your guide to

Low- and Zero-VOC Paints

From Better Homes and Gardens magazine ®

Emitted from paint as potentially harmful gases, volatile organic alkyd), with a flat (rather than glossy) sheen, and is a light color,
compounds, or VOCs, are a hot—and rather complicated— but individual formula variations can make it difficult to com-
topic when it comes to indoor air quality. Manufacturers have pare. In all cases, though, VOC amounts on labels don’t currently
developed paints with reduced VOCs to meet consumer include VOCs in colorants added at the store. For independent
demand and industry regulations, which vary across the country. certifications and standards, see greenseal.org and greenguard
Not surprisingly, paint comes in many shades of green. .org (which measures VOC emissions).
To compare, start with the VOC content found on paint can Use this chart to help you compare your options. Only
labels. The lower the number, the better. The number generally companies with verified information on paint that has a VOC
accepted for a low-VOC paint is less than 50 grams per liter; content of 50 grams per liter or less are included. Information is
a zero-VOC paint has fewer than 5 grams per liter. In general, subject to change; be sure to check each manufacturer’s Web
lower VOC amounts are found in paint that is latex (rather than site for the most current information.

company paint collection(s) voc content approximate for more information

(grams per liter) price (per gallon)
AFM - American Safecoat 0 $32–$42 800/239-0321;
Formulating and afmsafecoat.com
Manufacturing
AkzoNobel Decora- The Freshaire Choice 0 $35–$38, only at 866/880-0304;
tive Paints US Home Depot thefreshairechoice.com

Anna Sova Luxury Anna Sova Healthy Paint 0 $69 214/742-7682;

Organics annasova.com

BEHR Process BEHR Premium Plus Interior <50 $28 877/237-6158;

Corp. behr.com

Benjamin Moore Aura <50 $55 888/262-6567;

& Co. myaurapaint.com

BioShield Paints Solvent Free Wall Paint; Casein Milk 0 (in each $35–42; $35 for 1.5 800/621-2591;
Paint; Clay Paint; Kinder Paint collection) gallons; $42; $42 bioshieldpaint.com

Devine Color Devine Color; devinegreen <50; 1.4 $38–$40, $40 503/387-5840;
devinecolor.com

Dunn-Edwards EcoShield (flat, low sheen, semigloss); From <8 to 50, $34–48, $28; $35; dunnedwards.com
Walltone latex (flat); Decovel latex depending on $41
(flat); Suprema latex (low sheen) collection & sheen
Duron Paints & Genesis Odor-Free 10–44, depending $37–$41 800/723-8766;
Wallcoverings on sheen duron.com

Dutch Boy Clarity Interior Latex; Kid’s Room 0; 5–32 $25–$29; from $21 800/828-5669;
dutchboy.com

Eco-Trend Corp. Eco-Trend Collagen 0 $32–$35 888/889-5925;

ecotrendlife.com

Farrow & Ball Estate Emulsion (flat); Modern 0 (in each $70; $78; $88 888/511-1121;
Emulsion (slight sheen); Water-Based collection) farrow-ball.com
Eggshell
Glidden Evermore <50 $17–$23 800/454-3336;
glidden.com
company paint collection(s) voc content approximate for more information
(grams per liter) price (per gallon)
Green Planet Paints Clay Paint 0 $42–$46 greenplanetpaints.com

Hirshfield’s Preserve Paint <50 $24–25 hirshfields.com

Homestead House VOC Free Interior Edition Latex 0 $60 877/886-5098;

Paint Co. homesteadhouse.ca

McCormick Paints Natural Odor Free; Match Point <5; <50; <50 $34–$39; $23–$25; 877/724-6855;
Interior Latex (flat); Tempo Interior $30–$33 mccormickpaints.com
(flat)
Miller Paint Co. Acro Pure 0 $27–$30 800/852-3254;
millerpaint.com

Mythic Paint Mythic Paint 0 $45–$55 888/714-9422;

mythicpaint.com

The Old Fashioned Old Fashioned Milk Paint; SafePaint 0 (in both $46; $46 866/350-6455;
Milk Paint Co. collections) milkpaint.com

Olympic Paint & Olympic Premium Interior 0 from $17, only at 800/441-9695;
Stain Lowe’s olympic.com

Parker Paint Mfg. Klean Air (flat, satin, semigloss) 5 $41–$44 253/473-1122;
Co. parkerpaint.com

PPG/Pittsburgh Pure Performance; Manor Hall 0; <50 $25–$30; $35–$45 pittsburghpaints.com

Paints Timeless Interior

Pratt & Lambert Red Seal Porcelain 35.8–48.5 $29–$34 800/289-7728;

prattandlambert.com

The Real Milk Paint Real Milk Paint 0 $46 800/339-9748;

Co. realmilkpaint.com

Rodda Paint Co. Horizon 0 $28–$37 800/452-2315;

roddapaint.com

Sherwin-Williams Harmony Interior Latex; Duration 0; 17 from $36; from $43 800/474-3794;
Home Interior Latex (satin) sherwin-williams.com

Sico, Inc. Sico Design 0 $49 800/463-7426;

sico.ca

Vista Paint Earth Coat latex (flat, eggshell, 2–7; 44–49 $24–$28; $28–$37 714/680-3800;
semigloss); Carefree acrylic (flat and vistapaint.com
semigloss)
YOLO Colorhouse YOLO Colorhouse Inside 0 $40 877/493-8275;
yolocolorhouse.com

©Copyright Meredith Corporation 2008.