What are the best, WHITEST shades in the TOP BRANDS? Let’s find out!
When picking the BEST white paint color, it’s easy to take a wrong turn into the wrong undertones. And while I’ve covered MANY versions of white (including the kind that fills my glass on a nightly basis), today we’re going to chat about the WHITEST white paint colors!
If you’ve been reading my blog for a while (thank you for drinking the Ginger-flavored Kool-aid), you’ll know that LRV matters.
WHAT IS LRV?
If you don’t know, you get three slaps with a wet noodle and need to read this blog post ASAP – it’s also good for those needing a refresher!
The WHITEST white paint colors will have the highest LRV numbers. And while LRV goes up to 100, in the ‘real person paint world,’ we only going up to 94, as we’re not slapping scientific white on our walls (it’s not available and only shows up on my bum cheeks in the dead of winter – yes, Mom, I said that).
The WHITEST white paint colors will have the highest LRV numbers
Sherwin Williams Pure White
It’s also important not to judge a color by its name. For example, Sherwin Williams has a GORGEOUS white called Pure White (one of my faves), but let me tell you – it ain’t ‘pure white.’
AND LASTLY, after reading this list, PLEASE keep reading, as I have some IMPORTANT NOTES for you to consider BEFORE you start sampling white paint colors!
The WHITEST White Paint Colors
1. BEHR ULTRA PURE WHITE PR-W15
LRV 94.4
Ultra Pure White is THE whitest white paint color on the market. And even though I’m in long-term relationships with Ben and Sherm, sometimes I refer to this WHITEST white paint color as the best shade for a project.
And don’t ask me why Behr has four different Ultra Pure Whites (I’ve sent an email asking) – it seems like a great way to complicate things if you ask me. Stick with PR-W15 until I learn otherwise.
Why doesn’t EVERY brand have a white that’s THIS WHITE?
Good question – you get a gold star! Different brands use different BASES to create their paint, and not all white bases were created equally. This is why every brand has a different ‘white,’ and it’s not the same right across the board (it’s also why you should NEVER color match between brands).
Behr’s Best White & Soft-White Paint Colors
2. KELLY MOORE WHITEST WHITE KMW43-1
LRV 94.62
You’d think that with an LRV of 94.62, Whitest White would be in the number one spot, and it SHOULD be (technically). But what I’m talking about are the WHITEST whites, and even though its LRV is a weeee willy wink higher, Behr Ultra Pure White looks a touch cleaner. This could simply be because Behrs ‘white base’ is a cleaner white – but really, either will do the trick.
Should I Paint My Wood Cabinets White? A QUESTIONNAIRE
3. SHERWIN WILLIAMS HIGH REFLECTIVE WHITE 7757
LRV 93
Sherwin Williams High Reflective White is a white I refer to ALL THE TIME in my Online Paint Color Consulting. With its LRV of 93, it’s pretty dang white. It looks SLIGHTLY warm compared to Ultra Pure White, but remember, that’s just ‘in comparison.’ High Reflective White can also look a bit stark and cool compared to a warmer white!
High Reflective White is WHITER looking than Chantilly Lace (#4), but NOT quite as white as Ultra Pure White. Compare the two, and you WILL see that shift, with HRW looking a wink softer (but again, it’s really a pretty legit white white).
HOWEVER, High Reflective White isn’t easy to get at every Sherwin William’s store – you have a 50/50 shot. If you want to learn how to get it, READ THIS.
4. BENJAMIN MOORE CHANTILLY LACE OC-65
LRV 90.04
According to Benjamin Moore, their WHITEST shade is Chantilly Lace, with an LRV of 90.04. The LRV has changed as it used to be 92.2 (they’ve improved their color reading technology).
And while it looks like a pretty DARN WHITE WHITE, it can come off just a WINK warm/soft in comparison to Behr Ultra Pure White (but really, it’s a gorgeous white and one I refer to ALL THE TIME when I don’t want a totally stark white).
Chantilly Lace – third down
BTW, people are OFTEN fooled by Benjamin Moore’s Simply White, as it can look quite white as well (LRV of 89.52). HOWEVER, it has a pop of yellow undertone, so be careful where you put it.
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5. FARROW & BALL ALL WHITE 2005
LRV 91.8
In the words of the great Matthew McConaughey – all wight all wight all wight! With an LRV of 91.8, All White will look white but can come off a bit softer than the others with its slightly lower LRV. While ‘generally speaking,’ the first four colors all do a similar job, All White is just a bit noticeably softer.
