We Tested the Best Interior Paints For Every Room of Your House
Editor’s Note: Testing for this article took place in late 2023 and these products remain our current top recommendations for 2024 until we revisit this category. Stay tuned for our 2024 updates.
Whether painting walls, furnishings, cabinets, or trim, quality interior house paint is the key to good-looking, long-lasting results. But the sheer variety of interior paints to choose from at home improvement centers and hardware stores can be confusing. Purchasing the wrong one could negatively affect your project’s ease, speed, and durability—and even impair indoor air quality.
With so many recent improvements in paint formulations, including an increasing number of eco-friendly options, we were curious about which of the brands and types available today were really the best—so we tested them. We researched and analyzed all the top brands from the top manufacturers, then narrowed it down to eight options. We tested each of the paints by brushing and rolling them on, and we analyzed how well they covered and whether they stood up to typical cleaning.
Ahead, learn more about selecting the right paint for any interior project, and discover why the following products are among the best interior paint options for most users. Don’t miss our test results—we reveal the pros and cons of each pick!
- BEST OVERALL: Sherwin-Williams SuperPaint Interior Acrylic Latex
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Glidden Premium PPG Eggshell Interior Latex Paint
- UPGRADE PICK: Sherwin-Williams Emerald Designer Interior Latex
- BEST FOR KITCHEN AND BATH: Behr Premium Plus Interior Satin Enamel Paint
- BEST STAIN-BLOCKING: Sherwin-Williams Duration Home Interior Acrylic Latex
- BEST INTERIOR ENAMEL: Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel
- BEST FOR CEILINGS: Behr Ultra Stain-Blocking Ceiling Paint
- BEST ONE-COAT PAINT: HGTV Home Infinity Interior Paint & Primer
How We Tested the Best Interior Paints
We looked at more than three dozen brands and types of interior paints in selecting the ones to test. We considered brand reputation to an extent—it’s tough to beat the quality of Sherwin-Williams’ paint products, but we didn’t automatically eliminate other brands. We also looked at overall customer satisfaction and considered the paint’s versatility, usability, and price. Low-VOC products also piqued our interest, and fortunately, low-VOC paint technology has reached the point where most interior paints emit few fumes.
For the actual testing, we cut drywall into rectangular pieces and used painter’s tape to create a square in the middle. We drew a circle using a thick black permanent marker in the middle of each square. We applied the different paint products on each square via a paint brush. Our intent was two-fold: We wanted to see how many coats it took to conceal the drawn-on circle completely, and we were also looking for the degree of self-leveling—a term that refers to how smoothly and mark-free the paint dries. High-quality paints tend to smooth out well, while lower-quality paints can leave distracting brush marks.
We also used a roller to apply the same paints to a larger sheet of drywall to compare rolled-on coverage and to determine how much paint was needed to impart a uniform color on the drywall (no thin spots). With enamel paint, we also brushed it on a wood baseboard, as this formula is typically designed for hard-working trim and cabinets. We applied the number of coats recommended by the manufacturer, and then we examined the painted swatches to see how well the paint covered the drywall and camouflaged discrepancies.
We awarded points based on a rubric during each test and examination—the better the paint did on a test, the higher the points. After testing, we added each product’s points and averaged them, using the final figures and assessing the paint’s strongest points to categorize the top picks on our list.
Our Top Picks
Below are the top interior paint performers from our hands-on testing. While they differ slightly in type—some are better suited to ceilings while others proved ideal for walls in children’s rooms—they all excelled in our tests. Whether they’re looking for a high-end paint for an accent wall or a hard-working one that will resist stains, shoppers will likely find it in this lineup of the best indoor paint for most projects.
Best Overall
Sherwin-Williams SuperPaint Interior Acrylic Latex
This Bob Vila Approved product carries our brand’s highest level of recommendation.
Bob Vila Approved recognizes the household and DIY products that impressed us most in our real-world testing and that exemplify core values of the Bob Vila brand, including craftsmanship, innovation, and value for the dollar. Winners of this designation come recommended by our professional review team and are personally approved by Bob Vila.
