Homeowners sometimes ask which brand is "better." The honest answer: both Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams make paints good enough to last a decade. What differs is which line is best for which surface.
Walls and ceilings
We typically spec Benjamin Moore Regal Select or Aura for walls. Aura's color retention and one-coat coverage on deep tones is best-in-class; Regal Select is a great all-around matte/eggshell. For ceilings we use dedicated ceiling paints from either brand — BM's Waterborne Ceiling or SW's Eminence.
Trim, doors, and cabinets
Our default is Benjamin Moore Advance for a hand-applied brushed finish and Sherwin-Williams Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel for HVLP-sprayed cabinets. Both are waterborne alkyds that cure hard; Emerald Urethane's faster recoat window is useful in sprayed schedules.
Exterior
We like Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior on wood siding (best color retention we've measured) and Sherwin-Williams Duration on vinyl or composite (flex over less-absorbent substrates). Both carry long workmanship warranties.
Price
Comparable tiers cost comparable amounts. Paint is rarely the line item worth saving on — a gallon that costs a few dollars more lasts 2–3 more years in New England weather.
The real answer
The painter matters more than the brand. A top-tier paint applied over bad prep fails within a year. A mid-tier paint applied over great prep outlasts it.