Choosing the right exterior paint color for your home can be a daunting task. With so many paint options available, how do you know which is the most popular and best for your home’s exterior? As an experienced home blogger and SEO writer, I’ve researched the top exterior paint colors and brands to help simplify your search. Keep reading for an in-depth look at the most popular exterior house paint colors and factors to consider when choosing exterior paint.
Most Popular Exterior House Paint Colors
While personal taste plays a big role in choosing exterior paint, there are a few universally popular colors that look great on all home styles. Here are the top 5 most popular exterior house paint colors:
1. White
White is hands down the most popular exterior house paint color. Clean, crisp white has a timeless look that works well with any architectural style. It makes homes look larger and highlights decorative trim and accents. White reflects heat, so it’s energy efficient. It’s also easy to touch up and maintain over time. Popular white exterior paints include:
- Sherwin-Williams Extra White
- Benjamin Moore Simply White
- Behr Premium Plus Ultra Pure White
2. Gray
Gray is another top choice for modern, sophisticated exteriors. Cool-toned grays like gray owl, pewter gray, and silver drop complement both traditional and contemporary homes. Dark charcoal grays can be striking on arts & crafts bungalows. Gray paint colors include:
- Benjamin Moore Gray Owl
- Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray
- Behr Premium Plus Mindful Gray
3. Beige
For a warm, welcoming vibe, beige is a fantastic exterior paint color. From tan to greige to taupe, beiges work with any style home. They hide dirt well and provide a neutral backdrop for other exterior features. Popular beige paint colors include:
- Benjamin Moore Navajo White
- Sherwin-Williams Accessible Beige
- Behr Premium Plus Nautical
4. Blue
Blue makes a bold exterior paint choice. Navy blue evokes colonial Americana on traditional homes, while lighter blues like hydrangea blue or sky blue are soothing on cottages. Blue paint options include:
- Benjamin Moore Hyde Park Blue
- Sherwin-Williams Naval
- Behr Premium Plus Blueprint
5. Yellow
Yellow exterior paint conveys sunshine and warmth. Soft yellow, cream yellow, and pale yellow work on various home styles. Deeper golds and ochres accent arts & crafts designs. Popular yellow paint colors include:
- Benjamin Moore Geronimo
- Sherwin-Williams Jaffa Orange
- Behr Premium Plus Canyon Dusk
While white, gray, beige, blue, and yellow are consistently top choices, any exterior paint color that appeals to your taste can look amazing on your home.
Most Popular Exterior Paint Brands
When researching exterior paint options, you’ll notice some popular brand names that consistently receive great reviews. Here are the top brand for long-lasting, quality exterior house paint:
1. Sherwin-Williams
With exceptional color options, quality, and coverage, Sherwin-Williams frequently tops lists of the best exterior paint brands. Their Duration and Emerald lines offer excellent protection and durability for all climates.
2. Benjamin Moore
Known for beautiful, complex hues, Benjamin Moore delivers premium exterior paints like Aura and MoorGard that cover well and stand up to weather. This brand excels at creating trendy grays.
3. Behr
Available exclusively at Home Depot, Behr offers great value for the money. Their Premium Plus Ultra line provides excellent hide and a long-lasting satin finish on exterior surfaces.
4. PPG Pittsburgh Paints
Manor Hall Timeless and other PPG lines give outstanding coverage and protection against fading, chalking, and stains.
5. Kelly-Moore
This brand is popular for affordable, quality exterior paints that come in a wide range of stunning colors. Their Dura-Poxy line stands up especially well to sun, rain, and wind.
What Makes a Good Exterior Paint?
With so many options to choose from, what should you look for in an exterior paint? Here are the most important features:
Quality pigments
Pigments give paint its color. Quality pigments provide better coverage, truer color, and longer-lasting color than cheaper paints. They better withstand sun exposure without fading.
Binder type
The binder (resin) locks pigment into the film and adheres the paint to the house. Acrylic binders make paint more durable. Urethane and silicone resins offer the best water resistance.
Finish
Satin finishes balance color richness with hide and touchup ease. Glossier finishes enhance colors but show flaws. Matte finishes hide imperfections but scuff more easily. Consider your home’s condition when choosing a finish.
Durability
Look for exterior paints designed to withstand sun, rain, snow, wind, temperature swings, moisture, and dirt without fading, peeling, or cracking.
