Benjamin Moore Aura vs. Sherwin-Williams Duration: Which Should You Buy?
Two premium paints, one straightforward question: which one is right for your walls?
Benjamin Moore Aura and Sherwin-Williams Duration sit at the top of their respective lines. Both cost serious money and both deliver serious results.
But they solve different problems.
Short answer: Aura covers more per gallon, dries faster, and handles deep, saturated colors better. Duration builds a thicker, moisture-resistant film that holds up in bathrooms and high-wear rooms. Your best pick depends on where you are painting and what colors you are using.
Aura vs. Duration at a Glance
| Feature | Aura | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Brand tier | Benjamin Moore flagship | Sherwin-Williams premium |
| Technology | Color Lock | PermaLast + Moisture Resistant |
| Coverage per gallon | 400 to 450 sq ft | 250 to 300 sq ft |
| Finishes | Matte, Eggshell, Satin, Semi-Gloss | Flat, Matte, Satin, Semi-Gloss |
| Color range | About 3,500 colors | 1,700 plus colors |
| Recoat time | About 1 to 2 hours | Standard dry time |
| Price (2026) | $80 to $105 per gallon | $80 to $85 per gallon |
| Self-priming | Yes | Yes |
| Low VOC | Yes | Yes |
| Mildew resistant | Yes | Yes |
Where They Are the Same
On paper, these two paints share a lot of DNA.
Both are premium acrylic latex formulas. Both are self-priming, so you can skip a separate primer coat on most surfaces.
Both carry low-VOC ratings, so indoor air quality is not a concern with either one.
Washability and mildew resistance come standard on both. Neither is a weak performer.
Entry price is close too. Both start around $80 per gallon before sales or contractor pricing.
The Differences That Decide It
Coverage
This is the biggest practical gap between the two paints.
Aura covers 400 to 450 square feet per gallon. Duration covers only 250 to 300.
That difference adds up fast on a full room.
Duration is a thicker film by design. Sherwin-Williams says PermaLast builds a coat about 70 percent thicker than standard paint. More thickness means more durability, but also more paint per square foot.
For a 12 by 12 room with 8-foot ceilings, you may need an extra gallon of Duration versus Aura. Factor that into your total cost.
Color and Finish
Aura uses Color Lock technology. It is built to hold deep, saturated colors without fading unevenly over time.
For a dark charcoal, a rich navy, or a deep forest green, Aura is the better choice for long-term color accuracy.
Aura also offers an Eggshell finish. Duration goes from Matte straight to Satin. That is a meaningful gap if Eggshell is your preferred living-space sheen.
Aura’s library runs to about 3,500 colors. Duration gives you 1,700 plus. Both are large, but Aura offers more choice.
Moisture and Durability
Duration’s thick film is where it pulls ahead of Aura.
Sherwin-Williams built Moisture Resistant Technology into Duration for damp rooms. Bathrooms, laundry rooms, and basements are where the extra film thickness earns its keep.
Aura is washable and resists mildew. But it is not engineered around moisture the way Duration is.
For high-scrub walls, mudrooms, or hallways that take daily abuse, Duration’s thicker coat holds up to repeated cleaning over time.
Price
At the gallon level, Duration looks like the better deal: $80 to $85 versus Aura’s $80 to $105.
But coverage changes the math. Duration’s lower coverage means more gallons for the same wall. Its real cost per square foot often lands higher than the sticker suggests.
Run the numbers for your specific room before deciding which is actually cheaper.
Which Paint Goes Where
Matching the paint to the room makes a real difference in results and value.
Use Aura where color is the star. Accent walls, living rooms, dining rooms, and bedrooms all benefit from Color Lock and the fast recoat.
Use Duration where moisture or wear is the main threat. Bathrooms, laundry rooms, and high-traffic hallways are where the thicker, moisture-resistant film pays off.
Some homeowners use both: Aura in living and sleeping areas, Duration in wet rooms. There is no rule against it.
The Bottom Line
Neither paint is a bad choice. They are two tools built for two different jobs.
- Choose Aura if you are painting living rooms, bedrooms, or any space where deep color matters, where you want faster recoats, or where you need the widest finish range including Eggshell.
- Choose Duration if you are painting bathrooms, laundry rooms, kitchens, or high-scrub walls where a thicker, moisture-resistant film will outlast a standard premium coat.
Alternatives Worth a Look
A few alternatives are worth a look.
Benjamin Moore Advance is worth a look if you are painting trim or cabinets alongside the walls; it levels beautifully and cures hard. Sherwin-Williams Emerald steps above Duration with added stain blocking. For a budget big-box option, Behr Marquee competes on one-coat coverage at a lower price.
Related reading: Benjamin Moore Aura vs. Emerald, Regal Select vs. Emerald, and Emerald vs. Duration.
