Behr Chalk Paint Review (Side by Side Comparison with Annie Sloan)
I used Behr Decorative Chalk Paint on a side table AND compared it side by side with seven other name brand chalk paints.
In this post, I’ll share my full review of Behr Chalk Paint including the cost, coverage, durability and whether it stacks up to the other specialty chalk paint brands.
After chalk painted was marketed by Annie Sloan in the 1990s, it quickly became a popular type of paint for many different home projects due to its ease of use and lovely matte finish. Over the years, many different brands have created their own new chalk paints.
For awhile, chalk paint was only made by specialty niche companies, which required paying for shipping (it was definitely NOT on Amazon) or searching for the closest local independent stockist of the paint.
Now, chalk style paints are made by main paint manufacturers as well, including the Behr paint company. You can buy a chalk-style paint at any home improvement store, on Amazon, and of course, still at small businesses or direct from the paint company.
I have a full post on all things chalk-style paint which details everything you need to know about how to use it on furniture. Chalkboard paint is different than chalk paint, but I have a full post on all things chalkboard paint as well.
Plus, I wrote a post about the best chalk paint brands which I determined by testing 13 different brands of chalk paint side by side on a headboard. A few favorites rose to the top!
Finally, this post gives you everything you need to know about all five main types of furniture paint, including chalk paint, milk paint, all-in-one paint, alkyd paint and latex wall paint.
This post contains affiliate links. Feel free to read my full privacy policy here.
Cost – Compared to Other chalk Paint Brands
| Brand of Chalk Paint | Where to Purchase | Cost of Pint | Cost of Quart | Number of Colors |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annie Sloan Chalk Paint | online, independent stockists | $16.00 | $45.00 | 42 colors |
| Magnolia Chalk Style Paint | Ace Hardware, Lowes | N/A | $39.99 | 150+ colors |
| Dixie Bell Chalk Finish Paint | manufacturer online, independent stockists, Amazon | $23.95 | $35.95 | 68 colors |
| Melange Mineral Paint | manufacturer online, independent stockists | $22.99 | $34.99 | 100 colors |
| Retique It Renaissance Paint | manufacturer online, Amazon | $24.99 | $34.99 | 56 colors |
| ReColor Chalk Finish Paints | ReStore, Amazon, The Home Depot (shipping) | N/A | $23.99 | 20 colors |
| Rustoleum Chalked Paint | Menards, The Home Depot, Lowes, Amazon | N/A | $22.98 | 26 colors |
| Behr Chalk Decorative Paint | The Home Depot | N/A | $19.98 | hundreds (any paint swatch color) |
As you can see in the chart above, Behr chalk paint is the least expensive brand of chalk paint, with only Rustoleum and Recolor being close to as inexpensive. The big question is, does its cheap price tag signal low quality paint?
Let’s dive into all the pros and cons of Behr chalk paint!
Availability – Where Can I purchase Behr Chalk Paint?
Behr Chalk Paint can be purchased at The Home Depot. Just visit the paint department, pick out your color swatch, and then go to the paint counter and ask for a quart of Behr Decorative Chalk Paint.
Behr chalky paint only comes in quarts, so if you’re painting multiple pieces of furniture, you may need more than one quart. In general, a quart of paint is enough to cover a large dresser, dining table, or a china cabinet.
Coverage – How Many Coats do I need?
I found Behr Chalk Paint to be slightly thinner than most other chalk paints. It’s still thicker than other types of paint, but due to this thinner texture, the second coat didn’t give quite enough coverage on the piece I used it on.
I chose to use three coats of Behr chalk paint on this side table for full coverage, especially because I was painting over dark paint on a light surface.
The verdict: Because Behr chalk paint is thinner than others, plan to use a minimum of two, if not three, coats of paint for the best coverage.
Leveling – Will I see brush strokes?
Leveling is a paint’s ability to smooth down as it dries. Generally speaking, chalk paint does not level as well as other types of paint and you will have some visible brushstrokes once it dries.
Although it is possible to get a super smooth finish with chalk paint, it doesn’t do this naturally and instead you need to sand between coats and after the final coat to achieve that smoothness.
