Lowe‘s vs Home Depot Paint in 2024: A Detailed Comparison

When you‘re ready to revive your home with a fresh coat of paint, choosing the perfect color is just the first step. You also need to find paint that will provide flawless coverage and stand the test of time. This usually leads DIYers to the trusted paint aisles of home improvement giants Lowe‘s and Home Depot. But how do the paint selections at these two mega-retailers actually compare?

I‘ve painted my own home exclusively with Lowe‘s and Home Depot paint brands over the past decade. Here‘s my hands-on look at how the paints stack up in 2024 based on selection, price, quality, and more. By the end, you‘ll know which retailer offers the best paint for your next project.

Paint Selections: Every Color Under the Sun

Walk into any Lowe‘s or Home Depot and you‘ll discover a kaleidoscope of paint colors. Row after row of paint chips offer a rainbow of hues and creative naming themes to spark inspiration. Both stores carry all the major national paint brands you know and trust.

At Lowe‘s, you‘ll find interior and exterior paint from:

• Sherwin-Williams, including exclusive HGTV Home and Emerald lines
• Valspar
• Glidden
• Krylon spray paints

Home Depot‘s paint aisles are stocked with:

• Behr
• Glidden
• PPG
• KILZ primers
• Rust-Oleum spray paints and specialty finishes

This wide selection means you can find the perfect paint for any project. Pro-grade paints deliver ultra-smooth finishes, while budget economy brands offer savings for cost-conscious DIYers.

Paint Prices: Affordable to Luxurious

Paint prices span a wide range at both Lowe‘s and Home Depot. Entry-level paints start around $20 per gallon, while premium options can run up to $60+ per gallon.

Expect to spend $25-40 per gallon for mid-range paints from Behr, Glidden, Sherwin-Williams, and Valspar. These offer good quality and coverage at reasonable prices.

For professional-grade paint with maximum durability and hide, plan to invest $45-60+ per gallon. Paint lines like Behr Marquee, Sherwin-Williams Emerald, and Valspar Reserve cost more but deliver outstanding results that justify the price.

Both stores offer frequent sales on paint to help you save. Check for coupons and Bulk Pricing discounts on multiple gallons. Joining their free loyalty programs gets you additional exclusive deals on paint year-round.

Paint Matching: Convenience You‘ll Be Glad For

One of the best services at both Lowe‘s and Home Depot is their free paint matching. Bring in a chip or sample of any existing paint color, and their machines can scan the color and match it perfectly to one of their in-stock paints.

Paint matching is a life-saver for quick paint touch-ups. You never have to worry about finding the exact original paint color again. It also allows you to color match specialty decorative paints from brands outside of Lowe‘s and Home Depot‘s standard selections.

To get the most accurate match possible, I recommend bringing at least a two inch square chip of dried paint. The bigger the sample, the better.

Paint Quality: My Hands-On Review

In terms of paint quality, you can trust the major brands at Lowe‘s and Home Depot to all provide good results. Through my own trial and error, I can vouch that these are some of the top performing paints:

Behr Marquee Interior

Over the past 5 years, this has been my go-to paint for all interior rooms. The one-coat coverage guarantee absolutely holds up – even over darker existing paints. The finished result is flawless with zero lap marks or unevenness. I‘m also amazed at how well it holds up to scrubbing and daily wear and tear. For the price, Behr Marquee delivers incredible quality.

Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel

For all my interior trim and cabinets, I swear by Emerald Urethane. The alkyd formula provides an ultra-hard, glass-smooth finish that really holds up. I‘ll never paint woodwork with anything else. It‘s worth the splurge for the durability and rich finish.

Glidden Premium Interior

When I‘m looking for quality paint at a budget price for walls, I turn to Glidden Premium. At under $30 per gallon, it provides very good coverage and color retention. The low odor and easy clean-up are big bonuses.

Conclusion: My Top Paint Picks

For most DIY home painting projects, Lowe‘s and Home Depot both offer plenty of excellent choices. Make sure to consider the needs of your specific project – durability, application style, color accuracy, and budget.

Based on my hands-on experience, here are my top recommendations:

• For walls, choose Behr Marquee or Glidden Premium

• For trim, cabinets, and doors, splurge on Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane

• For exterior paint, go with Behr Premium Plus Ultra

• Use Valspar Reserve for zero-VOC indoor paint

• Rely on paint matching for easy touch-ups

No matter which retailer you choose, give test samples a try before committing to gallons. With the right paint and some thorough prep work, you‘ll be well on your way to a successful DIY paint project.