Painting your walls is one of the fastest ways to change how a room feels. The tricky part is not picking the color but choosing a paint that actually covers well, cleans easily, and does not gas off strong fumes for days.
Premium formulas really do behave differently from bargain buckets, especially if you want rich color in fewer coats and walls that survive kids, pets, and regular scrubbing.
Below is a practical guide to 13 of the best interior wall paints available today, plus a quick primer on how to pick the right one for your space.
How to choose interior wall paint?
Before you fall in love with a color card, pay attention to what is inside the can.
Coverage and hide
Coverage tells you how many square feet a gallon can paint. Hide is how well the paint masks the old color or imperfections.
Independent tests consistently show that premium lines such as Regal Select, Aura, and Emerald hide existing colors in fewer coats than budget paints, which can cancel out the higher price because you buy and roll fewer gallons.
Look for language like excellent hide, high hiding, or one coat coverage on the data sheet, and remember that even one-coat formulas often look and wear better with a second, lighter pass.
Durability and washability
Modern acrylic wall paints are designed to be scrubbed. The best formulas combine stain resistance, scuff resistance, and color that does not burnish to a shiny patch when you clean it. This matters for hallways, kids’ rooms, entries, and anywhere furniture brushes the wall regularly.
Premium lines from brands like Sherwin-Williams and Benjamin Moore are engineered specifically to handle frequent cleaning without losing their finish or color.
VOCs and indoor air quality
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the solvents that evaporate as paint dries. Low VOC and zero VOC paints release far fewer of these chemicals, which is better for indoor air, especially in bedrooms, nurseries, and tight apartments.
Many low VOC paints sit below about 50 grams per liter, and zero VOC formulas fall under stricter thresholds.
Today, several of the top interior paints on this list are low odour and either low VOC or zero VOC, and many also carry third-party certifications such as GREENGUARD Gold for low emissions.
Read More: Home Office Paint Colors That Match Wood Furniture
Flat, matte, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss
The finish affects both look and practicality:
- Flat and matte hide flaws best but are less stain resistant, so they suit low traffic living rooms or ceilings.
- Eggshell and satin are the workhorses for most walls, with a soft sheen that wipes clean but still looks refined.
- Semi gloss and gloss are tougher again and are best for trim, doors, or high splash zones.
Most of the paints below are available in several of these finishes, so you can stay within one product family across walls, trim, and ceilings.
The 13 best interior paints for walls
1. Benjamin Moore Regal Select Interior
If you want a buy it and forget it wall paint, Regal Select is one of the safest bets.
Professionals like it because it levels out as it dries, so brush and roller marks melt into a uniform film, and it covers even strong existing colors in fewer coats.
The formula acts as paint and primer on most previously painted walls, offers excellent hide, and is both stain and scuff resistant, so it works across living rooms, bedrooms, hallways, and family rooms.
Many versions are low VOC and mildew resistant, which makes it easier to use the same line in kitchens and baths as well.
Choose matte or eggshell for main walls, and step up to a pearl or semi gloss sheen for trim and doors if you want a little more toughness and definition.
2. Benjamin Moore Aura Interior
Aura sits at the top of Benjamin Moore’s range and is designed for deep, saturated color that still behaves politely on the wall.
Its proprietary Color Lock technology keeps pigments evenly suspended in the film, which gives you unusually rich color and helps prevent rubbing or fading over time.
The paint has exceptional hide, so even bold colors usually reach full depth in two coats, and the film is very resistant to scrubbing and common household stains.
Good Housekeeping’s testing has highlighted Aura’s very low chemical content, which supports the brand’s own environmental claims for the line.
Aura makes the most sense if you love strong, complex colors, want a luxurious finish, and are willing to pay for a premium formula that stays looking freshly painted longer than mid-tier products.
3. Benjamin Moore ben Interior
ben Interior was created to make premium performance more approachable for DIYers. It is a user friendly, zero VOC paint that stays wet a little longer, which gives you time to fix lap marks or roller edges before they dry.
Despite its lower price compared with Aura and Regal Select, ben still hides previous colors in fewer coats than many entry level paints and delivers a washable, scuff resistant finish that is easy to touch up.
It is a smart choice for first time painters, rental refreshes, and secondary spaces where you still want decent durability but do not need the absolute top shelf formula.
4. Sherwin-Williams Emerald Interior Acrylic Latex
Emerald is Sherwin-Williams’ flagship interior line and is widely regarded as one of the best all round interior paints on the market.
It combines excellent hide with a very smooth, even finish and outstanding washability, so it suits both feature walls and hardworking rooms.
The formula includes stain blocking ingredients and antimicrobial agents that inhibit mold and mildew growth on the paint film, which makes Emerald especially well suited to bathrooms, laundry rooms, and steamy kitchens.
Reach for Emerald when you need high performance in demanding spaces or when you simply want a long lasting, easy to clean wall finish in a color you are unlikely to repaint for many years.
Read More: How To Paint Kitchen Cabinets?
5. Sherwin-Williams Duration Home Interior Acrylic Latex
Duration Home is engineered for homes that are tough on walls. The paint and primer formula uses a cross linking resin technology that helps stains sit on the surface rather than soaking in, so most marks wipe away with water or mild soap.
It also includes moisture resistance and antimicrobial agents to inhibit mold and mildew on the dried film, which makes it a strong candidate for bathrooms, kids’ spaces, mudrooms, and rooms with frequent condensation.
