

Do both brands offer low-VOC and zero-VOC options?

Yes, both brands offer low-VOC and zero-VOC formulations across their premium product lines. Benjamin Moore Aura is certified asthma and allergy friendly by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Sherwin-Williams Emerald meets strict VOC standards and is Greenguard Gold certified for low chemical emissions. Both brands have committed to reducing VOCs across their entire product ranges, making them good choices for homeowners concerned about indoor air quality, which is particularly important in our generally well-sealed Bay Area homes.

Get Expert Paint Selection Help for Your Bay Area Project

Choosing between Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore is easier when you have an experienced partner who knows both brands inside and out. At Lamorinda Painting, we've been delivering high-quality painting services at affordable prices since 2003, serving Lafayette, Lamorinda, and the greater Bay Area with attention to detail and a commitment to customer satisfaction.

We'll visit your home, assess your specific conditions and needs, and provide honest recommendations about which brand and product line will deliver the best results for your project and budget. Estimates are always free, and there's no pressure—just straightforward advice from licensed professionals who take pride in our work.

Ready to move forward with your painting project? Call us at (925) 890-0361 or email lamorindapainting@gmail.com to schedule your free estimate. We're based in Lafayette at 3559 Mt. Diablo Blvd. #34, and we're ready to help you choose the perfect paint for your Bay Area home.