Right now the real estate market is hot. If you're currently getting ready to sell (or if you've recently purchased), you already know the benefits of repainting your home's exterior/interior surfaces.
Using the right brand of paint can make all the difference, and we know choosing can be tricky. This article will introduce you to the world of PPG paints and our favorite products from the brand.
Color Preview | Model | Type of Finish | Coverage Area | Available Colors | Buy Now |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
PPG Timeless Pure White with Primer | Flat/Matt, Satin, Semi-Gloss | 250-300 square feet per gallon | 900+ | ||
PPG UltraLast Hot Stone Eggshell Interior | Eggshell, Flat/Matte, Semi-Gloss | 2,000 square feet per 5 gallons | Hot Stone | ||
PPG Ultra-Hide Zero | Eggshell, Flat/Matte, Satin, Semi-Gloss | 400 square feet per gallon | 900+ | ||
PPG General Purpose Primer | Flat/Matte | 400 square feet per gallon | White Primer | ||
PPG Timeless One Coat Paint with Primer | Flat/Matte, Eggshell, Satin, Semi-Gloss | 400 square feet per gallon | 900+ | ||
PPG Diamond | Flat/Matte, Eggshell, Satin, Semi-Gloss | 400 square feet per gallon | 900+ | ||
PPG Ceiling Paint | Flat | 400 square feet per gallon | 900+ |
The PPG Paint Brand Explained
What is PPG Paint?
The company describes themselves as "experts, innovators, leaders and partners. We do more than paint. We partner with our customers to empower successful outcomes for every project, every time.”
Exterior Paints
PPG exterior paints are a favorite among DIY enthusiasts and professionals alike. And when it comes to painting your home’s exterior or your outdoor furniture, PPG knows exactly the formula you need for success.
Many of their outdoor products feature enhanced UV resistance, mildew blocking technology, 1-Coat Hide, and dirt resistance. You can paint items such as:
Interior Paints
Many homeowners are turning to PPG interior paints as a way to freshen up their homes. These paints are low-VOC (or in some cases, completely VOC-free!) They often have a primer built right in and also feature One Coat Hide, meaning you can get the job done and enjoy your space all in the space day.
A Lifetime Warranty covers PPG interior paints, so you can rest assured with your purchase right from the initial investment. In no time you’ll be able to paint (in one of over 900 colors):
PPG Paint Color Range
Many of the PPG paints are advertised as featuring over 900 different colors, but between all of their products, they have over 2,000 unique shades! But one of the coolest aspects of this brand is that they offer what they call a “Paint Color Visualizer.”
This interface allows you to take a picture of your home or room and input it with a selected color choice to get an idea of what your finished project would look like.
7 Best PPG Paints Reviewed
1. PPG Timeless Pure White with Primer
If you’re planning on painting your home or covered porch railings, let me suggest the Timeless Pure White with primer as the best PPG exterior paint. This white acrylic paint can be matched with over 900 colors to create a UV resistant paint and primer with one-coat hide. PPG exterior paints can handle all weather conditions and resistant to mold, mildew, and algae.
We appreciate that this paint is available in both a one and five gallon bucket size. Each gallon can cover about 250 square feet, and since the primer is built-in, you won’t have to spend an entire season painting your home.
Home Depot customer Kintrade puts it simply by saying, “Best product on the market.”
2. PPG UltraLast Hot Stone Eggshell Interior
The color “Hot Stone” is the most popular color for interior walls that PPG carries right now.
This paint and primer combo was brand new to the market in June 2020 and is described as a product with a “washability performance that has not been available in a paint product until now.”
It’s a neutral color designed for areas with high traffic; perfect for hallways, living rooms, and playrooms.
I love that this paint is low odor and dries quickly. It is dry to the touch after just one hour, and ready for additional coats (if you need them) in four hours. If Hot Stone is leaning too far to the beige/brown side for you, then take a look at the same UltraLast product in Elemental, for a cool gray look.
3. PPG Ultra-Hide Zero
PPG Ultra-Hide is a popular choice for best interior paint for hiding flaws because it is a completely VOC-free paint choice. It goes on quickly and smoothly to cover-up any imperfections on the surface you’re painting.
It can be used for either walls or ceilings and is often the first choice for schools or other large facilities that will be completing the painting projects while there are students/guests present.
It’s important to note that this “Zero VOC” labeling only applies to the Pure White as it comes in its packaging. You can have the paint tinted with over 900 PPG paint color choices, but doing so may increase the VOC levels. No matter the color you choose, you can rest assured that the paint will still fall in the “Low VOC” category.
4. PPG General Purpose Primer
PPG General Purpose Primer is similar to the Ultra-Hide above but in an acrylic formula. If you're wondering what the difference is between acrylic vs. latex, the primary difference is that acrylic products have a chemical base, and latex has a water base.
The chemical base in acrylic paint makes it more elastic and dry quicker than latex paints. And just like the Ultra-Hide above, this PPG General Purpose Primer has zero VOCs, making it ideal for use in high-traffic areas.
We named this product the best value interior primer because it covers up even the most dramatic paint colors in just one coat, giving you a clean base for a new color. It also dries incredibly fast, so you have the option to prime + paint in the same day.
Some users have mentioned that this primer is too thick to be used with paint sprayers, so save yourself the trouble and save your paint sprayer for the top coat with color.