If you like to clean walls often or have a busy household with high traffic, Duration Home offers more forgiveness than mid-range paints and can extend the time between full repaints.
6. Sherwin-Williams SuperPaint Interior Acrylic Latex
SuperPaint is the dependable workhorse in the Sherwin-Williams interior range. It combines paint and primer, offers excellent hide, and is known among pros for reliable coverage and good touch up performance.
Independent reviews note its solid stain resistance and durability for the price, which makes it a strong value choice when you are painting an entire home or rental and want quality that still respects the budget.
Use SuperPaint in living areas, bedrooms, and halls where you want reliable performance, but you do not need the added moisture or stain protection of Emerald or Duration.
7. Behr Marquee Interior Paint & Primer
Marquee is the premium interior line from Behr and has become a favorite for its combination of one coat color coverage when tinted to specific collections and strong stain resistance.
The advanced paint and primer formula offers exceptional hide, a very durable film, and an official one coat hide guarantee on a large subset of its color range.
In independent lab tests, Marquee has performed particularly well for abrasion and stain resistance, which makes it ideal for busy open plan living areas and family rooms.
If you are willing to pay a bit more for the can, Marquee can save you time on labor and usually leaves walls looking freshly painted for longer than budget alternatives.
8. Behr Ultra Scuff Defense Interior Paint & Primer
Behr Ultra with Scuff Defense technology is designed explicitly for high traffic areas.
The 100 percent acrylic paint and primer delivers a very durable, scuff and mar resistant finish that behaves more like a higher sheen paint while still giving you the softer look of flat or satin, depending on the version.
Technical data sheets show that the Scuff Defense formulas offer strong burnish resistance, easy stain removal, and a mildew resistant finish, so they are ideal for hallways, stairwells, kids’ rooms, and entry walls that get banged by backpacks and shoes.
Choose this line if you like the convenience and pricing of Ultra but want extra insurance against scuffs and repeated cleaning.
9. Behr Premium Plus Interior Paint & Primer
Premium Plus is Behr’s long running value hero. It delivers very respectable hide and durability at a more accessible price, and the latest versions are zero VOC, low odour, and GREENGUARD Gold certified for low chemical emissions.
The finish resists stains and mildew and stands up to regular washing, which makes it a strong fit for bedrooms, living rooms, and rental properties where you want solid performance without over-investing in a premium line.
If you are painting a whole house on a budget, Premium Plus is one of the best ways to keep quality and indoor air standards high while still keeping material costs under control.
10. PPG Prominence Interior Paint & Primer
Prominence is a zero VOC, 100 percent acrylic interior paint and primer designed as a premium option in the PPG range.
It offers excellent hide, an ultra smooth resilient finish, and high resistance to stains and scrubbing, which puts it in the same performance bracket as top lines like Regal Select and Duration in many independent comparisons.
Because it is both stain and burnish resistant, Prominence is a clever pick for open plan spaces and busy corridors where walls see regular contact but you still want a refined, even surface that does not develop shiny spots.
11. PPG Timeless Interior Paint + Primer
PPG Timeless is another high performance interior line with a focus on one coat hide and exceptional wear resistance.
The formula is designed to deliver complete one coat coverage and a very tough finish in more than a thousand colors, backed by a color protect technology that resists fading.
Timeless scores well for washability, scrubbability, and stain resistance, so it works nicely in busy family spaces, kitchens, and anywhere you want a rich look without babying the walls.
If you are repainting from a dark color to a lighter one and want to keep coat count down, Timeless is worth a close look.
12. Valspar Signature Interior Paint + Primer
Signature is the flagship wall paint from Valspar that most DIY stores position as an upgrade over their entry lines.
It includes the brand’s ScuffShield technology to resist scuffs and stains and is formulated as a high hiding paint and primer that gives rich, fade resistant color with a smooth finish.
The finish is mildew resistant and fully acrylic, so it is a solid choice for living rooms, bedrooms, and kids’ spaces where you expect some wear and tear but still want good color depth and easier cleaning than budget paints typically deliver.
13. HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Infinity Interior Paint & Primer
Infinity is the top interior line from HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, sold through big box retailers.
It is marketed as the brand’s most durable interior paint and primer, with one coat coverage on many projects and an ultra smooth application that has tested very well in independent lab reviews.
Infinity’s film is designed to be washable, scrubbable, and stain blocking, with mildew resistant properties, so it can comfortably handle busy living rooms and showpiece spaces where you want walls to look flawless at close range.
If you like Sherwin-Williams performance but prefer the convenience of big box shopping, Infinity is an appealing alternative to buying from a dedicated paint store.
Read More: How To Paint Shiplap?
Conclusion
The right interior paint quietly does a lot of work for your home. It affects how colors read, how easily walls clean up, and how often you need to repaint.
The 13 options above cover everything from budget friendly whole house refreshes to premium formulas that deliver deep, velvety color and serious durability.
Start with how you live in the space. Busy halls, kids’ rooms, and baths benefit from tougher, moisture and stain resistant lines, while calm bedrooms and living rooms can focus more on a soft, luxurious finish and low odour.
If you pair a well chosen formula with solid prep and two thoughtful coats, your walls will look fresher, stay cleaner, and make every color choice feel intentional.