Product Specs
- Best application area: Walls
- Coverage: 350 to 400 square feet/gallon
- Low VOC: Yes
What We Like
- Superior coverage
- Highly resistant to wear
- Excellent finish quality
What We Don’t Like
- Expensive
- Available only at Sherwin-Williams stores
The Sherwin-Williams SuperPaint line is one of the best paints for walls, and it’s popular with professional painters because of its superb coverage. With just one coat, this high-quality paint easily covered a circle we drew with a thick black marker on our drywall test board. We tested a color called Berry Frappe in a satin finish, and we were impressed with the high amount of pigment in this acrylic paint. After the recommended 4 hours, we added a second coat, and it dried to form a hard, smooth finish on the test board. This is a relatively thick paint with high viscosity.
SuperPaint is advertised as having “air-purifying” technology. While we can’t confirm that it purified the air, we can say that it had virtually no odor. For anyone sensitive to typical paint fumes, consider trying this low-VOC paint.
We gave the painted swatch 2 weeks to cure completely and then sprayed all-purpose cleaner on the painted area and scrubbed with a white rag. No paint color came off on the rag, so we deemed it to be indeed scrubbable.
Using a roller, we also tested how SuperPaint went on a larger drywall sheet. We found it easy to apply—no runs and no globs—and it smoothed out as it dried, so there were no visual stipples (texture) left behind from the roller.
In terms of downsides, SuperPaint is pretty pricey and it’s only available at Sherwin-Williams stores, although users can order online and then pick the paint up locally.
Get the Sherwin-Williams SuperPaint interior paint at Sherwin-Williams.
Best Bang for the Buck
Glidden Premium PPG Eggshell Interior Latex Paint
Product Specs
- Best application area: Interior walls
- Coverage: Up to 400 square feet per gallon
- Low VOC: Yes
What We Like
- Affordable
- Good coverage
- Goes on smooth and even
What We Don’t Like
- Not impervious to scrubbing
Good-quality paint can be costly, but we found that Glidden Premium interior paint in an eggshell finish provided coverage as good as some of the more expensive brands we tested—at a more reasonable price. Glidden Premium is a combination paint-plus-primer product, so we expected it to cover well, and it did. After applying a single brushed-on coat, we could no longer see the black permanent marker circle we’d drawn on the test board. This may have been partially due to the dark tone of paint we tested, called Royal Indigo, but it was still impressive. We repainted the test board after 2 hours—the time recommended by the manufacturer—although we felt a single coat would have been sufficient. We also rolled the paint on a larger drywall sheet, and it went on smoothly and uniformly.
Now for the minor downside: After waiting 2 weeks for the paint to dry and harden completely, we sprayed on a little all-purpose cleaner, scrubbed the surface with a white rag, and found a slight purple stain on the rag. That indicated some of the paint was rubbing off—not much, but enough to see the color. The paint’s finish still looked good after it dried. We could not tell the difference where we’d scrubbed.
We feel this Glidden product is still an excellent paint, especially because it comes at an affordable price point. It offers great coverage and a smooth finish. Because we removed some of the color with a rag, however, we suggest using this paint in adult bedrooms rather than children’s bedrooms or playrooms where it might not hold up to frequent scrubbing.
Get the Glidden interior paint at The Home Depot.
Upgrade Pick
Sherwin-Williams Emerald Designer Interior Latex
Product Specs
- Best application area: Walls
- Coverage: 350 to 400 square feet per gallon
- Low VOC: Yes
What We Like
- Excellent coverage
- No visible brush marks
- Scrubbable
What We Don’t Like
- Pricey
- Slight paint odor
We really liked the finish we achieved with Sherwin-Williams Emerald interior paint—the color was so rich and bold, and the surface was almost velvety to the touch. We tested this paint in Ripe Berry, in an eggshell finish that Sherwin-Williams oddly calls “Eg-Shel.” It went on uniformly with both a roller and a paint brush. The first brushed-on coat completely covered the permanent marker circle. To be fair, Ripe Berry is a pretty deep shade, so we can’t be sure a lighter shade would have covered the marker quite as well. We applied a second coat as recommended after 4 hours and then let it dry for 2 weeks before spraying with all-purpose cleaner and wiping it with a white rag. No paint color came off on our rag.
