Benjamin Moore's Regal Select Exterior Paint is a top-tier choice for both professional painters and homeowners seeking durability, ease of application, and a premium result. It’s our best-selling paint here at Ring’s End — let’s look at the product line, how it performs, and what you can expect.
Understanding the Regal Select Exterior Product Line
Regal Select Exterior paint is available in two formulas with three sheens. Here’s a brief rundown of the differences between them.
Regal Select Exterior is a 100% acrylic paint with excellent durability and color retention. It’s recommended for most substrates and available in three sheens under these brand names:
Regal Select Exterior High Build is a 100% acrylic latex paint, designed for heavily textured surfaces and exterior surfaces with imperfections. It has a higher viscosity, which creates a thicker film, hides imperfections, and fills small cracks.
High Build has excellent flow and leveling with less drag for a smooth high build finish across all sheens (flat, low lustre, and soft gloss). Some of our pros prefer to spray it, and we always recommend back rolling to fill in grooves and crevices.
When you need a thicker coating to help hide imperfections or surface texture, choose High Build. Otherwise, Regal Select Exterior is our go-to because of its ease of application and adhesion—we’ll talk about it in more detail in the remainder of this review.
How does Regal Exterior perform?
Regal Select is established as a premium paint in the exterior paint market—painters recommend it, and homeowners love it. Here’s why:
We find that Regal Exterior is a dream to apply for both the novice and the pro. It has excellent flow and leveling, so brush strokes and lap marks virtually disappear as the paint dries. Our pros also like that it hides and covers well, which reduces the time and cost of applying multiple coats—each gallon goes further and requires fewer coats.
Regal Select resists fading, cracking, and peeling, resulting in long-term durability that leads the exterior paint market. It adheres well to nearly every surface—even hard-to-coat substrates like PVC or vinyl siding, chalky substrates, and pitted masonry. Plus, it has a mildew-resistant coating to cut down on upkeep.
Many paints may look good at the beginning, but in our experience, Regal Select stands the test of time with color that resists fading from UV exposure. And like all Benjamin Moore paint, it’s backed up with a limited lifetime warranty against blistering or peeling on properly prepared surfaces.
What Pros Have to Say About Regal Select Exterior
Pros like its extended open time compared to other brands
Pros find that it has minimal drag during application
Pros report it’s cost effective, saving time because of great coverage
High Points from the TDS/SDS
Regal Select Exterior is a favorite among our pros and our #1 best seller in the Benjamin Moore exterior line. Here are some key stats from the data sheets showing why it performs so well:
| Criteria | Performance | Why It Matters for Your Paint Job |
|---|---|---|
| Volume Solids | 42–43% | Provides better hide and more durability than competing exterior paints. |
| Coverage per gallon | 300–400 sq ft | Coverage makes it more cost effective because you use fewer gallons. |
| Colors | 3500+ available colors, ready mix black and white | Gennex Color Technology with titanium dioxide pigments creates long‑lasting color that stays true over time. |
| VOC | Compliant | VOC compliant in all formulas, meeting MPI standards for high‑performing latex paints. |
Finishes
Most exteriors require several sheens for visual appeal to create a unified look. Sheen also impacts durability because the additional resins and binders in higher sheens boost durability. Regal Select Exterior is available in three sheens for whole home use.
MoorLife Flat Finish: 1-5 @ 85°
Excellent for surfaces such as masonry, stucco, cement, and cinderblock because it hides imperfections. Homeowners may also choose a flat finish for vinyl, wood siding, and wood alternatives like cement board or fly ash.
MoorGard Low Lustre: 9-15 @ 60°
Low Lustre is similar to eggshell in interior sheens—it has a nice touch of shine, and we like its versatility. Many homeowners choose this sheen over a flat finish because it has added durability. Consider Low Lustre not only for siding but also for garage doors, gutters, soffits, doors, and trim.
MoorGlo Soft Gloss: 40-55 @ 60°
Soft gloss is closest to semi-gloss in an interior sheen. Choose a soft gloss finish for trim and architectural details. Check out our Guide to Exterior Sheens for more recommendations.
Application of Regal Select
Regal Select Exterior is designed for smooth, efficient application in a variety of conditions. In our experience, it is easy to apply using a brush, roller, or sprayer. And everyone likes the soap and water cleanup.
Dry time: 2 hours to touch and just 4 hours to recoat.
Temps: Official application surface temps down to 35°F and up to 100°F, but you’ll get the best results in more moderate temps. Learn more in our weather guide for exterior painting.
Rain: You should not paint if it has rained in the past 24 hours, or if rain is expected in the next 24 hours.
Coats: 2 coats provide surface protection and full coverage for most colors.
Priming: Although on certain surfaces, Regal is self priming, we recommend a primer underneath for best results in specific situations.
How Regal Select Compares to Other Benjamin Moore Exterior Paints
Regal Select Exterior, Aura, and Element Guard all deliver premium performance and use Gennex Color Technology. But we have found that each works better in particular situations.
Regal Select Exterior vs. Aura Exterior
Both Regal Select and Aura Exterior are formulated with Gennex Color Technology, but Aura’s formula also includes “Color Lock Technology” which binds pigment in the acrylic resin for superior color and gloss retention. If you’re going with a dark paint color, Aura may be your best bet!
Choose Regal Select Exterior for its robust adhesion and versatility across projects, and opt for Aura Exterior when a rich color and premium finish are your top priorities.
Regal Select Exterior vs. Element Guard
Regal Select offers better flow and leveling along with excellent adhesion to hard-to-coat surfaces. The Regal Select Exterior formula contains a higher percentage of volume solids in its formula, so it’s going to give you better coverage.
Element Guard is known for its moisture resistance in as little as 60 minutes and that it performs better during low-temperature application to extend the painting season. It’s specifically designed for high-humidity environments, providing excellent adhesion and resistance to cracking and peeling to withstand wind-driven rain, humidity, and other harsh weather.
Use Regal Select for smooth application, superior color, and adhesion to difficult substrates; choose Element Guard for low temps, early rain resistance, and high-humidity environments.
Order Benjamin Moore Paint Online at Ring’s End
Here at RingsEnd.com, we carry every Benjamin Moore product and ship virtually anywhere in the U.S. (excluding AK, HI, and SC). Save time and avoid the hassle of waiting for a paint order to be mixed by ordering your Benjamin Moore products online! And get free shipping on orders over $150.
Live in the Northeast? You can also pick up paint orders at one of our 34 conveniently located paint stores or arrange for delivery from Ring’s End to your door.