We all feel the importance of nicely coated premium paint as it adds life to our house. And because of it, you must choose the right one. Good that you found my Benjamin Moore Regal Classic vs. Regal Select reviews.
This article will exclusively discuss the features and differences between these two paints. In the end, you will know which one is best for your home. Let me show you how.
A Quick Comparison Table
You can quickly learn the differences between two products from a quick comparison table. It will help you understand how they differ from one another. Most importantly, you can come up with a decision in seconds.
So, here’s the quick comparison table between Benjamin Moore Regal Classic and Regal Select:
| Aspects | Regal Classic | Regal Select |
| Variants | 05 | 05 |
| Special Feature | Latex Semi-Gloss Enamel | Primer and Paint |
| Usage | Interior | Interior |
| Performance | Touch Dry: 1 Hour; Recoat 2-3 Hours | Touch Dry: 1 Hour; Recoat: 3 Hours |
| Clean Up | Clean Water | Clean Water |
| Available Colors | Fewer Colors | More Colors |
Key Differences Between Benjamin Moore Regal Classic And Regal Select
A quick comparison table is good enough for a basic idea of these two paints. It comes in handy when you are in a hurry but need a quick decision.
But you need more information if you plan on making an informed decision based on facts. So, stay with me here.
Benjamin Moore Regal Classic is a proprietary acrylic latex-based paint. It comes with spatter-resistant latex semi-gloss enamel, which is easy to use.
You will get a beautiful semi-gloss finish that is washable and will last longer. Unfortunately, Benjamin Moore is no longer producing it.
Regal Select is replacing Regal Classic with its beautiful finish for trim and accents. It is a high-quality premium paint that is easy to apply, durable and washable.
Let’s take a deep dive into the key differences between Regal Classic and Regal Select:
- Hide Strength – Regal Select uses a higher volume solids formula, coming in between 41-47% versus Regal Classic at 39%. More solids in the paint create better hide strength requiring potentially fewer total coats.
- Active Ingredients – Regal Select contains proprietary resins and additives like Color Lock Technology to augment paint performance, whereas these are absent in Classic.
- Variants
Regal Classic and Regal Select paints are available in 5 variants.
Regal Classic is available in Regal Classic Premium Eggshell Finish, Regal Classic Premium Flat Finish, Regal Classic Premium Acrylic Matt Finish, Regal Classic Premium Pearl Finish, and Regal Classic Premium Semi-Gloss Finish.
On the other hand, Regal Select is available as Regal Select Flat, Regal Select Matte, Regal Select Eggshell, Regal Select Pearl, and Regal Select Semi-Gloss.
- Features
With excellent durability, Regal Classic paints hide uneven surfaces with great precision. It offers splatter-resistant and easy touch-up. You will get a mildew-resistant coating from this paint. Besides, it provides self-priming on many surfaces.
On the contrary, Regal Select offers prime and paint in one pack. This zero VOC and low odor paint provide excellent leveling, hiding, and durability. You can easily resist mildew with it.
In addition, it offers premium flow, spatter-resistance, and easy application, which you would expect from any premium paint.
- Usage
Regal Classic and Regal Select are both interior paint offering similar usage. They excellently work on the same surfaces.
These paints offer superior coating on interior trim, doors, cabinets, walls, and new or coated-acoustic ceilings.
Moreover, you will get premium quality painting on new or previously painted wallboard, plaster, masonry, primed or previously painted wood, and metal.
- Performance
Being acrylic latex paints, both Regal Classic and Regal Select offer excellent performance from the very beginning.
At 25 °C, Regal Classic takes 1 hour to become touch dry.
You can recoat in another 2 to 3 hours, but time can change depending on the temperature and humidity. Higher temperature and humidity will result in a longer time.
Besides, you can cover 400 to 450 square feet with 1 gallon of Regal Classic paint.
Regal Select also takes 1 hour to touch dry at 25 °C. But you will need 3 hours for recoating. Temperature can similarly affect its drying duration. It also covers 400-450 square feet per gallon.
- Cleaning Up
Easy clean-up indicates how good a particular paint is. It allows you to maintain a painted surface easily. Spatter resistance allows both Regal Classic and Regal Select easily clean off.
You can clean both these paints using just clean water. Moreover, you can wash the painted surface after two weeks.
- Available Colors
Regal Classic is a semi-gloss paint based on Benjamin Moore’s Color Preview Bases 1B, 2B, 3B, and 4B. It is available in 1 White color and a range of ready-mix off-white colors.
In contrast, Regal Select represents Benjamin Moore Gennex Bases 1X, 2X, 3X, and 4X. You will find White, Super White, Decorative Whites, White Dove, and Linen White.
- Recommended Dry Time – Regal Select can be recoated after only 2 hours, while Regal Classic requires upwards of 4 hours between coats. This allows jobs to be completed much faster with Regal Select.
