We get asked this question more than almost any other: which is better, Benjamin Moore or Sherwin-Williams? After 15 years of painting homes across MetroWest Boston — using both regularly — our honest answer is that both make excellent exterior paint. But they don't make identical exterior paint, and the differences matter when you're trying to get 10 years out of a New England exterior.
Here's what we've learned working with these products on clapboard colonials in Holliston, cedar shake in Wellesley, and everything in between.
What Each Brand Actually Offers
Both companies have tiered exterior lineups. Knowing which tier you're comparing matters — the gap between a budget line and a premium line from the same brand is often larger than the gap between two premium lines from different brands.
Benjamin Moore's exterior lineup:
- Aura Exterior — premium line, ~$85–95/gallon. Color Lock technology, strong hide, often achieves single-coat coverage on compatible colors. Excellent for color changes.
- Regal Select Exterior — mid-premium, ~$76–83/gallon. Acrylic-alkyd blend, superior adhesion to hard-to-coat surfaces, outstanding durability. Scored 68 in Consumer Reports testing — highest of any exterior paint in their most recent test.
- ben Exterior — value line, ~$40–47/gallon. Solid coverage, low VOC, good for repaint projects where the existing color is similar.
Sherwin-Williams' exterior lineup:
- Emerald Exterior — premium line, ~$85–120/gallon. Dense, high-build formula with strong mold and mildew resistance. Best applied by spray; challenging for brush work.
- Duration Exterior — mid-premium, ~$75–80/gallon. Excellent durability, fast recoat time, good flexibility. The product most contractors reach for on large residential projects.
- SuperPaint Exterior — standard line, ~$63/gallon. Solid paint-and-primer option, performs well on aluminum and vinyl siding.
For this comparison, we're focusing on the lines most commonly used for New England residential exteriors: Aura and Regal Select versus Duration and Emerald.
How They Hold Up in New England Conditions
New England puts exterior paint through a specific kind of punishment. Freeze-thaw cycles through a Massachusetts winter stress the paint film repeatedly — it expands and contracts with the substrate, and products with less flexibility fail at the edges, around nail heads, and along lap joints first.
In Consumer Reports' most recent exterior paint testing — where paints are applied to pine boards and subjected to accelerated weathering equivalent to roughly nine years of exposure — Benjamin Moore's Regal Select scored highest overall at 68 points, with Aura and Sherwin-Williams Duration tied at 61. Sherwin-Williams Emerald also ranked among the top performers.
In the field, contractors working in cold-climate regions consistently note that Sherwin-Williams Duration has a slight edge in freeze-thaw flexibility due to its film-forming chemistry, while Benjamin Moore Aura holds an edge in color retention — particularly for deep, saturated colors that tend to fade faster. For the typical MetroWest colonial with a white or light body and dark trim, both perform comparably over time when the prep work is done right.
Both brands specify a 35°F minimum application temperature for their current exterior lines and require temperatures to stay above 35°F for 48 hours after application. Neither has a meaningful advantage there.
Application and Coverage: What We See on the Job
This is where the two brands diverge most noticeably, and it's worth being direct about.
Benjamin Moore Aura has exceptional hide. On color changes — going from a dark body to light, or switching from a warm white to a cool white — it often covers in fewer coats than competing products, which reduces labor and dry time. The tradeoff is that it runs loose and can spatter if you're not deliberate with roller speed. Experienced painters handle it easily; it's something to be aware of.
Benjamin Moore Regal Select levels beautifully and lays down a smooth, even film. The acrylic-alkyd chemistry gives it a hardness that resists scuffing and burnishing over time — useful on windows and doors that see regular contact. It's the product we'd choose for trim on a high-detail Victorian or a home with a lot of architectural woodwork.
Sherwin-Williams Duration is the product most professional painting crews gravitate toward for large residential exteriors. It's easier to manage on the job — consistent viscosity, good thixotropic behavior (it flows when you work it and holds when you stop), and a fast recoat window of around four hours. On sprawling clapboard facades where you're covering a lot of ground quickly, Duration's workability shows.