Mildew resistance
Mildew-resistant paints like those with Zinc Oxide prevent ugly black mildew stains on exterior surfaces exposed to moisture.
Warranty
A long warranty (15-25 years) protects against early peeling or fading. Quality exterior paints often provide lifetime limited warranties when properly applied.
How Much Exterior Paint Do You Need?
To estimate how much exterior paint you’ll need for your entire house:
- Measure the total square footage of each exterior wall surface.
- Multiply the square footage by the paint manufacturer’s coverage rate per gallon for the surface type.
- Add up the totals for each exterior surface.
- Buy 10-20% extra paint for touchups and waste.
Use this table as a rough guide to coverage rates by surface type:
| Surface Type | Sq. Ft. per Gallon |
|---|---|
| Wood Siding | 300-400 sq ft/gallon |
| Brick | 200-300 sq ft/gallon |
| Stucco | 100-200 sq ft/gallon |
Buying sample sizes can help you estimate real-world coverage for your specific surfaces.
How to Choose Exterior Paint Colors
Choosing a palette that enhances your home’s architecture and looks cohesive from the street involves:
Consider the style
Match historical paint colors to traditional home styles, and use bolder modern hues on contemporary homes.
Select 1-2 main colors
Choose a dominant color for the siding or brick and a secondary color for the trim, doors, and accents.
Use 60-30-10 rule
60% of surfaces should be the main color, 30% the secondary color, and 10% accent colors.
Pick complementary colors
Choose adjacent hues on a color wheel for harmonious, pleasing combinations.
Use color psychology
Warm reds promote sociability, blues create calm, greens signify growth, etc.
Factor in light exposure
South or west sides may need lighter, heat-reflecting colors like white or pale yellow.
Test samples
Paint large sample swatches on your exterior to view colors in real life before committing.
Exterior Paint Preparation
Proper prep work ensures exterior paint adheres well and provides the best protection:
Clean surfaces
Use pressure washing and/or cleaning solutions to remove dirt, grease, mildew stains, loose paint, chalkiness, etc.
Repair flaws
Fix cracks, holes, rotted wood, and other defects, then sand repaired areas.
Remove loose caulk
Take out old caulk that’s cracked or peeling and recaulk gaps before painting.
Prime bare surfaces
Prime new wood, masonry, and previously unpainted surfaces so the topcoat adheres properly.
Use peel-blocking primer
If old paint is peeling, flaking, or blistering, use a primer designed for adhesion to problematic surfaces.
Roughen glossy surfaces
Lightly sand or degloss very smooth, glossy areas so the new paint bonds well.
Caulk exterior
Fill joints, seams, and cracks with a quality exterior caulk or sealant.
Mask areas off
Use painters tape, plastic, and drop cloths to protect surfaces not being painted.
Follow directions
Read the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure proper application for the surfaces being painted.
Applying Exterior Paint
Use proper techniques when applying exterior paint to get the best-looking, longest-lasting results:
Paint in dry weather
Only paint when temperatures are between 50-90°F with low humidity and no rain in the forecast for 48 hours.
Brush product details
Use high-quality nylon/polyester brushes made for exterior latex paint.
Roller details
Choose the recommended nap size and material for the surface being painted.
Maintain wet edge
Always keep a wet edge as you paint to prevent lap marks at edges that dry too fast.
Use proper primer
Prime bare wood, metal, concrete and other surfaces with the recommended primer.
Apply finish coats
Most surfaces need two finish coats for full coverage and protection.
Inspect for drips
Periodically inspect for drips or runs and smooth them out promptly.
Work methodically
Follow a logical painting order over walls: up, down, left to right.
Clean up spills quickly
Don’t let spills or drips on other surfaces dry before cleaning up.
Give proper dry time
Let each coat dry thoroughly before adding another to avoid trapping moisture.
Conclusion
Choosing a popular exterior paint color from a reputable brand, prepping properly, and applying with good technique ensures your exterior paint finish will withstand the elements and keep your home looking beautiful for years. White, gray, beige, blue, and yellow are consistently top choices. Well-reviewed brands include Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, Behr, PPG, and Kelly-Moore. Look for paints with quality binders and pigments that offer maximum fade resistance, coverage, and durability. And don’t skip priming and caulking—they make a huge difference in how the paint adheres and performs. Follow these tips to find the perfect exterior paint to enhance your home’s curb appeal.