- Durability – Over extended timeframes involving higher traffic/usage, Regal Select maintains its integrity better while resisting yellowing and wear.
- Warranty – Regal Select offers a limited lifetime warranty on paint performance, whereas Regal Classic limits coverage to just 2 years.
- Price – Validating its positioning as their most elite line, Regal Select commands anywhere from $5-$15 higher price tag per gallon over Regal Classic for comparable sheens.
Key Pros of Benjamin Moore Regal Select
Regal Select sits at the top rung for Benjamin Moore paints. Developed to offer unparalleled levels of durability and hide, it has earned a reputation as a high-performing option suitable for nearly any room in the house. Some key advantages include:
- Superior Leveling and Smoothing – The paint levels out superbly after brushing to minimize visible brush strokes. Combined with great flow and smoothing properties, it creates very attractive finishes on walls and trims.
- Excellent Uniformity and Hide – It offers complete hide in just one or two coats, covering existing colors thoroughly while providing uniform sheen across surfaces.
- 100% Acrylic Resin – Being a 100% acrylic formula, it provides excellent adhesion power and protective qualities outdoors and indoors over properly prepared substrates.
- Mildew Resistant – For bathrooms, kitchens and other humid areas, Regal Select contains agents that resist mildew growth on the paint film.
- Washable – It forms a highly washable film to stand up well to cleaning and frequent light wiping.
- Durable – With incredible strength and adhesion power, Regal Select creates a uniform, fortified film able to withstand typical wear and tear in busy households.
- Low VOC – Regal Select keeps VOCs very low to ensure good indoor air quality once applied.
For those wanting Benjamin Moore’s most elite paint for a durable, long-lasting finish, Regal Select is the top choice across nearly any surface.
Key Benefits of Benjamin Moore Regal Classic
Regal Classic isn’t quite considered Benjamin Moore’s best when compared to Regal Select. However, it still offers extremely high quality at a more budget-friendly price point. Some advantages include:
- Excellent Hide and Coverage – It provides complete hide across existing colors in 1-2 coat applications. Though not quite as strong in this regard as Regal Select, it still offers immense covering power.
- Uniform Finish – The paint flows and levels nicely to create very smooth surface texture with consistent sheen intensities across broad walls.
- 100% Acrylic – Being a 100% acrylic paint, it delivers on durability and protective qualities in a range of interior settings.
- Professional-Grade – Despite a lower price tag than Regal Select, Regal Classic still offers professional-grade performance suitable for entire homes rather than cheaper builders-grade paints.
So for high total home coverage across larger square footages, Regal Classic gives reasonably comparable durability and hide to Regal Select while helping to stretch paint budgets further.
When To Use Regal Select And Regal Classic
With an overview of similarities and differences in hand, recommendations can be made for when to choose one over the other:
Use Regal Select for:
- Feature walls, trims, cabinets and doors seeing consistent contact and needing added durability against marks
- Bathrooms and kids’ rooms prone to moisture, splashing, or stains
- Living rooms, entryways and dining rooms requiring routine cleaning/dusting upkeep
- Any surface where maximum durability and fortification are required
Use Regal Classic for:
- Bedrooms, hallways, and ceilings seeing minimal wear
- New residential construction for broad wall coverage across many rooms
- Budget-friendly jobs where paint needs outweigh budget restrictions
- Large open floor plans calling for uniformity across broad contiguous walls
Both paints work excellently across properly prepped interior substrates like drywall, plaster, concrete, wood and metals. For specialty substrates, Benjamin Moore’s technical team can advise on compatibility and required primers.
Which Paint Is Best For You?
With all the discussions on features, performance, and usage, it is clear which one is the better among them.
Before you many any decision, you should know that Regal Classic has been discontinued by its manufacturer.
You won’t ever find them after available stock finishes from the market. Regal Select is the better option anyway. It offers both primers and paints at the same time.
Besides, more color options are available for this premium interior paint.
Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)
Benjamin Moore produces 4 levels of interior paints based on quality. Such as Super Hide, Super Spec, Regal, and Aura.
Benjamin Moore Regal Select offers zero VOC, meaning it has a very low odor. So, it will smell very little compared to other paints.
Yes, Benjamin Moore Regal Select is self-leveling. Its excellent hide and self-priming on most substrates offer premium flow and leveling.
Regal Select is better than Ben in terms of how well they cover existing colors. Ben offers only 30 volume solids, whereas Regal Select offers a low 40.
Conclusion
Interior paints significantly affect our lives. We see them every day and night. So, you need to choose the right one. You can easily do that with my Benjamin Moore Regal Classic vs. Regal Select reviews.
Now that all the necessary information is at your hand, it’s your turn to do the right thing. Best of luck, and let me know.
