Consumer Reports' 5 favorite interior paints of 2026
Walls show wear fast when the wrong formula goes up. Consumer Reports tested a dozen interior paints on hiding and stain resistance to find the best
Annie Spratt / Unsplash
Not every interior paint holds up the way its label suggests, and formulas from the same brand can perform very differently in tests. A paint that resists stains and covers dark colors in a single coat saves time and effort down the road. Poor performers leave walls looking worn, and most retailers won't take back an opened can.
Consumer Reports tested more than a dozen interior paint lines on hiding and stain-resistance performance to find the five best ones.
1 / 5
Behr Dynasty (Home Depot)
Credit: Home Depot
Priced at $68 per gallon, Behr Dynasty is the highest-scoring interior paint in Consumer Reports' ratings, earning a 94 out of 100. Hiding and stain resistance — the two criteria CR measures — each scored a perfect five out of five in testing. Dynasty is Behr's premium offering, with claims of one-coat coverage, low odor, and low VOCs, along with greater mold and mildew resistance than other Behr lines. It is available exclusively at Home Depot $HD.
2 / 5
Valspar Reserve
Credit: Lowe's
Valspar Reserve costs $55 per gallon and earns an 89 in Consumer Reports' interior paint ratings, tying for second. CR found the formula topped the hiding test, covering dark wall colors completely in one coat, and earned a perfect stain-resistance score. The Sherwin-Williams brand is sold at Lowe's $LOW and independent retailers, making it the only paint on this list without retail exclusivity. It carries Greenguard Gold certification for low VOC levels.
3 / 5
Behr Ultra (Home Depot)
Credit: Home Depot
At $48 per gallon, Behr Ultra costs $20 less than Dynasty and earns an 89 in Consumer Reports' interior paint tests, matching Valspar Reserve for second place. CR found Ultra on par with Dynasty and Marquee in hiding and stain-resistance performance despite the price difference. Behr recommends two coats with this formula, and rates Marquee and Dynasty as more resistant to mold and mildew. Ultra is sold exclusively at Home Depot $HD.
4 / 5
Behr Marquee (Home Depot)
Credit: Home Depot
Behr Marquee is priced at $58 per gallon and scores 88 in Consumer Reports' interior paint evaluation, one point below Behr Dynasty. Marquee earned the highest hiding rating in the test pool and performed equally well at removing oil- and water-based stains. Behr positions it just below Dynasty, with one-coat coverage, low odor, and low VOC levels, and it dries to the touch in roughly an hour. Marquee is available only at Home Depot $HD.
5 / 5
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Infinity (Lowe's)
Credit: Lowe's
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Infinity, sold exclusively at Lowe's $LOW, costs $66 per gallon and scores 84 in Consumer Reports' tests, earning a perfect five out of five for stain resistance and a four out of five for hiding darker colors. CR describes the formula as a strong alternative to the Behr options on this list. HGTV Home positions Infinity as its most durable interior offering, with one-coat application, Greenguard Gold certification for low VOCs, and a dry-to-touch time of about an hour.
