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?

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.