Compare the paint line, finish, and complete job cost, not just Sherwin-Williams versus Benjamin Moore. For an interior repaint, SuperPaint and Regal Select are useful products to price side by side. For trim, compare the selected enamel separately: Emerald Urethane and ADVANCE have very different published recoat times.
Choose the product that meets the surface and finish requirements, is available in the needed quantity, and fits the crew's schedule. A lower price per gallon can disappear in one extra coat or return trip.
US product documents checked November 4, 2026. This is a document-based buying guide, not a hands-on paint test. Example prices are illustrative USD inputs, not current retail or contractor-account quotes.
The quick buying comparison
| Job decision | Sherwin-Williams option | Benjamin Moore option | What to compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interior walls | SuperPaint Interior Latex | Regal Select Interior | Exact finish, surface prep, coats, and net gallon price |
| Interior trim and doors | Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel | ADVANCE Interior Alkyd | Recoat window, finish, substrate, and time before use |
| Material quantity | Use the chosen product's spread rate | Use the chosen product's spread rate | Painted wall area, not floor area |
| Price | Obtain your actual store/account quote | Obtain your actual dealer quote | Same quantities, tax, delivery, and applicable discounts |
| Appearance | Approve the specified color in the chosen finish | Approve the specified color in the chosen finish | A physical sample under the room's lighting |
These pairings are quote starting points, not claims of identical performance. A SuperPaint wall coating and an Emerald trim enamel also aren't interchangeable just because they're from the same brand.
Choosing the finish first? Our satin vs semi-gloss guide compares surfaces, sample approval, and the effect of extra prep on a trim quote.
SuperPaint vs Regal Select: what the data sheets say
Here are two specific US products you can use to check an interior-wall estimate. Sheen names don't create an exact cross-brand match, so approve the appearance separately.
| Published detail | SuperPaint Interior Latex Satin, A87 series | Regal Select Interior Eggshell, N549 |
|---|---|---|
| Spread rate per gallon, per coat | 350–400 sq ft | 400–450 sq ft |
| Dry to touch | 1 hour | 1 hour |
| Recoat | 4 hours | 1–2 hours |
| Conditions for listed dry times | 77°F, 50% relative humidity | 77°F, 50% relative humidity |
| Prep/primer decision | Follow the substrate-specific system | Follow the substrate-specific system |
Sources: SuperPaint A87 data sheet, Regal Select N549 data sheet.
Published spread rates are estimating inputs, not a guarantee that one gallon finishes the same room in every condition. Texture, porosity, application loss, and the required film thickness matter. Recoat time is also different from cure time or readiness for washing.
Don't turn a product sheet into an unsupported brand-wide verdict about durability or coverage. Test the proposed coating on the actual prepared surface when the finish, color change, or substrate makes the outcome uncertain.
Example: paint 1,400 square feet of interior walls
Assume the measured paintable wall area is 1,400 square feet after deducting openings. The scope is two finish coats on prepared walls. Ceilings, trim, repairs, and any separate primer are outside this comparison.
Two coats mean 2,800 square feet of coverage. At the lower end of each published spread rate:
- SuperPaint: 2,800 ÷ 350 = 8 gallons.
- Regal Select: 2,800 ÷ 400 = 7 gallons.
Those are initial quantities before a job-specific allowance for losses or touch-up stock. Check available pack sizes and the chosen color/base before ordering.
| Example input | SuperPaint option | Regal Select option |
|---|---|---|
| Assumed net gallon price | $55 | $65 |
| Initial finish-paint quantity | 8 gallons | 7 gallons |
| Finish-paint cost | $440 | $455 |
| Application labor: 20 person-hours at $45 cost/hour | $900 | $900 |
| Compared cost subtotal | $1,340 | $1,355 |
At these assumed prices, the higher-priced gallon adds only $15 to the subtotal because the estimated quantity differs. That's about 1.1% of the lower subtotal, before adding prep, protection, sundries, overhead, and profit.
