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All products are personally reviewed and tested in accordance with our Review Methodology.
Whether you're just refreshing the wall in one room or doing a complete home renovation, you want a paint that looks great while protecting your health.
Eco-friendly paints eliminate or drastically reduce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) - toxic chemicals that off-gas into your indoor air for years after painting. That's because Zero-VOC paints use water-based formulations instead of chemical solvents.
Modern Zero-VOC paint brands deliver excellent coverage and vivid colors that more than match up to mainstream options. In our testing, brands like ECOS and Benjamin Moore's Eco Spec performed identically to conventional paints for durability and color saturation.
Non-toxic paints typically cost 15-30% more than conventional paints, but the health benefits and improved indoor air quality justify the investment for most homeowners.
Read on to find out which brands came top of our tests.
✔ Families with Children or Pets
✔ People with Chemical Sensitivities
✔ Color Matching
Transparency is at the core of ECOS. That's why it's been my paint brand of choice for many years, and why I have selected it as my top Zero-VOC paint in this review.
If it's good enough for the Louvre, Westminster Abbey, and the Getty Museum…then it’s good enough for me. And this truly is a brand that has never let me or my family down.
Every paint they make is non-toxic, has no-VOC content, and comes with a complete list of ingredients.
Their extensive range of zero VOC paints covers both indoor and outdoor applications and a vast array of colors.
Not quite sure which color to go for? You can order up to eight free color cards to help you decide.
My most recent experience with ECOS Paints was when I helped repaint my nephew's bedroom.
We used ECOS Paints Lullaby. Excellent even coverage, non-toxic ingredients, and increased durability. Very impressive!
ECOS has been around for over 35 years. They manufacture their products in Spartanburg, South Carolina. A true American brand you can trust!
Range: Color Samples, Exterior Paints, Exterior Stains, Fan Decks, Interior Paints, Painting Tools, Paint Primers
They Say: Eco Spec® is our “greenest” interior premium paint. With zero VOCs and zero emissions, Eco Spec® is the perfect choice when an environmentally responsible paint is required and is tinted with Benjamin Moore's proprietary Gennex® zero VOC colorant system.
We Say: Benjamin Moore is another brand I’ve used for sustainable paints in the past.
I prefer ECOS Paint, but Benjamin Moore zero VOC paint is a decent alternative if, for example, ECOS Paint doesn’t have the exact color you need.
If you live close to a Benjamin Moore store, you can order online and then collect in as little as three hours. Handy!
Their Eco Spec paint (available in the full range of Benjamin Moore colors) is the standout eco-friendly option.
It’s Green Seal certified and CERTIFIED asthma & allergy-friendly.
✔ Non-Toxic
✔ Zero-VOC
✔ Carbon Offset Delivery
They Say: Sweet Pickins Milk Paint is a true milk paint which comes in a powder form. Our Milk Paint is environmentally safe, non-toxic and is food safe. There is a slight milky odor when it is applied, but it is completely odorless when dry. Our milk paint is 100% VOC free and is made with all natural earth materials.
We Say: There was only one place to turn when I decided that I also wanted to test out some of the smaller eco-friendly paint brands.
With its ever-expanding army of artisan producers and eco-friendly products, Etsy is often a treasure trove of sustainable products.
Sweet Pickins Milk Paint was the one I chose to test for the following reasons:
I was not disappointed. It was easy to mix, nice to paint with (good coverage with minimal splatter), and the slight milky smell went away once the paint dried.
If Sweet Pickins Milk Paint is not to your liking, simply click here and browse over 8,000 alternative options.
✔ Zero-VOC
✔ GREENGUARD Certified
✔ Value for Money
We Say: Lastly, a quick shoutout to BEHR Premium Plus.
I always have a tin of this interior paint in the garage.
It’s excellent value for money and the only paint I trust for high-traffic areas, such as baseboards and door frames.
It’s also GREENGUARD certified, so you can rest assured that the Zero VOC claim is fully legit.
Zero-VOC paint is a popular option for those looking for eco-friendly and non-toxic home products. However, whether or not it's better than other paints depends on various factors.
In conclusion, choosing paints that are low or Zero-VOC can be a great choice for people who want to reduce their exposure to harmful toxic chemicals and protect the environment. However, they may not always be the best option for everyone, depending on their budget, color preferences, and desired level of coverage.
According to the Minnesota Department of Health, “Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are a large group of chemicals that are found in many products we use to build and maintain our homes. Once these chemicals are in our homes, they are released or “off-gas” into the indoor air we breathe”.
Common VOCs to look out for, and try to avoid, include:
Toxic interior paints are a significant contributor to poor indoor air quality. They can continue to emit toxic air contaminants even after the new paint smell has disappeared.
Eco-friendly paints have low levels of VOC. Some are even 100% VOC free.
The term ‘sheen’ refers to the level of glossiness. Most paint manufacturers offer the following sheens (from least glossy to glossiest).
It is important to be aware that low-VOC paint typically has a shorter drying time than traditional paint.
VOCs slow down the drying process of traditional paints since they require time to evaporate from the paint film. In contrast, low VOC paints use water-based solvents that evaporate more quickly, resulting in a shorter drying time.
The shorter drying time of low-VOC paint can be both an advantage and a disadvantage.
On one hand, it allows painters to apply additional coats sooner and complete the painting project faster. On the other hand, the faster drying time can make it difficult to achieve a smooth finish without visible brush or roller marks.
To ensure your paint is low-VOC, the main certifications to look out for are:
This said, if a paint brand had no certifications, it doesn’t automatically mean it’s toxic and should be avoided.
Maintaining a certified status can be too expensive, especially for small eco-friendly businesses.
Treat certification as a guide, but don’t make it your only selection criteria.
No…don’t…you’re better than that…I mean paint stripping! ????
The EPA estimates that when stripping old paint from internal walls, the VOC levels in your home can skyrocket to over 1,000 times that of outside.
Always wear a respirator and open doors/windows to allow paint fumes to escape.
Also don't forget to cover over your flooring, carpets, or rugs. Use an old sheet or curtain to catch any spills.
Making your own non-toxic paint at home is easier than you might think. You'll know that this is no-VOC paint because you made it yourself and know exactly what went into it.
And that’s it…congratulations…you’ve made your own 100% VOC-free paints.
This mix will spoil within a few hours, so get it on the walls ASAP.
Also, don’t worry about the sour paint smell. That’ll go once the paint has dried. PROMISE!
Most zero-VOC paints dry to the touch in 2-4 hours and are ready for a second coat in 4-6 hours. Zero-VOC paints typically dry faster than traditional paints because they use water-based solvents that evaporate quickly, rather than chemical solvents.
Yes, zero-VOC paints are ideal for nurseries and children's rooms. Brands like ECOS Lullaby are specifically formulated for baby rooms, with no toxic off-gassing and complete ingredient transparency.
Modern eco-friendly paints offer equivalent or better coverage to traditional paints. In our testing, premium zero-VOC brands like ECOS offered coverage that was 1.5 times better compared to conventional alternatives.
Look for Green Seal certification, GREENGUARD certification, or CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly marks. However, smaller artisan brands may produce excellent eco-friendly paints without formal certification due to cost constraints.
Yes, many eco-friendly paint brands offer exterior formulations. ECOS Paints, for example, provides both interior and exterior zero-VOC options with excellent weather resistance.
Our core values mean we always prioritize sustainability over profit. We carefully evaluate and personally test every product to ensure they meet our high standards. All products recommended in this article were tested in accordance with our Review Methodology.
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