Dunn Edwards vs Sherwin Williams: An Arizona Contractor's Take
· 6 min read
An honest brand comparison — where each one wins, where they're basically identical, and what we hand a customer when they ask.
Both are legitimate top-tier brands
Let's clear this up first: this is not Behr vs. Sherwin Williams. Dunn Edwards and Sherwin Williams are both real professional-grade lines that serious contractors spec on high-end jobs. Neither is a scam and neither is 'the pro-only secret.' (Full disclosure: Orange Coatings runs Dunn Edwards exclusively — but we've applied plenty of both over the years, and this comparison plays it straight.)
Tier-by-tier match-up
Dunn Edwards Evershield ↔ Sherwin Williams Emerald. Both are top-shelf exterior. Emerald's hide is slightly better; Evershield is often slightly cheaper and its resin package is built for southwestern UV.
Dunn Edwards Endura ↔ Sherwin Williams Duration. Solid mid-upper tier from both. Very comparable in practice.
Dunn Edwards Suprema ↔ Sherwin Williams Emerald Interior. Both are premium interior paints with excellent washability. Suprema is our pick for high-touch areas like hallways and kids' rooms.
Where they actually differ
Color decks are the real difference for most homeowners. Dunn Edwards has (in our opinion) a stronger deck for southwestern desert palettes — the earth tones and warm neutrals feel truer to Arizona architecture. Sherwin Williams has a broader national deck and better tools for color matching non-SW existing paints.
Availability: both have stores throughout the Phoenix metro. Sherwin Williams generally has more locations; Dunn Edwards' pro pricing is often a touch better.
What we recommend
On our own projects the spec is Dunn Edwards, top tier, every time: Evershield outside, Suprema inside. If you're set on Sherwin Williams — say you're matching an existing SW color scheme — Emerald is the tier to insist on. The brand matters less than staying at the top of the line and having it applied correctly over real prep.
Related service: Residential Exterior Painting