Where (and How) to Order Paint Online

It seems like you can practically buy anything online for your home nowadays. Traditionally paint shopping has always been an in-store process. You have to look at racks of paint chips, take some home to make sure they look good in your home’s lighting conditions, then head back to the store to purchase a sample and check it again before making the final purchase. Good news! Thanks to the ever-growing line of e-commerce, you can skip the trip to the home improvement store and order paint online. Here are some companies that will deliver paint to your door.

• Amazon: It’s no surprise that you can purchase paint on Amazon. Top paint brands, such as Kilz and Glidden, as well as many independent brands sell paint on Amazon. The good thing about purchasing paint from Amazon is that if it’s purchased through Amazon or their seller partners, they come backed with Amazon’s return policy, allowing you to ship back the can of paint for a full return. However, because Amazon works with so many sellers, this option is best for those who already know what brand, color, and sheen they want.
• Backdrop: This small online retailer offers 50 colors and a curated buying experience. Backdrop sends peel-and-stick 12 by 12-inch samples instead of the standard 2-ounce paint samples for $3. Backdrop offers an “essential kit” that contains everything, including brushes, rollers, and tape. What sets Backdrop apart from other paint stores is its paint cans! The canister is stainless steel and resembles a gas can. It has an ergonomic handle that makes carrying and pouring much more comfortable. The cost for a gallon of paint starts at $59 and the 11-piece essentials kit is $45. Shipping is free on orders over $75. Backdrop’s return policy is straightforward: you can return any unopened paint and any unused and unopened supplies for a $10 restocking fee per gallon.
• Behr: This trusted household paint brand is sold exclusively at The Home Depot, but it also has a smaller selection of its paints (55 colors) available to order online. Behr offers a few options to help make your shopping experience simple. Instead of the traditional sample paint color cans, they offer 6 ½ by 6 ½-inch peel and stick swatches for $2 each. The swatches are easy to apply and remove from walls. To make painting even easier, they also have an all-in-one kit that contains all the supplies plus a gallon of paint for $52. Behr offers the same return policy for its online paint orders as it does for store purchases at The Home Depot (bring paint and receipt back to the store within 30 days of purchase).
• Benjamin Moore: Enjoy browsing top-selling paint colors, which the site updates daily, from Benjamin Moore’s official online paint shop. To find the perfect shade, use the convenient Shop by Color tool or purchase 16 oz. color samples. By using these samples, you can test a paint color on a small section of your wall—approximately two 4′ by 4′ areas with two coats of paint—before you commit to painting an entire room. Each color sample costs $10.99, but you can order four color samples or more to receive free shipping. Prices for a gallon of paint start at $42.99. Paints are not eligible for return or exchange. Unopened merchandise in the original manufacturer’s packaging in good condition may be returned within 90 days of the order date.
• Clare: This indie company’s approach to online paint shopping is straightforward. Clare offers 56 wall colors organized by undertone—which is perfect if you are trying to match existing wall paint colors or furniture in the home. Clare also offers 8 by 8-inch peel-and-stick decals for $2 and the paints are free of toxic carbon-based solvents, hazardous air pollutants, and EPA chemicals. Like Behr, you can get an all-in-one kit that includes standard paint supplies and shipping is free for orders over $100. Prices for a gallon of paint start at $49. They accept unused, unopened paint in its original packaging for a $7 per gallon restocking fee within 60 days of receiving your order.
• ECOS: If you are interested in an environmentally friendly paint product, ECOS Interior Wall Paint has zero VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds), and ships in 100 percent post-consumer packaging. Available in an array of colors, ECOS paints come in the standard gallon, quart, and 2-ounce sample size. The paint is on the pricey side—starting at $69.95 per gallon of matte finish paint. But, the paints do not release noxious gases and are free of pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. Shipping is free for purchases over $100 and you can get three 2-ounce samples for $9.95. The return policy is pretty limited for ECOS—they only replace damaged products and accept returns under extenuating circumstances.
• The Home Depot: Known for all things home improvement, this big-box retailer offers millions of items online including paint, for delivery, and free in-store pickup. Selling trusted paint brands such as Behr and PPG/Glidden, you can order many of the colors carried by the brands online. Swatches and samples aren’t available for all of the paint colors or brands, so it’s best to head directly to the manufacturer’s website for that option.

How to Select Colors and Order Paint Online

The biggest obstacle when it comes to ordering paint online is having to decide when you can’t see the color in person. Before you dive in and make that online paint purchase, consider these five tips.

1. Pick a color and order a sample.

The surest way to determine if the color will look right in your room is to see it in your room. The color on a computer monitor and your phone screen will come close, but the lighting and the other colors in the area can bring out subtle undertones of the paint. Although it adds a bit more time towards the whole paint shopping process, ordering a sample first will save you time and money in the long run.

2. Use a virtual app to “try on” a color.

Many online paint retailers have apps where you can visualize the paint in your room. Simply take a photo of your room, pick a paint color, and voila—an instant visual. This can help you picture the new paint color in a space better than if you went to the store and looked at a sample.

3. Research warranty options.

Many online retailers will carry the same warranties as brick and mortar paint stores. Warranties typically cover against any cracking, chipping, blistering, or peeling from properly prepared surfaces when used per the label instructions.

4. Use a paint calculator.

Since you are having the paint shipped, running out of it during a paint project is inconvenient. Take the time to carefully measure your wall area and use the online paint calculator tool on the paint retailer’s site to estimate the amount of paint you will need.

5. Be sure you understand the return policy.

Most paint retailers will only accept unopened and unused paint. Some won’t take the paint back at all once it’s been tinted. Make sure you understand the return policy before you make the purchase.