With its unrivaled versatility, white is transcendent and timeless.

A modern dining area with Paper White OC-55 walls and ceilings painted with Distant Gray OC-68.

Modern staircase framed by white walls painted with Paper White OC-55.

A white kitchen with island painted in Gentle Cream OC-96 and walls painted in Timid White OC-39.

Sunny, white bathroom with matching wooden vanities and white walls painted with Ballet White OC-9.

Sunlit sitting area with Maritime White OC-5-painted wall and wood-framed armchair with cream-colored cushion and pillow.

A sun-drenched kitchen with cabinets painted in Cloud Nine OC-119.

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Simple, clean and classic, the best white paint colors stand easily on their own as a design element. White and off-white walls, ceilings, trim and doors, in more of a “supporting” role, are equally essential to a home’s color palette. How will you use white?

Most Popular Whites

Here are some of our most popular shades of white, including Simply White OC-117, Benjamin Moore's Color of the Year 2016.

Simply White
OC-117
Cotton Balls
OC-122
Cloud White
OC-130
Chantilly Lace
OC-65
Distant Gray
OC-68
White Heron
OC-57

Mayonnaise
OC-85
Mascarpone
AF-20
White Dove
OC-17
Cloud Cover
OC-25
Winter White
OC-21
White Diamond
OC-61

Navajo White
OC-95
Ballet White
OC-9
Dove Wing
OC-18
Seapearl
OC-19
Paper White
OC-55
Pure White
OC-64

See All Whites

Recognizing Undertones in White Paint

Paint colors are often created by using two or more colors. If there is a higher percentage of one color over the other, that creates an undertone.

Warm white paint colors have undertones of red, orange, and yellow, resulting in a soft glow and welcoming vibe—seen in this Capri Coast OC-87-painted entryway. Cooler whites have hints of green, blue, and violet, contributing to a space that looks crisp, clean and fresh.

A white painted entryway in Capri Coast OC-87 features vaulted ceilings and a chandelier.

Warm Whites and Undertones

Warm whites include red, orange, and yellow undertones.

RED UNDERTONE

White Opulence
OC-69
Pink Damask
OC-72

ORANGE UNDERTONE

Pompeii
OC-82
Onyx White
OC-74

YELLOW UNDERTONE

Mayonnaise
OC-85
Acadia White
OC-38

Cool Whites and Undertones

Cool, crisp whites include green, blue, and violet undertones.

GREEN UNDERTONE

Minced Onion
OC-128
Meadow Mist
OC-134

BLUE UNDERTONE

Distant Gray
OC-68
White Ice
OC-58

PURPLE UNDERTONE

Mirage White
2116-70
Calm
OC-22

Our Brightest, Cleanest White Paint Colors

One of the most common questions we get from homeowners is “What is Benjamin Moore’s ‘most pure’ white paint?”

We’ve narrowed it down to two hues: Chantilly Lace OC-65 and Super White OC-152. These whites have little to no visible undertone, making them two of our ‘whitest white’ paint colors.

We love these two hues for a few reasons:

Adaptable: Color combinations with either of these colors is effortless
Super Bright: If you are looking for a crisp, refreshing white, these should definitely be on your list
High Light Reflectance Value (LRV): In color parlance, this means they reflect a lot of light

Bathroom painted in Chantilly Lace OC-65 featuring a wooden bathtub and striped rug.

Corner sitting area with paned window and walls painted with Horizon OC-53 and Gray Owl OC-52.

Trim and Sheen

For trim, homeowners love Decorator’s White OC-149 for its clean, bright look. Others opt for White Dove OC-17, which offers less contrast and a slightly more muted approach to white.

If you opt for the classic white-painted trim, we recommend painting all the trim in your home the same color white for continuity. For finishes, consider semi-gloss for trim and doors, matte or eggshell for walls, and flat for ceilings.

Sheens help differentiate any paint color, including white. Use a high gloss sheen to turn up the drama and highlight architectural details. The higher the sheen, the greater the shine and durability. On the other end of the sheen spectrum, a matte finish offers an understated, elegant finish when paired with rich surfaces like marble countertops. In the middle, an eggshell sheen — a homeowner favorite — offers a soft hint of gloss and easy-to-clean practicality.

Whites the Experts Love

Just-right white paint colors are so indispensable that many interior designers have committed them to memory, as seen in this video.

Favorite Benjamin Moore white paint colors mentioned include Linen White OC-146, Atrium White OC-145, Cotton Balls OC-122, Chantilly Lace OC-65, and Steam AF-15, from the highly efficient mix-and-match Affinity^® color palette.

Canopy bed in front of a white gallery wall painted with White Wisp OC-54.

At Home with White Paint

Layering white and off-white paint colors creates a richly elegant look. Texture, as seen in the throws and pillows of this White Wisp OC-54-painted bedroom, are especially important in an all-white room. Window treatments provide another creative opportunity for white-on-white design.

Color flow — the colors that connect one room to the next throughout your home – is made easier with white hallways, trim and doors. Just make sure the whites you choose for these surfaces “work” with other paint colors used in different rooms. Brushing on paint samples and living with them — even when it comes to hallways, trim and doors — is always the best test.

Living Rooms: White Paint Always Works

A living room painted in layers of white is always an elegant choice. Here Winter Snow OC-63 is the perfect backdrop for a gallery wall and a striking white-painted brick fireplace painted with ADVANCE^® Interior Paint in a Satin finish.

If white walls hold great appeal for you, but you also crave color on pillows, throws, rugs and other furnishings, white works. Keep in mind that when it comes to home accessories:

Red, yellow and neutral colors harmonize with warmer white paint colors
Green, blue and cool gray colors sync with cooler white paint colors.

A white living room with a gallery wall, fireplace and walls painted in Winter Snow OC-63.

Traditional home with red door in Caliente AF-290, wrap-around porch and siding in White Diamond OC-61.

Classic White Exteriors

A white or off-white exterior is a longstanding homeowner favorite. White-painted homes effortlessly stand out from surrounding landscapes, as seen here in White Diamond OC-61.

Exterior siding in white paint creates a blank canvas for complementing brick, stone and slate. Other hues we love for all-white homes include Swiss Coffee OC-45, Cloud Cover OC-25, and Distant Gray OC-68. Conversely, white-painted exterior trim against deeper hued siding — think windows, columns, railings dormers and rooflines — highlights architectural details and adds clean, crisp lines for any home exterior.

Test Your White Paint Colors

White paint colors are especially prone to taking on different tonalities from morning to evening, under both natural and artificial lighting conditions. Purchase paint samples of white paints you like, and test each one on the wall before you buy.