The 8 Best Interior Paints

Nothing changes a room faster than a fresh coat of paint. It’s the one DIY project that gives you the most bang for your buck, and you can usually knock it out in a weekend. I’ve painted just about every room in my house, some of them twice, and I’ve learned the hard way that not all paint is created equal.

A cheap can of paint might seem like a good deal, but it often leads to frustration. You end up needing three coats to cover an old color, it scuffs if you just look at it wrong, and it never quite looks as good as you’d hoped. A quality paint, on the other hand, goes on smooth, covers well, and holds up to real life.

So, I’ve put together a list of the best interior paints I’ve actually used or that my contractor friends swear by. This is the good stuff that will save you time and make your walls look fantastic for years to come.

 

 

The Best Interior Paints for 2026

Sherwin-Williams Emerald Interior Acrylic Latex

This one’s a splurge, running about $85-95 per gallon, but it’s my go-to for tough spots. I used this in our guest bathroom and the mudroom hallway where the kids are always leaving scuff marks. It’s absolutely worth the price in those areas.

The coverage is incredible, and it creates this super smooth, uniform finish that’s a breeze to clean. Seriously, you can scrub it without the paint burnishing or losing its color. It also has antimicrobial properties, which gives me peace of mind in damp places like a bathroom.

The Downside: That price tag is definitely the biggest hurdle. It’s a lot to spend for a whole house, but for high-traffic or moist rooms, it’s a solid investment.

 

 

Benjamin Moore Aura Interior Acrylic Paint

At around $80-100 a gallon, Aura is another top-shelf option. Painters love this stuff because the color is so rich and true. If you’ve spent weeks picking the perfect shade, this paint will make sure it looks exactly right on the wall.

It goes on like butter and dries pretty fast, which is great for getting a room done quickly. And I appreciate that it’s low in VOCs, so the paint smell doesn’t linger for days. It just feels like a premium product from the moment you open the can.

The Downside: While it’s tough in many ways, some tests show its stain resistance is just so-so. You might need to be a little quicker wiping up something like spaghetti sauce.

 

 

Behr Marquee Advanced Stain-Blocking Paint & Primer

You can find this at Home Depot for about $50 a gallon. For a paint you can buy at a big box store, Marquee is seriously impressive. Its biggest claim to fame is the one-coat coverage, and it really delivers.

I painted our dark green office a light greige, and I was shocked I didn’t have to do a second coat. It saves so much time and effort. It’s also super durable and resists stains and scuffs really well, making it a great choice for pretty much any room in the house.

The Downside: It’s more expensive than other Behr lines. People sometimes expect a lower price from a mass-market brand, but the performance justifies it.

 

 

Sherwin-Williams SuperPaint Interior Acrylic Latex

SuperPaint is a workhorse paint that costs around $80 per gallon. It’s what a lot of pro painters use for everyday jobs because it’s reliable and gives consistently good results. It just works.

It has fantastic coverage and is easy to apply with a brush or roller. The finish is smooth and very scrubbable, so you don’t have to worry about life’s little messes. It’s just a solid, all-around paint that you can’t go wrong with for living rooms, bedrooms, and hallways.

The Downside: The consistency feels a little thinner than their premium paints like Emerald. You just have to be a bit more careful about drips when you’re applying it.

 

 

Glidden Diamond Interior Paint + Primer

For around $30-35 a gallon, Glidden Diamond is a fantastic budget pick. If you have a big project or need to paint a low-traffic area like a spare bedroom, this is a great way to save some money without sacrificing too much quality.

It covers surprisingly well, even over darker colors, and it’s pretty durable for the price. I wouldn’t put it in a kid’s playroom, but for most regular rooms, it holds up just fine. It’s a great value for what you get.

The Downside: It struggles a bit with really tough stains. Things like coffee or wine might be harder to get out compared to the more expensive paints.

 

 

HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Infinity Paint & Primer

This paint from Lowe’s runs about $70 a gallon. I used this in our dining room, and the finish is just beautiful. It gives one of the smoothest, most flawless results I’ve ever seen from a can of paint.

It has that one-coat confidence, and it really delivers a perfect-looking wall. It’s a great choice for a room where you want everything to look just right, like a formal living room or a master bedroom. It also has antimicrobial properties, which is a nice bonus.

The Downside: It dries really, really fast. You have to work quickly and keep a wet edge, or you can get clumps and marks where you’ve overlapped.

 

 

Benjamin Moore Regal Select Interior Paint

Regal Select is another painter’s favorite, priced at $70-80 a gallon. This is the paint you use when you want a durable, beautiful finish without paying top dollar for Aura. It’s been a trusted name for a long time for a reason.

What I love about it is how well it self-levels. It smooths out brush and roller marks as it dries, which makes my amateur paint jobs look much more professional. It’s tough, easy to apply, and just performs consistently well every time.

The Downside: If you’re painting over a tough stain or a really dark color, you’ll definitely want to use a separate coat of primer first. It’s not the best at stain blocking on its own.

 

 

PPG Prominence Interior Paint & Primer

At around $70 a gallon, PPG Prominence is a really strong contender, even if it’s not as well-known as Sherwin-Williams or Benjamin Moore. I used this in a friend’s house, and we were both impressed.

It’s a zero-VOC paint that gives an incredibly smooth finish and hides old colors really well. It’s built to be tough, resisting stains and holding up to scrubbing, making it great for busy households. For the quality, it’s a solid value.

The Downside: The biggest issue is just brand recognition. It can be harder to find, and some people are more comfortable sticking with the brands they already know and trust.

 

 

What to Look For in a Wall Paint

The “paint and primer in one” label is on almost every can these days. For most jobs, like painting over a light color, it works great and saves you a step. But if I’m making a drastic change, like painting over a dark red wall, I still use a separate, dedicated primer. It just gives you a better, more even base.

Don’t forget about the sheen, either. A flat or matte finish is great for hiding imperfections on walls but isn’t very washable. Eggshell and satin are my go-to for most walls because they have a slight sheen and are much easier to clean. For trim, doors, and bathrooms, I always use a semi-gloss because it’s super durable and resists moisture.

Ultimately, spending an extra $20-30 per gallon on a better can of paint is almost always worth it. You’ll spend less time painting, get better coverage, and end up with a finish that looks better and lasts longer. It’s one corner you really don’t want to cut.