Throwing a coat of fresh paint on your walls is a great way to update your home’s look (and make it feel cleaner). But buying cans of the stuff gets expensive. With that in mind, finding cheap paint that’s also good quality is a major coup. Fortunately, it isn’t impossible. The secret lies in knowing when and where to buy paint.
A few cursory Google searches will tell you that the pros prefer Sherwin Williams paint, but many homeowners swear by big-box, store-endorsed brands, like Home Depot’s Behr or Ace Hardware’s Valspar.
I’m not here to tell you which paint is best, but I can tell you where to get the best deals on quality, affordable paint. Keep in mind that prices may vary by region and store. But overall, these tips will help you in finding cheap paint near you, regardless of where you live.
Before you dive into planning your next DIY venture, be sure to download the KCL app to find the best deals and save even more. We’re digging up savings on all kinds of home improvement stuff, from paint to decor and furniture. If you prefer text, type DEALS to 57299. You’ll receive money-saving hacks sent to your phone as they drop.
1. Research the brands each big-box store carries.
I compared top-selling semigloss paints across several major retailers to see who carries what paint. Our graphics team whipped up this very clear chart to break down where you’ll find the brand you want.
2. Buy Valspar paint from Lowe’s for the cheapest premium paint.
If you’re looking for 1-gallon buckets of premium paint for the best price, your best bet is to shop Lowe’s for Valspar’s Signature series.
You can find 1-gallon buckets as low as $36.98 or $32.20 a gallon if you buy the 5-gallon buckets. Keep in mind that it typically takes a single gallon of paint to cover a 350- to 400-square foot area. Lowe’s actually has a great paint calculator on their site to help you determine how much you’ll need for the project you’re working on.
3. Buy 5-gallon, mid-grade interior paint from Home Depot and save at least $20.
If you’re looking to save money but don’t want to sacrifice quality, go for mid-grade paint. You can save even more money if you buy in bulk. Home Depot beats out the competition for the least expensive mid-grade 5-gallon paint, saving you at least $20 if you go for Glidden Premium.
Before you read on, be sure to bookmark the KCL Home Depot Deals page to stay informed about all the deals at the big-box retailer.
4. Shop Home Depot’s Labor Day and Memorial Day sales for cheap Behr paint.
Home Depot’s Labor Day savings event always has great deals on Behr paint. In previous years, they offered $5 off 1-gallon cans and $20 off 3- and 5-gallon buckets. So while you may not want to spend your Labor Day actually laboring with home improvement projects, it’s a good time to choose and purchase the colors of paint you’d like to work with when the time is right.
Similar deals go live around Memorial Day, so plan your big paint projects around these sales to save!
5. Shop Home Depot and Lowe’s for the cheapest paint. Period.
If you’re not brand loyal, then check Home Depot and Lowe’s regularly for cheap paint. Home Depot’s Glidden Essentials goes for $18.98 a gallon, and Lowe’s Valspar 4000 paint goes for $19.98. That’s some nice value.
6. Save $5 on a gallon of paint when you buy a color sample at Ace Hardware.
If you really must shop at Ace, then take advantage of their color samples. Ace Hardware’s color samples typically cost anywhere from $4.99 – $8.99. Although you’re spending more on just a color sample, it’s a low-risk way to pick paint if you’re undecided. Once you purchase a sample, you’ll get a $5 off coupon toward your next gallon.
Related: Here’s what to know about the Ace Hardware return policy and how it treats paint.
7. Shop Sherwin-Williams sales for promos like 35% off paints and stains if you are brand loyal.
Sherwin-Williams paint is a go-to for contractors, but it’s usually out of budget for homeowners. However, if you really have your heart set on Sherwin-Williams paint, wait for their sales to save.
For example, last year Sherwin-Williams ran a sale offering 35% off for both online and in-store purchases.
One deal I found on premium paints was the Sherwin-Williams Duration Home Interior paint (regularly $69.99) on sale for $45.49 a gallon ($24.50 in savings). Sales like these definitely make the brand more affordable, so stay eagle-eyed for those savings.
8. Use the Sherwin-Williams paint calculator to see how much paint you need.
I mentioned the Lowe’s paint calculator earlier, but I really like Sherwin-Williams’ paint calculator, as it makes it easy to make quick calculations based on your project. And they get really specific. For example, you can filter by:
Dimensions of doors and windows for an “Interior Quick Calculation”
Wall dimensions, texture, and crown molding for an “Interior Custom Calculation”
Dimensions for your deck for a “Deck Calculation”
9. Sign up for a Sherwin-Williams Pro account for up to 20% off painting supplies.
This is technically a contractor account, but it’s free to sign up. Just create a mySW account and select “Professional” instead of “Homeowner.”
Once you’re signed in, click on “Contractors” at the top of the screen, and you’ll find info about Sherwin-Williams pro discounts.
10. Buy “oops paint” at big-box stores for about $5 a gallon.
Home Depot and Lowe’s are known to sell mistint paint ( “oops paint”), and they’ll have a bigger supply after huge sales when more customers return paint they don’t need.
It varies from store to store, but you can expect to pay about $5 a gallon or even $1 a pint. This works best when you have small painting projects because you can’t expect to get a ton of the same mistinted paint. But if you’re covering a small accent wall, this could be just the deal you need.
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