Sherwin-Williams Emerald is dense and heavy, which makes it difficult to apply by brush without skill. It's designed for spray application and performs well that way. Homeowners or contractors who plan to brush-apply should be aware that it requires a stiff-bristle brush and careful technique — it doesn't forgive the way Aura does.
The Price Question
Benjamin Moore tends to run $5–10 more per gallon than a comparable Sherwin-Williams product. But price-per-gallon isn't the right number to optimize. Price-per-covered-square-foot is.
Aura's superior hide means fewer coats on a color change — on a whole-house exterior, going from two coats to one coat of finish saves real labor hours. If that eliminates one day of work, the per-gallon cost difference disappears quickly. Regal Select's durability means a longer interval before the next repaint cycle, which is the real long-term cost driver.
The honest framing: if you're choosing between a budget Benjamin Moore product and a premium Sherwin-Williams product, choose the premium Sherwin-Williams. If you're comparing premium to premium, you're choosing between two genuinely good products that have different strengths depending on the application method, the surface, and the color.
For most MetroWest homeowners working with a professional crew, the paint brand is less important than the prep work, the primer, and the number of coats. Prep work is where a paint job actually succeeds or fails — a premium product applied over poor prep will still fail ahead of schedule.
Which One Do We Actually Use?
Both. We choose based on the project.
For a whole-house exterior on a large colonial where we're rolling and spraying most surfaces, Sherwin-Williams Duration is our most common choice — it works well at scale, covers reliably, and holds up through New England winters. For trim, doors, and architectural detail where finish quality and longevity matter most, we often reach for Benjamin Moore Regal Select or Aura.
On projects where the homeowner has a strong preference — and plenty do — we work with their choice. Both brands have dealer networks across MetroWest. Benjamin Moore is available through independent dealers; Sherwin-Williams has retail stores including locations in the Shrewsbury area. Availability isn't a reason to choose one over the other.
If you're researching paint options for an upcoming exterior project and want to talk through what makes sense for your home's specific surfaces, colors, and condition, here's what to look for when vetting painting contractors in MetroWest — and what questions to ask about materials before you sign anything. For a closer look at how New England weather affects paint performance and longevity, we covered that in detail in what New England weather really does to exterior paint.
Questions about your specific project? Give us a call at (774) 217-9567 — we're happy to walk through options without any pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Benjamin Moore better than Sherwin-Williams for exterior painting?
Neither brand is universally better. Benjamin Moore Regal Select scored highest in Consumer Reports exterior paint testing. Sherwin-Williams Duration has a slight edge in freeze-thaw flexibility for cold climates. Both perform well in New England when properly applied over primed surfaces.
What is the best Benjamin Moore exterior paint for New England?
Benjamin Moore Regal Select Exterior is our top recommendation — it earned the highest Consumer Reports score of any exterior paint tested (68 points) and its acrylic-alkyd formula handles freeze-thaw cycles and New England humidity well. Aura Exterior is the better choice when you need exceptional color coverage or are making a significant color change.
What is the best Sherwin-Williams exterior paint for cold climates?
Sherwin-Williams Duration Exterior is the strongest choice for New England. Its flexible film chemistry handles repeated freeze-thaw cycles better than Emerald, it's easier to apply over large surfaces, and it has a faster recoat time. Emerald is a strong option if you're spraying rather than brushing or rolling.
How much does exterior paint cost per gallon from each brand?
Benjamin Moore Aura runs $85–95/gallon; Regal Select is $76–83/gallon. Sherwin-Williams Emerald runs $85–120/gallon depending on location; Duration typically runs $75–80/gallon. Benjamin Moore is usually $5–10 more per gallon, but Aura's superior hide can reduce the number of coats needed on color changes.
Does it matter what brand of paint a painter uses?
Less than most homeowners think. Prep work — cleaning, scraping, caulking, priming — determines the majority of a paint job's lifespan. A quality product from either brand, applied correctly over properly prepared surfaces, will outperform a premium product rushed onto poorly prepped wood every time.
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David Griffiths