5. PPG Timeless One Coat Paint with Primer
DIY cabinet painting sounds intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be if you’re using the right paint. PPG Timeless One Coat Paint with Primer is best for cabinets and trim because it has the optimal thickness and cover to get the just done in just one round of painting.
The Timeless Interior Paint line can be tinted for any of the 900+ PPG color options. One of my favorite features of this product, in particular, is that at Home Depot, you can purchase it in an 8-ounce container.
They call this a “sample size,” but it is perfect for small trim touch-ups or to test a trial area before committing to a larger amount.
6. PPG Diamond
PPG Diamond is the best interior acrylic paint, with the ability to completely transform any room in your home to literally any color you can imagine. It has advanced leveling, so it’s even ideal with walls with surface imperfections.
PPG Diamond paint comes in flat, eggshell, satin, and semi-gloss sheen. Just make sure to carefully plan out your project, because depending on your color choice, sheen, and size, the price can quickly increase to over $100 per gallon. Unlike PPG Timeless, PPG Diamond also requires two coats of paint, which is also something to consider during your purchase.
On the PPG website, Billy Bob says, “I've painted professionally for the past 5 years and the finish was the smoothest out of all the paint I've ever used.”
7. PPG Ceiling Paint
There are plenty of PPG paints rated as suitable for painting ceilings, but whenever we are asked what the best ceiling paint by PPG is, I always recommend their product named simply "PPG Ceiling Paint."
If you've ever painted a ceiling before, you know it's not the most straightforward job, and the last thing you need is to use the wrong paint and to find your ceiling raining wet drips on you as you try to get the job done.
PPG Ceiling Paint promises a low-splatter formula that will help you get the job done with just one coat. Some people choose one of PPG’s nearly 1,000 colors to tint the paint, but it is also suitable to use as-is in its flat white color.
PPG Paint Terminology Explained
PPG Exterior Paints
PPG Interior Paints
Industrial Paints
PPG Vs Other Paint Brands
PPG vs. Behr
PPG and Behr are extremely similar, both in price point and product availability. Both brands are prominent fixtures at Home Depot, although when it comes to color selection, many prefer Behr's easy to use Color Explorer.
PPG vs. Sherwin Williams
PPG and Sherwin Williams were on relatively similar platforms until Sherwin Williams acquired Valspar paints and products. However, neither Sherwin Williams nor Valspar products are available at Home Depot, so unless you have an SW storefront near you, then PPG would probably be the better bet.
PPG vs. Benjamin Moore
Similarly to PPG, Benjamin Moore also has storefront retail locations. The biggest differences come in their product drying times. Professional painters who work on large projects like cabinets or home exteriors prefer PPG’s Breakthrough over Benjamin Moore’s products because the drying time is extremely fast (about twenty minutes). For most projects, this means once you have finished the first coat, you can immediately start back at the beginning with a second coat.
PPG vs. Valspar
PPG products are at Home Depot, and Valspar products are at Lowe's, so this is a classic one big box store product vs. another. We have found that Valspar's paints are slightly cheaper, but don’t promise the 1-coat coverage that PPG products do.
PPG vs. Glidden
Glidden is actually made and manufactured by PPG, and they share a color palette of over 900 colors, all available at the Home Depot. Think of Glidden products as a budget-friendly alternative to PPG paints. See this comparison chart from the Home Depot for more information:

Where Can I Buy PPG Paints?
Home Depot
Home Depot is the best place to purchase your favorite PPG paints because they have a massive variety of types and colors available. You can even save yourself the hassle of waiting in line, pick out exactly what you want online, and have it prepared for pick-up or shipped directly to your home.
Local Retailers
Several smaller home improvement hardware stores have partnered with the PPG brand. For a list of local retailers carrying the paint near you, check out this link.
PPG Stores
PPG does not sell their products directly from their website, but they do have several PPG retail locations across the US, where you can purchase all the products you need and talk to painting professionals.
People Also Ask (FAQs)
What does PPG paint stand for?
PPG stands for Pittsburgh Paint Glass Company. The company has been around for over 135 years. Although they have a history of selling fiberglass and other specialty materials, they have focused solely on their outstanding line of paints in recent years.
Who owns and manufactures PPG paint?
PPG was started in 1883 by Captain John Ford and John Pittcairn in Pennsylvania. It is now run by chairman and CEO Michael H. McGarry and has 150 manufacturing locations worldwide.
What are the best tools to use with PPG paint?
The particular tools you use while painting will vary from job and location, but we always recommended using high-quality materials to give you a more successful outcome. After all, there is no point in using top-tier paint if you’re going to use an old, cheap paintbrush. If it’s within your budget, we highly recommend investing in a paint sprayer.
What surfaces will PPG paint adhere to?
This will depend on the specific PPG product that you buy, but PPG has paints that are compatible with all of the following:
How long does PPG paint take to dry?
Drying time will vary based on your location, temperature, and relative humidity. In general, most PPG paints are dry to the touch after 1 hour and ready for another coat after 4 hours.
How long does PPG paint last in the can?
It’s best to use your paint soon after purchase, but you can still have successful touch-ups years later. This article will show you how to tell if your paint is still good.
Conclusion
You have probably determined from our PPG paint reviews that we are rather fond of the company and their wealth of products.
If you're still unsure where to start, I recommend heading to your local Home Depot and checking out the PPG Timeless paint. It can be customized in over 900 colors to create the perfect match for your interior or exterior projects.
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