Best Exterior Paints for Doors and Trim
Here's why semi-gloss is your best bet—plus, the top four exterior paints from CR's tests
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A solid exterior paint on a front door could increase your home’s value. Studies have found when the front door is painted the right hue, homes can fetch upward of $6,000 more in resale value. But despite the shade you ultimately select to heighten your home’s curb appeal, there’s only one real option for the paint finish: It has to be semi-gloss.
The same goes for exterior trim. Semi-gloss paint gives you a smoother surface than lower-sheen finishes and has a degree of shine, providing a visual contrast.
“Semi-gloss finishes are usually easy to clean, so they’ll continue to look good for years,” says Richard Handel, a test engineer who oversees paint testing at Consumer Reports. He also recommends a semi-gloss finish for porch railings, adding that you should use a porch-and-patio paint for the porch floor and stairs.
Tips for Painting Your Door and Trim
Spring and autumn can be the perfect time for repainting your doors and trim, thanks to warm (but not overly hot) weather, and lower chances of disruptive rainstorms. Daytime temperatures between 50° F and 90° F with little or no wind are generally best for exterior paint jobs—but check the paint can for more information.
How CR Tests Exterior Paints
In our tough exterior paint tests, we evaluate how the paint will look after three, six, and nine years. Our tests have found that a brand’s flat, eggshell, and semi-gloss paints perform similarly overall, so we combine the scores to make it easier for you to compare brands.
You’ll find 20 paints in our exterior paint ratings with Overall Scores ranging from 29 to 75. Check out our paint buying guide for more advice on picking a paint sheen and finish.
Top Exterior Paints From CR's Tests
The best paint in our exterior paint ratings is Behr Marquee Exterior, sold for $51 per gallon at Home Depot.
For around $10 less and almost as good, there’s Behr Ultra Exterior, also sold at Home Depot. Clark+Kensington, from Ace Hardware, is another solid choice with a comparable rating, at just $35 per gallon. Sherwin-Williams Emerald is impressive, too, but it has a harder time resisting dirt than the other two, and it costs $72 per gallon.
CR members can see more detailed ratings below.
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