Eggshell paint finish is a low sheen that sits between flat and satin: a soft glow you see at an angle, easier to wipe than flat and kinder to wall flaws than semi-gloss. Use flat on ceilings, eggshell in living rooms and bedrooms, satin in kitchens, bathrooms and hallways, and semi-gloss on doors, trim and cabinets. Kompozit PRO comes in all four at $58 a gallon, delivered across New York and New Jersey.
What an eggshell paint finish looks like
Eggshell looks like the shell it's named for. Head on, it reads almost flat. With light from the side, a faint shine shows up. Sheen is measured with a gloss meter at 60 degrees, in gloss units. Our data sheets publish two sheen numbers: EKO Flat and NEO Flat measure 0 to 5, and PRO Satin measures 18 to 23. PRO Eggshell sits below that satin, and PRO Semi-Gloss sits well above it. The shinier the finish, the more light it throws back, and the more it shows dents and patches in the wall under it.
Eggshell vs flat paint
Pick flat where the wall has flaws and hands rarely touch it. Pick eggshell where the wall gets wiped.
- Flat: EKO Flat and NEO Flat measure 0 to 5 gloss units. Flat hides uneven drywall, old plaster and patches, and a touch-up blends in. It's the finish for ceilings and for low traffic walls.
- Eggshell: a low glow. Fingerprints and scuffs come off an eggshell wall with a damp cloth more easily than off a flat one. It shows a bit more of the wall under it.
In a home built before 1978, test old paint for lead before you sand or scrape it, and follow EPA lead-safe practices if it tests positive. Then patch and sand before an eggshell coat. When you sand, wear a NIOSH-approved dust respirator, and ventilate while you paint and while it dries.
In a bedroom or living room, eggshell is the default. On a ceiling or on rough plaster in a prewar apartment, flat wins.
Eggshell vs satin
Satin is the next step up in shine. PRO Satin measures 18 to 23 gloss units at 60 degrees, and its data sheet calls it a finish for higher traffic areas. Use it where walls get wiped and where there's steam: kitchens, bathrooms, hallways and kids' rooms. PRO's anti-microbial additive guards the paint film against mildew. Eggshell is softer to look at. In a big room with light coming from the side, it shows fewer flaws than satin. Living room: eggshell. Hallway that gets wiped every week: satin.
Eggshell vs semi-gloss
Semi-gloss is the shiniest of the four. Its slick film wipes clean on doors, trim, window frames, baseboards and cabinets. On a full wall it shows every patch and roller mark. Eggshell does the opposite job and calms a wall down. The classic pairing is eggshell walls with semi-gloss trim, in the same color or in white. Both come in PRO, so one order covers the room.
Which finish goes in which room
- Ceilings: flat.
- Living rooms, bedrooms, offices: eggshell.
- Kitchens, bathrooms, hallways, kids' rooms: satin.
- Doors, trim, window frames, cabinets: semi-gloss.
Which Kompozit paint comes in which finish
- PRO paint and primer: Flat, Eggshell, Satin and Semi-Gloss. 100% acrylic, inside and outside. PRO Satin has 44% volume solids.
- NEO: Flat and Satin, inside and outside.
- EKO: Flat, for interiors, zero VOC.
How much to buy
A gallon covers 300 to 400 square feet per coat, and two coats is the standard. A 12 by 12 bedroom with 8 foot ceilings has about 380 square feet of wall, so two coats take 2 to 3 gallons of eggshell. One gallon of semi-gloss covers the door and trim of that room with paint left for touch-ups. Three gallons of PRO Eggshell plus one of PRO Semi-Gloss come to $232 before sales tax, and the order qualifies for free local delivery in New York and New Jersey. PRO Satin is dry to the touch in about an hour and ready to recoat in 2 to 4 hours at 77°F; cooler or damp air takes longer. For the other sheens, check the label on the can. For a whole apartment, a 5 gallon bucket covers 1,500 to 2,000 square feet per coat.
Price and delivery
PRO is $58 a gallon and $285 for 5 gallons in every finish. NEO is $49 a gallon and $218 for 5 gallons. EKO is $39 a gallon and $165 for 5 gallons. All three are made in Deerfield Beach, Florida, and every line carries an 18-year limited manufacturer warranty to the original buyer: keep the receipt and the batch code on the can. We match a color code from any brand's fan deck. Custom tinted orders placed before 2pm on a business day are normally mixed that day. From November to March a forecast of 32°F on the delivery route holds the order until we call you; details on our delivery page. Delivery in New York and New Jersey is $15 per order, free over $150. Order a color sample to see the color on your own wall in morning and evening light before you buy the bucket.
Shop PRO in Flat, Eggshell, Satin or Semi-Gloss
Questions we get
Is eggshell or flat paint better for walls?
Eggshell for walls that get touched and wiped. Flat for ceilings and for walls with dents and patches you want hidden.
Eggshell or satin for a living room?
Eggshell. Satin shows more of the wall's flaws in a big room with side light.
Eggshell or semi-gloss for trim?
Semi-gloss. It wipes clean on doors and trim and gives a crisp line against eggshell walls.
Can I paint eggshell over flat?
Yes. Wash the flat wall, let it dry, patch and sand what you need, then roll two coats of eggshell. Going from eggshell back to flat, clean the wall, sand it dull and wipe off the dust. The NEO Flat and EKO data sheets then call for a coat of latex primer over the old finish, and PRIME does that job.
Can I use semi-gloss on walls?
Yes, but every patch and roller mark shows. Keep it for trim and doors.
Which finish hides flaws best?
Flat. EKO Flat and NEO Flat measure 0 to 5 gloss units, so they throw back almost no light.
How soon can I wash a freshly painted wall?
The data sheets for PRO Satin, NEO Flat and EKO call for four weeks before you wash or clean the wall. For any other finish, follow its data sheet.