Let’s compare paints from Home Depot and Lowe’s! Each hardware store offers its own brands of high-quality paint for every project.
Sherwin Williams from Lowe’s and Behr from Home Depot are both reputable options. Although Sherwin Williams is known for durability and coverage, Behr paint is a more cost-effective choice.
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Best Lowe’s Paints
There are several great paint options at Lowe’s! Find out which brand will work best for your project.
Sherwin Williams
One of the most popular paint brands that are sold at Lowe’s is Sherwin Williams. It’s a common brand to use amongst contractors because it’s thick and covers large surface areas well.
Sherwin Williams is known for its high-quality paints that make the gallons worth the price. This brand ranges from $30-60 per gallon.
Valspar
Valspar is another popular option from Lowe’s. This brand is a customer favorite for its rich color and resistance to surface damage.
You can get Valspar for about $40-45 per gallon at Lowe’s. Some Valspar paints are a bit cheaper than Sherwin Williams, but they still give high-quality results.
Rust-Oleum
Lowes also offers Rust-Oleum, which is a great choice for exterior surfaces. Rust-Oleum works to prevent rust build-up and comes in a variety of colors.
This brand is great for metal surfaces and can give an elevated metallic finish. Rust-Oleum will cost around $25 per gallon.
Best Home Depot Paints
Home Depot carries different paint brands than Lowes which are just as highly recommended.
Behr
One of the top brands at Home Depot is Behr. This brand is known for one-coat coverage and comes in over 1,000 colors.
It’s highly recommended as an interior paint by many homeowners. Since the paint is so thick, it is a bit sticky in application, but results in great coverage. This brand will cost between $35-45 per gallon.
PPG
PPG is another recommended paint brand from Home Depot. This brand specializes in mold resistance, which makes it a perfect option for repainting your bathrooms.
This brand is also very affordable since it’s around $25-40 per gallon. It’s a fast-drying paint brand and is great at covering up wall stains.
Glidden
One of the more cost-effective brands at Home Depot is Glidden. This brand is popular for homeowners who are looking to paint cabinets, doors, and trim.
Glidden is known for its long-lasting durability, which makes it a great option for furniture that faces a lot of wear. This brand will cost between $15-25 per gallon.
Best Interior and Exterior Paints
Find out which paint brand will last the longest for interior and exterior surfaces.
Best Indoor Paints
At Lowe’s, one of the best interior paints is Sherwin Williams Infinity. This paint is described as the brand’s most durable paint and primer.
It’s known to have a smooth application and is 100% acrylic. Homeowners like this paint for its one-coat perfection and stain-resistant qualities.
At Home Depot, Behr Marquee is the brand’s most high-end interior paint. This paint is popular for its one-coat guarantee – if you need to use more than one coat, Home Depot will give you a refund!
It costs less than Sherwin Williams Infinity at around $45 per gallon and gives similar results.
Best Outdoor Paints
As for exterior paints, both hardware stores offer a great selection of brands and options. Lowe’s carries more of a variety of exterior paints, ranging from different brands and prices.
On the other hand, Home Depot offers less variety, but at a lower cost. When buying exterior paint, it’s important to look for durability, moisture resistance, and gloss retention.
Duramax by Valspar is a highly reviewed exterior paint option from Lowe’s. It’s a paint and primer in one with a fine satin finish priced at $216 per five gallons. It’s also known for its easy application, quick-dry qualities, and lack of odor.
Home Depot carries Glidden Premium which is a great exterior option that is popular for its one-coat finish, good coverage, and nice sheen. This paint sells at $145 per five gallons – a more affordable option compared to Lowe’s brands.
Which Store has the Cheapest Paints?
Although both hardware stores offer a range of paints at different price points, Home Depot is known to have high-quality paint for an affordable price.
Affordable Paints at Lowe’s
One of the cheapest paint brands at Lowe’s is Valspar. You can use Valspar paint for a variety of interior and exterior surfaces.
One gallon of Valspar ExpressCoat will cost you about $15 per gallon and comes in a multitude of colors. This paint is great for rental and commercial use!
However, the highest quality brand at Lowe’s will cost you a bit more. Sherwin Williams Ceiling Paint starts at $40 per gallon and the brand’s exterior Weathershield paint will cost about $55 per gallon.
Affordable Paints at Home Depot
Home Depot also offers affordable paint brands including Glidden. Similar to Valspar, Glidden will cost you around $15 per gallon depending on which surface you’re using it on.
The highest quality brand at Home Depot is Behr. This brand is often compared to Sherwin Williams but will cost you less.
Behr Ultra paint will cost about $38 per gallon and the highly recommended Behr Marquee is priced around $50 per gallon.
How to Paint Match at a Hardware Store
Learn how to prepare for a paint matching session at Lowe’s or Home Depot.
What to Bring for Paint Matching
When you are looking to find the same shade of color that’s on your walls, you can find a match at a hardware store like Lowe’s or Home Depot.
Both Lowes and Home Depot offer free paint matching services for customers. You will need to bring in a one-inch paint chip for the experts to examine. Put the paint chip in a bag so it doesn’t get damaged on your way to the store!
When you give the chip to the store, they will have a computer find the closest paint match. You’ll be able to try a swatch of the paint match the store finds to compare it to the chip.
If you don’t have a paint chip available, try to find the closest shade or high-quality image of whichever paint color you desire.
Paint Matching Apps from Home Depot
While you can get paint matches for free at both hardware stores, Home Depot does have an app that will help color match from your phone.
You can take a photo of your room and see which paint color matches best! It’s also a great way to find new paint shades that will elevate your space.
Final Thoughts
There are several reasons that will affect your paint choice. If you already have a paint brand preference, you might feel more comfortable sticking with a brand you’ve used before.
Location is another factor that can influence your decision when choosing a paint brand. It’s possible you live closer to a Home Depot store than a Lowe’s store, which would make it easier for you to look for paint colors and choose a brand.
You’ll also need to create a budget for your painting project. Home Depot is known to carry more affordable prices than Lowes, but Lowe’s offers some of the most recommended paint brands.
Evaluate your budget and explore paint options online at both stores before making the final decision!