WHITE PAINT COLORS & EXPOSURE
I’m not talking FULL-exposure (one of my fave past-times) but the type of exposure coming in your windows – north, east, south, west.
The quality and color of the natural light coming in your windows will shift how white paint colors look. This has a lot to do with their HIGH LRV, as with that high LRV (light reflectance value) they REFLECT more light!
- north-facing light – cool gray light with a blue tinge (read more)
- east-facing light – slightly warm, yellow light (read more)
- south-facing light – yellow-orange (but white at the height of day) (read more)
- west-facing light – yellow-orange, going even more golden at the end of the day (read more)
If you pick one of the above whites but think it looks a bit blue/yellow/etc…it’s not the paint color ITSELF but the light it reflects. This can ALSO happen if you have a lot of greenery outside, such as trees, landscaping, and grass – nature of the beast!
So, there you have it. If you want more reading, I have TONS of blog posts on the best white paint colors, so check out the links below!
PEOPLE ALSO ASK…
WHAT IS THE NEW WHITEST WHITE PAINT CREATED?
Scientists have created a white for residential/commercial use with an LRV of 95.5. As you know, I’m not a scientist; I’m a certified color nerd. The idea is that this SUPER bright white will help with climate change, being used on exterior roofs and siding to reflect the sun. However, an intense white like this won’t necessarily be liveable for the average homeowner on their walls.
Stuart Semple has also created a beta version of his WHITEST WHITE which is said to reflect 99.6% percent of light – HOLY FREAKIN’ CANNOLI! This could be fantastic for artists, but again, I’m not sure we’ll be seeing it on our walls any time soon (I’m a big fan of Semple, as he’s a cheeky monkey).
IS ULTRA WHITE THE WHITEST WHITE FOR INTERIOR WALLS?
No, Ultra White isn’t the whitest, but it’s DARN CLOSE. Kelly Moore’s Whitest White KMW 43.1 is the brightest, with its LRV 94.62. However, Ultra White’s LRV of 94.4 is so close you’re really comparing apples to apples.
READ MORE
North, East, South, West – Which Paint Color is the Best?
The Ultimate Guide To Choosing White Paint Colors
How to Pick a Color for a Room with 2 Exposures
Benjamin Moore’s 8 Best White Paint Colors
SHOULD I Paint My Cabinets White or Leave Them Wood Stained? A QUESTIONNAIRE
The 3 Whites I Would Never Paint My Trim or Cabinets
How to Pick the Best White Paint Colors for Cabinets and Trim
NEED HELP?
Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting packages
Chat soon,
Great article. So under Chantilly Lace you have four
Color samples posted. Can you share what they are please?
Thanks!
Lisa
Ps. i have the same red shirt you have in the picture below it!
I love a great red!
Author
Hi Lisa, thank you! What you’re looking at there are SW High Reflective White, BM Super White, BM Chantilly Lace and then BM Decorators White :). And yes, I love a great red shirt too!
Great article. So under Chantilly Lace you have four
Color samples posted. Can you share what they are please?
Thanks!
Lisa
Ps. i have the same red shirt you have in the picture below it!
I love a great red!
We just painted the living room, dining nook, and halls Behr’s Ultra Pure White, and it looks beautiful. We have a straight on eastern exposure. The white stays white looking all day.
Author
That’s what I love to hear, thank you!
Forget this High Reflective White nonsense – it’s WAY not worth the trouble. Go with the Behr Ultra Pure,. It’s my clean white trim with my SW 7570 Egret White walls, a MODERN off-ish white with mauve/taupe undertone – a surprisingly low LRV 70 that works with my flooring and wall tile. Definitely not a greige – which I’m sick of already! I wanted WHITE walls but my rooms were too dark for the higher LRV and the low 70’s was just perfect so that the paint didn’t look like primer!
hi happy girl, I noticed your bookshelf in your latest white videos. they were great videos! I wondered if the rage over “The home Edit” had made it up there. I’m in Nashville TN. they arrange books by color, ROYBGIV red, orange, yellow, blue, etc. they have a show on Netflix if you want to see it, they do amazing KITCHEN OR BATHROON OR CLOSET ORGANIZATION and it very colorfully. have a happy day.
