Choosing eggshell vs semi-gloss for your paint project will have a significant impact on the resulting finish and can even determine how long the paint will last. Eggshell and semi-gloss have key differences including appearance, durability, ease of cleaning and maintenance, and cost. Eggshell tends to work better on walls, while semi-gloss is often reserved for trim and doors.
To help you decide between eggshell and semi-gloss, we've broken down how these two popular paint finishes differ and which one is actually right for a room.
What Is Eggshell Paint?
The Spruce / Marty Baldwin
Eggshell paint is a type of paint finish that's shinier than flat but duller than satin. Due to its balance of durability and sheen, eggshell has long been a popular choice for interior wall paint.
Here are some of the defining qualities of eggshell paint:
- Soft luster
- Low sheen
- Great for low- to mid-traffic areas
- Not as easy to clean as glossier paint finishes like satin, semi-gloss, and gloss
- Not recommended for trim, cabinetry, or other high-use areas
What Is Semi-Gloss Paint?
Semi-gloss paint is a type of paint finish that's shinier than satin but duller than gloss. Its supreme durability makes it ideal for areas of high use, such as cabinetry, doors, trim, and baseboards.
Here are some of the defining qualities of semi-gloss paint:
- Distinct luster
- High sheen
- Great for high-traffic areas
- Easier to clean than duller paint finishes like satin, eggshell, and flat
- Not recommended for walls
What Is the Difference Between Eggshell and Semi-Gloss?
Eggshell and semi-gloss paint differ significantly in glossiness, which makes them look different when applied to the same surface. But what else differentiates these two popular paint finishes?
Appearance
Semi-gloss paint reflects much more light than eggshell paint. This will be highly noticeable on large flat surfaces like walls, where semi-gloss will reflect the light more than eggshell and highlight imperfections in the wall. This is why semi-gloss paint is often reserved for smaller surfaces like trim, doors, and cabinetry.
On the other hand, eggshell paint is ideal for large flat surfaces like walls in bedrooms, hallways, entryways, living rooms, and more. Kitchens and bathrooms may benefit from choosing a glossier wall paint option like satin, as eggshell paint may not stand up to more frequent cleaning. However, if you prefer a low sheen in your kitchen or bathroom, eggshell paint will last significantly longer than matte or flat paint.
The difference in the gloss and sheen of eggshell vs semi-gloss paint may not be as noticeable with neutral paint colors, but it will be highly noticeable on bolder colors.
Durability
Semi-gloss paint is more durable than eggshell paint. This comes as a result of the semi-gloss paint's higher sheen, which makes it easier to clean and wipe down. As a result, semi-gloss is a great choice for rooms like kitchens and bathrooms, as well as heavily used items like cabinetry, doors, and windows.
However, as a wall paint, eggshell is still considered a durable paint option that stands up to more traffic than matte or flat paint.
Cleaning and Maintenance
Semi-gloss paint is easier to clean and maintain than eggshell paint. Just like with its durability, semi-gloss has its high sheen to thank for its easy maintenance. Because eggshell is more matte than semi-gloss paint, it can't withstand frequent cleaning and wipe-downs like the shinier paint option.
However, eggshell is far easier to clean than duller paint options like matte and flat, making it a better paint option for rooms that see more use.
Texture
Semi-gloss paint has a stickier texture than eggshell paint. Even after drying, semi-gloss paint remains slightly tacky to the touch, while eggshell creates a surface that is smooth to the touch.
The tackiness is a result of more resins in semi-gloss paint, but it can be worsened by poor application. Some semi-gloss paint manufacturers recommend additional time between coats to minimize stickiness after drying.
Cost
Eggshell is more affordable than semi-gloss paint. Due to the lower resin count, which gives eggshell its flatter finish, consumers will save a few dollars per gallon when opting for eggshell over semi-gloss. While these savings won't add up to much for small paint projects, they can make a major difference for large-scale projects that require a lot of paint.
Eggshell vs. Semi-Gloss Paint: Which One Should You Choose?
