What Is the Best Home Depot Paint?

If you’re standing in Home Depot’s interior paint section now, you may be wondering which of the store’s two main brands to choose from, Behr or Glidden, or if one of the other attractive contenders is the right pick.

Paint contractors may tell you to skip Home Depot altogether and instead purchase from a standalone store like Sherwin-Williams or Benjamin Moore. But if you’re on a budget, or working on a smaller project like a kid’s room or a guest bathroom, Home Depot paints are perfectly acceptable.

Plus, any tools you may need to get the job done, such as ladders or sprayers, are right there at your fingertips. So the question remains: Which paint brand should you choose?

Paint Brands Sold at Home Depot

Home Depot carries a number of paint brands, including Behr, PPG, Glidden, Rust-Oleum, Kilz, and a few other specialty brands. Home Depot tends to focus on two main brands, Behr and Glidden.

Behr

Behr has been Home Depot’s house brand since 1978, and it’s often compared to the quality of Benjamin Moore paint. As a house brand, it’s often clearly displayed on the best shelves.

Behr Marquee is Behr’s highest-end paint and is marketed as such. From the favored display locations to the swanky labeling, Marquee is positioned as the paint that Home Depot hopes you will choose. While Marquee is a quality paint, those on a tight budget can find other paints of reasonable quality for a lower price.

Glidden

Glidden, which is owned by PPG Industries, is a less expensive brand of paint sold at Home Depot. It’s also carried at Walmart stores across the country.

Glidden paint is often compared to Behr, and many contractors prefer using it for outdoor surfaces.

PPG

PPG Industries, which bought Glidden in 2012, has a premium line called PPG Diamond (which was once Glidden Diamond). PPG also has a line of additives to pour into its scented paint to appeal to homeowners who prefer odor-controlled paint.

Rust-Oleum

Rust-Oleum is mainly a spray paint that’s good for protecting metal surfaces and stopping or hindering rust. However, several brush-on varieties are available, as well. Rust-Oleum also has a line of countertop paints, Countertop Transformations, that covers laminate or tile countertops.

Kilz

Kilz is a water- and oil-based white paint and primer that is used for covering up problem areas like water stains, mold residue, or old paint. Kilz is available in gallons for brushing or rolling or in spray can form. Kilz is rarely used on its own but more as a primer for subsequent coats of paint.

Diamond Brite Paint

This brand offers quality interior latex paint and oil-based enamel paint. It has a smaller offering than the major Home Depot brands, but it is fairly well-known for its commercial uses and industrial applications, though these U.S.-made paints can be used in the home, as well.

Harris Titanium

A limited selection of thicker-than-usual interior/exterior paints, but at a lower price than other top brands. Some users liken it to Behr but often comment that multiple coats are necessary.

Tips for Saving Money on Paint

Consider Behr Pro

One thing that most homeowners don’t know is that Home Depot has a line of paint designed for contractors called Behr PRO. Introduced in April 2015, Behr PRO offers paint at steeply lower prices than its consumer line. Consumers can find it on the shelves, and you don’t need to be a contractor to buy the brand.

Price Bulk vs Smaller Quantities

Buying in bulk—meaning a five-gallon bucket—doesn’t always pay off. Before you grab that bucket, price it out on a per-gallon basis and see if single gallons might be cheaper or more practical for your needs.

For example, you may only need three to four gallons of paint for your job, which means a five-gallon bucket could be overkill and overpriced for your project. Sometimes, the price per gallon and the price for a five-gallon bucket are extremely close, and, other times, the bucket is a better deal. Prices may vary near you, so always do the math to find your best buy.

Time Your Paint Job

Home Depot knows its customers like to tackle home projects on long holiday weekends. That’s why it’s a good idea to keep an eye out for great sales on paint brands during major holidays, such as Memorial Day, Labor Day, or President’s Day. You could save several dollars on a gallon of interior and exterior paint if you time it just right.

Find the Oops Section

Many Home Depot stores keep a small, discreet section of what’s termed “oops” paints. It’s the perfect section to look for colors for small paint jobs. These incorrectly mixed paints, damaged containers, or returned paints are sold at a substantial discount. Look for the tiny oops section usually located close to the paint mixing area.

Use a Paint Calculator

Don’t guess how much paint you’ll need, or you may overspend. Using an easy paint calculator will save you money and also the anxiety of not having enough paint to complete the job.

How Much Does Paint Cost at Home Depot?

This chart is a snapshot of one set of prices in time; naturally, prices will change. The price differences between the paints, however, likely will not change. To summarize:

• Behr PRO i100 Series is one of the cheapest Behr interior paints available at Home Depot. The Behr PRO i300 Series, for high-traffic areas, is slightly more expensive.
• Any kind of paint plus primer will drive up the price per gallon. These differences vary between brands and qualities within the brands.
• Going up or down in paint sheens (semi-gloss to satin, for example) changes the price by a few dollars per sheen level. Prices vary between brands and qualities within brands.

Pricing White Paints