With that being said, Behr chalk paint levels down very nicely and showed the least amount of visible brush strokes (along with a couple of other brands) of all the brands of paint! It brushes on smoothly and stays open (remains wet) for longer than other brands which allow you to pass through the paint without leaving many brush strokes.
The verdict: If you’re looking for a semi-smooth matte finish with minimal brush strokes that’s easy to apply, Behr is an excellent choice.
Adhesion – How well does it stick?
Chalk paint is best known for its ability to stick to most surfaces without sanding or priming. Of course, this was an important factor to look into when testing the Behr brand!
Behr decorative chalk paint does take a little longer to dry than Annie Sloan chalk paint, so it’s important to wait an hour or two before trying to sand (either to distress or to sand between coats).
If you try to sand too soon, Behr paint peels away in little strips rather than naturally sanding down. As long as you give it enough dry time, it will be easy to sand (see more in the distressing section below).
The verdict: As long as you give it time to dry, Behr chalk paint will stick very well to any piece of furniture, as long as it has been properly cleaned.
Durability – Does it Withstand the scratch test?
After allowing the paint to cure for 30 days, I checked the durability of the finish with and without topcoat applied. In both the place with topcoat and the place without, I wasn’t able to scratch away any paint with my fingernail.
I tried the same scratch test with a fork. I was able to scratch away the paint in both places, both with and without a topcoat. However, I was able to scratch away every single chalk paint in my test with a fork, so Behr performed the same as all the others.
The verdict: Behr adheres well to surfaces after it cures and cannot be scratched off too easily. Adding a topcoat helps to create an even more durable finish (and protect from water penetration).
Distressing
Chalk paint (along with milk paint) is my furniture paint for distressing. It sands down easily with a very light sanding and creates a beautiful finish that looks naturally aged. In fact, the primary reason I choose to use chalk paint on a piece of furniture is if I want to distress it.
Behr chalk paint does sand down easily with 220 grit sandpaper, but not quite as easily as Annie Sloan chalk paint.
The verdict: I was able to create the same, slightly distressed finish on the Behr chalk paint that you would expect from other chalk paints, it just took a little more pressure and time to sand down.
Behr Chalk Paint Colors
Behr Decorative Chalk Paint can be tinted to any Behr paint color, so the possiblities of color choice are virtually endless. Online, The Home Depot states that Behr Decorative Chalk Paint can be tinted to over 500 different colors. However, while in the store, the sales associate said that any of the colors could be used (and I know that’s more than 500!)
Looking for color ideas for your next chalk paint project? I’ve rounded up 30 chalk painted furniture pieces as inspiration!
The verdict: Behr Chalk paint offers the most options of color choice compared to any other chalk paint brand. If you’re looking for a custom color of chalk paint for your next project, Behr is the brand to choose.
Topcoat for Behr Chalk Paint
I tested out two different top coat finishes (clear wax using a wax brush and water-based acrylic using a paint brush) over Behr Decorative Chalk Paint. Both finishes slightly darkened the color of the paint, which is a common feature of all chalk paints when a topcoat is applied.
The verdict: Both clear furniture wax and water-based clear coats are excellent options for finishing over Behr chalk paint for the most durable final results. You can read more about using a top coat over chalk paint in this comprehensive chalk paint post.
Final Thoughts: Is Behr Chalk Paint Good?
Yes, I would definitely recommend Behr Decorative Chalk Paint! After comparing it side by side to many other brands of chalk paint, I found it to perform equally well, if not better, to other higher priced chalk paint brands.
I personally love the texture, its leveling ability (for a chalk paint), the velvety matte finish, the ease of purchasing at Home Depot and the HUGE selection of paint color choices.
From now on, when I need a chalk paint, I will most likely head out to buy this paint!
I also put four of the most popular DIY chalk paint recipes to the test in a side by side comparison. Take a look at how calcium carbonate, baking soda, non-sanded grout and plaster of paris compared as a way to make your own chalk paint.
Have you used Behr Decorative Chalk Paint on a project? I’d love to hear your experience with it!
Post by Jenny Leads
Jenny is the voice behind Refresh Living. She has a passion for helping people to create a home they love without spending a lot of money.