Choosing eggshell vs semi-gloss paint all comes down to where and what you are painting. Some areas can benefit from the supreme durability of semi-gloss while others may call for the low-sheen look of eggshell. In fact, there isn't much crossover between these two paint finishes.
For large flat wall surfaces that will be illuminated by natural or artificial light, opting for eggshell paint can minimize the reflection and hide imperfections. Rooms like hallways, bedrooms, closets, living rooms, and more are great candidates for eggshell paint, as it holds up to low- to mid-traffic better than flat paint.
However, for areas of high use and frequent cleaning, like trim, doors, window frames, cabinets, kitchens, and bathrooms, opting for semi-gloss paint will provide excellent durability with a higher sheen than eggshell paint.
Additionally, the higher reflectivity of semi-gloss paint makes it ideal for painted millwork, where it will highlight the intricate details.
- When should you choose eggshell paint?
Eggshell paint is great for flat wall surfaces where you want to minimize light reflection to hide imperfections, but don't want to venture all the way to flat or matte paint. Walls are often painted with eggshell paint, as it's a good balance of durability and low sheen.
Is eggshell or semi-gloss paint better for bathrooms?Semi-gloss paint is better for bathrooms than eggshell paint because it has a glossier, more durable finish. This allows semi-gloss paint to shed condensation more easily and stand up better to frequent cleaning and wipe-downs.
If you find that semi-gloss is too shiny for your taste, a good in-between paint finish for bathrooms is satin.
What are the pros and cons of an eggshell finish?The pro of eggshell finish is its soft luster and great ability to hide imperfections in large flat surfaces like walls, which comes as a result of its slightly matte finish.
The slight matte nature of eggshell is also one of its greatest cons, as it leads to less durability when compared to satin and semi-gloss paint.
Recommended Articles
PAINTINGPaint Calculator: How Much Paint Do I Need?
This paint coverage calculator makes calculating the amount of paint you'll need for your project nearly automatic. Your role in the process involves just a few elements: Measure the height and width
HOME-DESIGN-STYLESThe Midcentury Modern Decor Designers Say You Should Never Pass Up at the Thrift Store
If you're in the mood to spruce up your home to feature a simple yet vintage-inspired style, you can't go wrong with the midcentury modern aesthetic. Full of organic shapes, natural wooden staples, an
INTERIOR-DECORATING9 Ways to Easily Increase Natural Light in Your Apartment, Even in the Winter
Aside from literally and figuratively brightening your day, ample natural light offers an array of benefits: It reduces your dependency on energy use and visually expands and opens a space. But if you
INTERIOR-REMODEL-AND-REPAIRHow Long Does a Home Inspection Take? What to Know When Buying a Home
Home inspections are typically conducted during the selling process when a buyer wants to get an in-depth look at the property before investing. While home inspections are not required by most lenders
INTERIOR-REMODEL-AND-REPAIRReal Life Renovations: How to Upgrade Your Home Without the Hassle
Home renovations aren't always as simple as they seem on TV. They're notorious for showing the mostly glamorous parts of renovating—20 minutes of planning, building, sweating, and then boom, final rev
INTERIOR-REMODEL-AND-REPAIRThe Easiest Way to Remove Every Type of Blinds Without Damaging Your Window Frame
Removing blinds can be tricky. Whether you're removing them to replace them with new window treatments or to paint the window frame, you'll want to do so without damaging the window frame. The trick t
HOME-IMPROVEMENTLearn the Rules for Overhead Clearance on Power Lines
Overhead power lines are subject to strict guidelines for minimum height clearances over streets, sidewalks, alleys, driveways, and other traffic areas. This is a safety consideration, aimed at keepin
KITCHEN-REMODEL-AND-REPAIRNeed to Call a Plumber ASAP? Here's How Much It Will Cost Per Project
Plumbing is often best left in the hands of a qualified, licensed plumber. Plumbers generally charge $105 per hour, and the average plumbing repair costs a flat rate of $325. Find out how much a plumb
