Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore are the two most-used premium paint brands in professional painting. Both are genuinely excellent. Both are significantly better than what you'll find at a big box store. And yet professionals have strong opinions about which they prefer — and for good reason. Here's how they actually compare, specifically for homes in the Pacific Northwest.
Coverage and Application
Sherwin-Williams edges out Benjamin Moore on workability. SW paints — particularly the Emerald and Duration lines — have a slightly longer open time, which means the paint stays workable longer before it starts to dry. For professional painters cutting in large surfaces or working in cooler temperatures (common in the PNW), this matters. BM paints are excellent but can dry faster, which requires a more confident, efficient technique. Both achieve full coverage in two coats on most surfaces when properly primed.
Color Selection
Benjamin Moore wins here, and it's not close. BM offers over 3,500 colors with color science that's widely considered the best in the industry. Interior designers — especially those working on high-end Seattle and Bellevue homes — disproportionately specify BM colors. The depth and complexity of BM's color palette, particularly in the whites and off-whites, is something that professionals who've used both brands consistently notice. Sherwin-Williams has a strong palette too, but BM is where the design community lives.
Interior Performance: Emerald vs. Aura
At the premium tier, Sherwin-Williams Emerald and Benjamin Moore Aura are direct competitors. Both are washable, low-VOC, and exceptionally durable. Emerald has a slightly smoother application and excellent hide. Aura has a unique resin technology that gives it exceptional scuff resistance and depth of color. For rooms that take abuse — kids' rooms, hallways, kitchens — either is excellent. For a formal living room or master bedroom where color depth matters most, many painters (including us) prefer Aura.
Exterior Performance in the Pacific Northwest
For exteriors in the PNW, this is where the comparison gets most interesting. Sherwin-Williams Duration and Emerald Exterior are formulated specifically for moisture resistance and mildew suppression — both critical in our climate. Duration has a self-cleaning quality that helps prevent the biological growth common on north-facing walls in Seattle. Benjamin Moore's Aura Exterior and Regal Select Exterior are also excellent, with outstanding color retention in UV-exposed south-facing applications. For a PNW exterior, we reach for Duration when moisture and mildew resistance is the primary concern, and Aura Exterior when color accuracy and longevity are paramount.
Price
Both are in the same premium tier. Sherwin-Williams Emerald runs approximately $80–$95 per gallon. Benjamin Moore Aura runs approximately $90–$110 per gallon. The difference is real but modest relative to total project cost. Choosing paint brand based on price alone at the premium tier is false economy — choose based on which product is right for the surface and the environment.
Which One Does Vasy Painting Reach For?
Honest answer: both, depending on the project. For interiors where the client has a specific Benjamin Moore color they love — and BM has many that simply don't have a perfect match at SW — we use BM Aura. For exteriors in high-moisture environments, we often prefer SW Duration for its mildew resistance. For cabinet painting, we use specialty products beyond both brands' standard lines. The best paint for your project is the one that's right for the surface, the environment, and the color you want. We'll tell you which that is when we see your home.
Have a project coming up and want to know what we'd specify? Reach out to Vasy Painting — we're happy to walk through material recommendations before you even get a quote.
