When it comes to choosing interior paint colors, Behr Blank Canvas and Benjamin Moore are two popular options. But how do they compare in terms of quality and coverage? Here’s a detailed look at whether Behr Blank Canvas can stand up to Benjamin Moore paint.
TL;DR
While Behr Blank Canvas and Benjamin Moore paints are both high quality options, Benjamin Moore is generally considered the superior brand. Key differences include:
- Benjamin Moore offers more premium paint lines.
- Benjamin Moore paints use higher quality ingredients.
- Benjamin Moore provides better hide and coverage.
- Benjamin Moore is available in more finish options.
- Benjamin Moore has more authorized retailers for better support.
However, Behr Blank Canvas is a comparable quality paint at a more affordable price point. Ultimately, it comes down to your project needs and budget.
Brand Reputations
When comparing paint brands, reputation and customer satisfaction provide insight into quality. Benjamin Moore has an excellent reputation as a premium paint manufacturer. The company has been in business for over 100 years. Benjamin Moore paints are consistently rated as top quality across retailers like Consumer Reports and J.D. Power.
Behr paints are sold exclusively at Home Depot. As Home Depot’s in-house brand, Behr is designed to provide good quality for value pricing. While Behr receives positive reviews, Benjamin Moore is widely regarded as the superior brand for paint quality and coverage.
Paint Lines
Benjamin Moore offers several different paint lines to suit different needs and budgets:
- Aura® – Benjamin Moore’s high-end line prized for hide and longevity.
- Ben® – A quality mid-range offering with good durability.
- Regal® – Benjamin Moore’s most popular premium line.
- Natura® – Their Zero VOC organic paint line.
Behr offers two main interior paint lines:
- Premium Plus – Behr’s high quality line with Primer in One technology.
- Premium – Behr’s standard interior paint line.
Benjamin Moore offers more diversity with premium options for consumers wanting top level performance.
Paint Quality
When it comes to paint ingredients, Benjamin Moore paints are made with higher quality resins and pigments. The company manufactures its own alkyd resins to produce paints with better adhesion, longevity, and gloss retention. Benjamin Moore also loads their paints with more pigments for better hide and color retention.
Behr uses quality ingredients, but formulations aren’t as robust. Independent lab testing shows Benjamin Moore paints provide better hide, especially in darker colors. Benjamin Moore’s higher content of solids by volume allows their paints to cover better.
Hide and Coverage
How well a paint hides the underlying surface is an important factor affecting coverage. Benjamin Moore paints excel at hide and coverage thanks to high quality resins and pigment volume. The company’s premium lines like Aura® and Regal® provide one coat hide, even over darker colors.
Behr Blank Canvas also offers one coat coverage with Primer in One technology. However, independent testing shows that Benjamin Moore paints provide noticeably better hide with fewer coats. This leads to better coverage and touch-ups.
Finish Options
Benjamin Moore offers a wide range of finish options from flat matte to high gloss enamel:
- Flat
- Eggshell
- Satin
- Semi-Gloss
- Gloss
- High Gloss
Behr’s finish selection is more limited:
- Flat
- Eg-Shel
- Satin
- Semi-Gloss
- Gloss
- High Gloss
With more finish choices like true matte flat, Benjamin Moore allows choosing the perfect sheen for any room.
Authorized Retailers
Benjamin Moore paints are sold through authorized independent retailers rather than big box stores. This provides a few advantages for consumers:
- Knowledgeable staff that provide expert guidance in choosing paints.
- Better inventory management to ensure paint is in stock.
- Professional painters tend to prefer Benjamin Moore retailers.
Behr is conveniently available at Home Depot but doesn’t offer the same level of personal service from authorized retailers.
Price and Value
At first glance, Behr Blank Canvas appears to provide better value with cans starting under $30. In contrast, Benjamin Moore paints start around $50 per gallon. However, lower quality resins and pigments mean that cheaper paints usually require more coats to get good coverage.
When factoring in hide and coverage per gallon, the cost difference narrows between Behr Blank Canvas and comparable Benjamin Moore lines like Ben or Regal Select. Still, Benjamin Moore is priced at a premium. For homeowners wanting the best quality, Benjamin Moore provides good value for money. Cost-conscious buyers get decent quality with Behr Blank Canvas at a budget price.
Conclusion
While both Behr Blank Canvas and Benjamin Moore offer quality paints, Benjamin Moore is widely considered the superior brand. Between better ingredients, hide, coverage, and reputation, Benjamin Moore edges out Behr for serious painters. However, Behr Blank Canvas provides good quality for everyday painting jobs at a more affordable price point.
Here’s a quick comparison summary:
| Behr Blank Canvas | Benjamin Moore | |
|---|---|---|
| Quality | Good | Excellent |
| Hide & Coverage | Good | Excellent |
| Price | Budget | Premium |
| Retail Availability | Home Depot | Authorized retailers |
For top quality results, Benjamin Moore is the winner. But Behr Blank Canvas offers decent performance for everyday painting at a wallet-friendly price point.