This is low-VOC paint, and while we detected a faint odor, it didn’t bother us. One of the nicest things was the way this paint self-leveled to a very smooth surface. Even when we took the test board outdoors in the sunlight to examine it closely, we couldn’t make out any brush marks. Impressive
Emerald is a pricey paint, but we feel it’s among the best low-VOC interior paint options. It imparts a high-end look and feel and is washable to boot. There are more than 200 colors in the Emerald Designer line, so there’s a color for every taste. The way the paint self-smooths may just make a DIY paint job pass for one by a professional painter.
Get the Sherwin-Williams Emerald interior paint at Sherwin-Williams.
Best for Kitchen and Bath
Behr Premium Plus Interior Satin Enamel Paint
Product Specs
- Best application area: Walls, trim, cabinets
- Coverage: 250 to 400 square feet per gallon
- Low VOC: Yes
What We Like
- Affordably priced
- No-mess pouring funnel
What We Don’t Like
- Detectable paint odor
Kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms tend to be high-moisture areas, so it’s always best to paint them with washable, moisture-resistant paint. We found that Behr’s Premium Plus Enamel fit the bill. This is a combo paint-plus-primer, and it covers well—we could only see a faint outline of our permanent marker circle on the test board after the first coat of Premium Plus, which was in a satin finish and a mid-purple tone called Unimaginable. After waiting the recommended 2 hours, we added a second coat, and we couldn’t see a trace of the marker.
This is a relatively thick paint, but it went on smoothly when using a brush on the test board and when rolling on a larger drywall sheet. When the second coat dried, we could barely see the brush marks—it smoothed out so nicely. We did detect an odor when applying Premium Plus, but it is a low-VOC product.
In the scrubbability test, we got a faint hint of the paint color on our white rag—barely enough to be noticeable. Behr also boasts something new: a pourable funnel that fits right on the can lid. Typically, after pouring paint from a can into a roller pan, the paint runs down the side of the can and makes a mess. With Behr’s new funnel lid, we had no drips or mess. We hope other manufacturers follow suit.
Get the Behr Premium Plus interior paint at The Home Depot.
Best Stain-Blocking
Sherwin-Williams Duration Home Interior Acrylic Latex
Product Specs
- Best application area: Walls
- Coverage: 350 to 400 square feet per gallon
- Low VOC: Yes
What We Like
- 1-coat coverage possible
- Washable
- Goes on uniformly
What We Don’t Like
- Pricey
Painting over walls that have stains can be frustrating if the paint dries and the old stains bleed through. Duration Home paint from Sherwin-Williams is designed to block stains, and it’s also formulated to resist new stains and mildew. While we didn’t have a way to test whether it genuinely discourages mildew growth, we can verify that a single coat of Duration Home on our test board completely covered the circle we’d drawn with a permanent marker.
We tested a color called Morning Glory in a semi-gloss finish. This combo paint-and-primer product goes on smoothly and evenly with both brush and roller. The manufacturer doesn’t recommend a second coat, and we felt one coat was sufficient—as long as we applied it liberally (not so much that it ran, but enough to form a reasonably thick layer). We didn’t skimp, so we didn’t have to add a second coat.
We waited 2 weeks before spraying it with an all-purpose cleaner and rubbing it with a white rag. We didn’t find any coloring at all on our rag. This paint dries to a nice, hard finish that would be well suited to children’s bedrooms, playrooms, and family rooms.
Get the Sherwin-Williams Duration Home interior paint at Sherwin-Williams.
Best Interior Enamel
Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel
