Your Guide to Choosing the Perfect Benjamin Moore Paint

A Warm Welcome to Your Next Paint Project!

Hello there, future painter! Taking on a new paint project is exciting, but stepping into a paint store can feel overwhelming with so many choices. Don't worry—we're here to help. Think of this guide as your friendly coach, ready to make the process simple and clear.

Our mission is to introduce you to the four main Benjamin Moore paint lines: Aura®, Regal® Select, ben®, and Advance®. By the end of this guide, you'll understand what makes each one special and be able to choose the perfect product for your project with total confidence.

The "Secret Sauce": What Makes Benjamin Moore Special?

You might wonder what sets Benjamin Moore apart. It comes down to some seriously smart science that delivers real-world benefits for your home. Here are two key technologies that make all the difference:

• Gennex® Color Technology: Most paints are weakened when color is added, because the colorants themselves aren't very strong. Benjamin Moore invented its own zero-VOC Gennex® colorants that are different—they actually fortify the paint. For you, this means you get exceptionally rich, vibrant color that is also incredibly durable and fade-resistant. Even the deepest, darkest shades will stay true for years to come.

• Zero-VOC Formulations: "VOCs" (volatile organic compounds) are chemicals released into the air as traditional paint dries, which can impact your home's indoor air quality. Benjamin Moore offers many zero-VOC formulas, which means fewer harmful emissions. Choosing a zero-VOC paint is a healthier choice that creates a safer and more pleasant atmosphere for you and your family. It's an especially good choice for households with children or individuals with respiratory sensitivities like asthma and allergies, creating a healthier indoor environment for everyone.

Now that you know the technology behind the quality, let's meet the paint lines themselves.

Meet the Benjamin Moore Paint Family: A Line for Every Project

Aura®: The Ultimate in Color & Durability

The absolute best-of-the-best, offering unparalleled color richness and long-lasting performance.

Why You'll Love It:

• Unbeatable Color Depth: Aura® uses exclusive Color Lock® technology, which locks pigments into the paint film. This creates stunningly rich, true color that won't rub off or fade over time.

• Superior Durability: As Benjamin Moore's highest-quality paint, it's highly scuff-resistant and washable, making it perfect for the busiest areas of your home.

• Flawless Coverage: This paint is self-priming and engineered for extreme hide, meaning it covers existing colors (even dark ones) beautifully, often in fewer coats.

Best For: High-traffic areas like hallways, living rooms, and kitchens, or any space where you want the most luxurious, long-lasting color possible. It’s the ideal choice for homeowners who plan to stay in their home long-term and want a finish that truly endures.

Keep in Mind: This is Benjamin Moore's ultra-premium line and comes with the highest price tag. It's an investment in ultimate performance and beauty.

Regal® Select: The Trusted All-Star

A time-tested favorite of both professionals and homeowners, delivering exceptional quality and reliability for any project.

Why You'll Love It:

• Proven Performance: Regal® Select has been a best-seller for over 50 years and is the top choice for a majority of professional painters who trust its consistent, beautiful results.

• Excellent Coverage & Durability: It glides on easily, covers beautifully, and creates a durable, washable finish that stands up to daily life.

• Great Value: This paint line offers a fantastic balance of premium performance and price, backed by a lifetime warranty for peace of mind.

Best For: Virtually any interior project. From bedrooms and family rooms to hallways and dining rooms, Regal® Select is a dependable workhorse that delivers a high-quality finish you can count on.

Keep in Mind: While it provides outstanding performance, it sits just below Aura® in terms of ultimate color depth and durability.

ben®: The DIY-Friendly & Budget-Conscious Choice

An easy-to-use, reliable paint designed to give first-time painters the confidence to achieve flawless results without breaking the bank.

Why You'll Love It:

• Forgiving Application: This paint is specifically formulated to be user-friendly, with great touch-up qualities and a longer open time, which means fewer mistakes and a smoother finish.

• Zero-VOC Formula: Like its premium counterparts, ben® is a zero-VOC paint, making it a healthier choice for your home's air quality.

• Affordable Quality: It provides the quality you expect from Benjamin Moore at a budget-friendly price point, making it perfect for a wide range of projects.

Best For: DIY projects in lower-traffic areas like guest rooms or closets, or for anyone looking for a great-looking finish on a budget. It's an excellent entry-level paint for new homeowners and aspiring DIYers.

Keep in Mind: This paint has a thinner consistency, which can be a bit messier if you're not careful. It also doesn't offer the same level of durability and coverage as the premium Aura® and Regal® Select lines.

Advance®: The Pro-Finish for Cabinets & Trim

A specialized paint that cures to a hard, furniture-quality finish, making it the top choice for cabinets, doors, and trim.

Why You'll Love It:

• Cabinet-Grade Smoothness: Advance® is a waterborne alkyd paint, which gives it the smooth, durable finish of an oil-based paint but with the ease of soap-and-water cleanup.

• Exceptional Durability: It creates a tough, factory-like finish that stands up to the daily wear and tear that cabinets, doors, and trim endure.

• Superior Leveling: This paint flows on beautifully and levels out to minimize brush marks, giving your woodwork a professional, high-end look.

Best For: Transforming kitchen cabinets, interior doors, trim, and furniture. If you're painting any wood surface that requires maximum durability and a stunningly smooth finish, Advance® is the unrivaled choice.

Keep in Mind: Because it's an alkyd formula, Advance® has a longer drying and curing time compared to standard latex paints. Patience is key to achieving its beautiful, hard finish.

Now that you've been introduced to each member of the family, the table below offers a quick summary to help you decide.

At-a-Glance: Which Paint Is Right for You?

Use this simple chart to compare the key features of each paint line and find the perfect match for your project.

Paint Line	Key Feature	Ideal Project	Price Point
Aura®	Color Lock® Technology; unmatched color depth & durability	High-traffic areas; projects where only the best will do	Ultra-Premium ()
Regal® Select	Trusted by Pros; a perfect balance of performance & price	Any interior room, from living rooms to bedrooms	Premium ($)
ben®	DIY-Friendly Formula; forgiving application on a budget	DIY projects; guest rooms; budget-conscious updates	Budget-Friendly ($)
Advance®	Waterborne Alkyd; pro-level finish for cabinets & trim	Cabinets, trim, doors, and furniture	Premium ($)

With the right product selected, you're almost ready to start. Here are two final professional tips to ensure your project is a success.

Two Final Tips Before You Start Painting

The Power of Primer

While many Benjamin Moore paints are "self-priming" and offer excellent hide, a dedicated primer is a non-negotiable step in certain situations. Using the right primer ensures your final coat looks even, adheres properly, and lasts for years. Always use a primer when you are:

• Making a drastic color change (e.g., painting a light color over a very dark one).

• Painting over glossy, slick surfaces where paint might have trouble sticking.

• Covering tough stains from water, smoke, or crayons that could otherwise bleed through your topcoat.

• Painting new, unpainted drywall, which is very porous and will soak up paint unevenly without a primer.

A Quick Word on Safety

SAFETY FIRST: If you are scraping, sanding, or removing old paint in a home built before 1978, you may release lead dust. Lead is toxic, and exposure can cause serious illness, such as brain damage, especially in children and pregnant women. Before you start your project, learn how to protect yourself and your family. For more information, visit www.epa.gov/lead.

You're Ready to Go!

Congratulations! You now have the knowledge to walk into your local Benjamin Moore retailer and choose the perfect paint with confidence. By understanding the unique strengths of Aura®, Regal® Select, ben®, and Advance®, you're no longer just buying a can of paint—you're selecting the right tool for the job. This is the first and most important step to achieving a beautiful, long-lasting result you'll be proud of for years to come.

Now, go start that project you've been dreaming about!