If both products actually need eight gallons, the difference becomes $80. If one option takes two additional person-hours at $45, add another $90 to that option. Neither result proves which paint applies faster; it shows what to measure before calling a product cheaper.
Use the painting cost calculator to build the complete estimate. Keep your material assumptions visible so a product substitution doesn't silently change the margin.
Trim paint: the schedule can matter more than gallon price
Wall-paint timing doesn't carry over to cabinets, trim, or doors. Compare the exact enamel and sheen before promising completion.
| Scheduling input | Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel Satin | ADVANCE Interior Satin 792 |
|---|---|---|
| Published recoat time | 4 hours | 16 hours |
| Quote implication | May permit a second coat later the same day | Usually puts the next coat on a later workday |
| Handover check | Confirm drying and service requirements | Confirm drying and service requirements |
Sources: Emerald Urethane data sheet, ADVANCE 792 data sheet. The listed timings depend on application and drying conditions. Neither is a promise that a door is ready for normal use at the recoat time.
Scheduling example: a first coat finished at 10 a.m. reaches a four-hour interval at 2 p.m.; a 16-hour interval ends at 2 a.m. the next day. A daytime crew would normally plan that second option for the next workday, subject to actual drying conditions.
If that means an extra trip, include mobilization and setup. If the crew is already working in the house the following day, the extra-trip cost may be zero. Don't bill 12 hours of idle labor just because the published waiting periods differ.
Get comparable prices from the store and dealer
Send both suppliers a short, identical request:
Quote the specified interior wall product and finish, in the approved color, for the listed gallons. Show the final account price, delivery or pickup terms, available stock, and separate primer price if required.
For contractor pricing, use the number your account actually receives. A temporary sale or another painter's discount isn't your permanent cost. For a large job, confirm that enough of the correct base and finish is available before committing the schedule.
Keep finish-coat quantity separate from primer. “Paint and primer” labeling doesn't eliminate every substrate problem. The cited product sheets identify prep and primer requirements; price stains, adhesion problems, and major color changes from the actual surface condition.
Our Home Depot vs Lowe's guide uses the same buying principle: the final supplied cost matters more than the advertised discount.
Color, sheen, and touch-ups belong in the scope
Approve a sample in the specified product and finish, not just a phone image or a color name. Record the manufacturer, line, base, color/formula, sheen, and room on the job. If the customer requests a cross-brand match, approve that sample before ordering the full quantity.
When handing over leftover paint, label what it belongs to. For future work, distinguish a small touch-up from repainting a wall; don't guarantee that a repair will disappear under every light. If the customer changes colors or upgrades the coating after approval, document the price and schedule change using a change order.
Which should you choose?
Choose the Sherwin-Williams option when the specified product, approved sample, available stock, and complete quote suit the job better. Choose the Benjamin Moore option on the same basis. For trim, the published recoat schedule is a concrete difference worth pricing, but it doesn't settle every finish or application decision.
Show the customer an exact coating specification and total price. “Two coats of the approved wall product, with listed prep and protection” is easier to compare than “premium paint included.”
For project-based painting crews, Dave can keep the estimate and job details together. Keep the approved product and color with the project so the invoice and any change order reflect what was actually agreed.
Common questions
Is Benjamin Moore more expensive than Sherwin-Williams?
It depends on the line, finish, quantity, and final supplier quote. Compare the total coating and labor cost, not a full-price gallon from one brand against a discounted gallon from the other.
Does Regal Select cover more area than SuperPaint?
The specific US sheets compared above list a higher spread rate for Regal Select N549 than SuperPaint A87. That doesn't guarantee fewer coats or lower cost on your surface. Apply each at its specified film thickness and verify the result.
Is a four-hour recoat time the same as a four-hour cure?
No. Recoat means when another coat can be applied under the stated conditions. Return to service, washing, and full hardness are separate checks.
Should I use this comparison for exterior paint?
No. The wall products compared here are interior products. For an exterior quote, select the actual exterior lines and check the substrate, weather limits, preparation, and warranty separately.
