Finding the whitest white paint color can be a challenge, especially if you are trusting the names that paint companies use for their paints.
For example, Sherwin Williams has one color called Pure White and another called Extra White. Benjamin Moore has colors named Super White and Simply White. All of the names sound like the paint colors are going to be the whitest white paint color on the market, but none of them are.
As a paint blogger, I am asked more about white paint colors than anything else. And one of the questions that I get a lot is, “What is the whitest white paint color?”
To save you some trouble in finding out which paint is the purest white paint color, here are my top three choices for the cleanest, purest, most white, white paint colors.
Behr Ultra Pure White 1850
Behr makes a paint color called Ultra Pure White that is very, very white.
It has no undertones, and is the whitest white paint you can buy. It is even whiter than Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore’s most white paint colors.
Ultra Pure White has an LRV, or Light Reflectance Value, of 94. This is really high on the LRV scale. The scale goes from 0, which is completely black, to 100, which is completely white. But, no paint color ever really has an LRV of 100. Most top out in the upper 80s or lower 90s.
An LRV of 94 means that Ultra Pure White is going to reflect a ton of light back into the room.
If you are looking for the whitest white paint for a project you’re doing, Behr Ultra Pure White may be the easiest to pick up as well.
It doesn’t require an extra stop at the paint store because it is sold at Home Depot. While you are there getting all the other items you need for your project, you can also get a can of this pure white paint.
Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace 2120-70 or OC-65
Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace is Benjamin Moore’s whitest white paint color.
It has just a hint more color to it than Behr Ultra Pure White, but is still a very pure white paint color. In comparing the two, you can see that Chantilly Lace has a touch of warmth to it while Ultra Pure White has more crispness.
You won’t be able to see any color in Chantilly Lace though, so don’t let this bother you.
Chantilly Lace has an LRV of 90, so it is still super white.
Sherwin Williams High Reflective White SW 7757
High Reflective White is Sherwin Williams brightest and lightest white paint color. It is a very white shade that is just slightly warm.
Like Chantilly Lace, the warmth in High Reflective White doesn’t look yellow on your walls, and you would only ever notice it if you had High Reflective White next to an even brighter white such as Ultra Pure White.
High Reflective White has an LRV of 93, so it will bounce a lot of light around the room if you use it on your walls.
Where Should I Use Really White Paint
The subtle differences that I mentioned between the paint colors on this list are just that, extremely subtle. All of these white paints on this list are going to be very white on your walls, home exterior, trim, or cabinetry.
In fact, these white paint colors are SO white that they aren’t the best option for all places.
The white paint colors on this list are best used on trim and cabinetry. They will look clean and bright and will make the wall paint color really stand out.
You can also use these white paint colors on walls or home exteriors too, but they wouldn’t be my top choice.
A white like Chantilly Lace or Ultra Pure White can be a bit blinding on the exterior of a home in the bright sunlight.
On walls, these white paint colors can look a bit stark.
Now, if this is the look you want, go for it! But be aware that the paint colors will look very white and can appear a little flat in some homes.
Considerations for Using The Whitest White Paint Colors
In addition to considering what surface to use these paint colors on, using the whitest white paint colors come with a few things you may need to think through.
First, really white paint colors come with high LRVs. High LRVs reflect back a lot of light, but they also reflect back the colors that are around as well.
For example, if you paint your wall Ultra Pure White but you see a hint of green on it, it may be from that green bush outside the window.
Similarly, you may find that the white paint color on your wall takes on a reddish look from those mahogany floors.
Second, some painters complain that super white paint colors like these don’t cover well. Because there is so little pigment in them, they take lots of coats to achieve a saturated color.
If you pick a white on this list and your painter tells you he won’t use it because it doesn’t cover well, there are some pretty amazing whites that look really white even if they aren’t the whitest white paints on the market.
Some of my favorite amazing whites that painters don’t balk at as much are Pure White by Sherwin Williams or Simply White by Benjamin Moore. In my opinion, these whites are also better on walls than the whitest white paint colors.
Wondering How To Pick the Perfect Paint Color?
I have the best solution for you!
Samplize sells peel and stick paint samples in almost every paint color.
These no-mess, peel and stick sheets are made from real paint, so they will show you exactly what the paint color will look like.
Simply place them on your walls next to your trim, furnishings or fixed elements, and easily see which paint color works best in your space and with your lighting.
Then, peel the sheet off your wall and reapply it somewhere else if you like. You can try several different paint colors with no mess, no fuss and no cleaning paint brushes.
Oh, and you can have them in your home by tomorrow with OVERNIGHT shipping!
As a bonus, be sure to use the code LoveRemodeled10 at check out to get an extra 10% off! Samplize sheets are cheaper than a sample can of paint, and way less work.
They are the easiest (and fastest!) way to try a paint color in your home, with no hassle.
Final Thoughts on the Whitest White Paint Colors
If you are looking for the purest white paint color you can find, High Reflective White, Ultra Pure White or Chantilly Lace are your best options.
They have no undertones, and will look bright and clean.
Have a question? Leave me a comment! Remember to check back for a response – it may take me up to a week or two depending on how busy I am, but I’ll be sure to get back to you!
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