As usual, so well researched! You ARE the color goddess. One note from a Sherwin alum on High Reflective- If you’re going to use it you really have to add some white tint to it. They created that base mostly in order to achieve the kind of luminescence needed when matching some competitor colors aka Ben Moore. There aren’t actually many SW colors that require this base (which is why the stores don’t stock a lot). That being said, lots of contractors will tell you it doesn’t cover well on its own. Adding tint takes care of that. I’m with you on Pure White, that and BM White Dove are my all time faves for clean but pretty, soft whites.
Author
Thank you Lori! Yup, I threw that note in about the 4 shots of white as you’re right, it can make a big difference! But regardless, Pure White and White Dove are still my long-time loves ;).
We painted our partly-open space with Chantilly Lace (Walls, trim, vaulted popcorn 😩 ceiling) and love it — it makes the space feel fresh and bright but not cold, perhaps because we have both east and west exposures.
Author
Funny enough, rooms with east-west light are my FAVOURITE rooms just because they get that nice balance of light!
Great post! My bedroom does not have a lot of light and I painted the wall behind the bed SW Iron Ore, it looks great..
I am thinking about a white on the other 3, any input on whites that look nice with Iron Ore.. Thanks!
Hi Kylie!
You offer so much helpful information about paint colors!
My question is about painting cabinets white in a kitchen with northern exposure and white appliances. I painted my cabinets a warm white (with taupe undertones, I think) and of course it doesn’t work with the bright white appliances. The kitchen is in the middle of my home and always seems pretty dark, even though some light comes in from the family room to the east in the morning, and from the west-facing living room in the afternoon. Should I just ignore the northern exposure and go for a white white like Chantilly Lace on the cabinets? Or maybe Simply White? One counter is butcher block and one is Formica with some white in it. Thank you.
Author
Hi Judy! I have NO problem painting a kitchen like this white as it will make the space seem that bit brighter and the flow will be smooth from appliances to cabinets! Yes, Check out Chantilly Lace as well as SW High Reflective White. There are COOLER whites that can jibe with appliances as well…but they can be pretty cool (ie: SW Extra White). I would sample the other 2 first and see how they feel :).
Thank you for decoding the “real “white, from simply, to ultra and finally to all white. Very informative, explicit and even pleasant to read.
Author
You’re most welcome Hortense, thank you for commenting!
Thank you for sharing this….. almost every article I’ve accessed, even tho stating the best white wall paint colors, only offer suggestions for Ben Moore and Sher Williams….. really, these articles are just ads for those paint companies. So, I was so grateful when I found this unbiased article. Indeed, it will be Behr Ultra Pure White for my hall which is as halls usu. are dark and I want to brighten it up as much as possible. Thank you.
Author
Jeanie, what a great comment to get, thank you! Sadly, I don’t get paid by any paint company, so I pay myself in wine and Doritos ;). But, it does mean that my content is pretty darn organic and honest, thank you for noticing!
I’ve been reading your blog for a few years and have gotten a ton of inspiration and great ideas from it. In fact, you are the one person I keep coming back to every time I have a color question in my home. So thank you!
Right now I am looking for the whitest white to spruce up some original 1948 kitchen cabinets. I will have white appliances to be more period appropriate, so I need a really white white. Sadly, the Behr Ultra Pure White is not available in their Interior Cabinet, Door, and Trim Enamel. Is there a different paint in the Behr stable that I could use, or is the enamel default White 7520 as white as the Ultra Pure White?
Author
Hi Carol, well, thank you for loving my blog! That’s too bad about the Enamel – what about in the Dynasty or Marquee line? They are faaabulous. Otherwise, can you get Kelly Moore paint? Her Whitest White is PRETTY DARN WHITE!
I have a dark 1957 rancher on the water in Florida. No sample whites would stay coastal
and pure until I found your article and used Behr Ultra Pure White. The whole house is amazing. Wow – brightened and always stays white. Thank you! I now want to do the exterior w the same. It’s a super bright white I know but we are shaded in oak trees, have a low profile, car port, Linai… no sunlight really. Do you think I can do this plan with the same Ultra Pure White? I’m hoping so! My samples on the exterior walls are again so pure and true. I want to do all white (to create a sleek pure look). Please let me know your thoughts as I’ve only found a couple examples of exteriors online (but the home owners say they love it). Thank you!