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Trim and Molding Paint in Canada: Top 5 Options for 2025 - Expert-Tested Picks to Protect and Showcase Your Trim

Published on Sunday, August 24, 2025

Trim and Molding Paint is specifically designed for enhancing and protecting architectural features like baseboards, crown moldings, and window casings, offering a smooth finish and increased durability to withstand everyday wear. In Canada, consumer preferences for trim paint emphasize durability, easy cleaning, and a flawless brushstroke-free look — qualities that matter in both busy family homes and high-end renovations. Buyers increasingly look for low-VOC formulas for better indoor air quality, waterborne alkyds that combine alkyd performance with easier cleanup, and finishes such as semi-gloss or satin that highlight detail and resist scuffs. Whether chosen by DIYers or professional contractors, the right trim paint balances leveling, hardness, adhesion, and color stability so the architectural details remain crisp and protected for years.

Quick Menu

1. Best Premium Alkyd-like Trim

2. Best Diamond Durability for Trim

3. Best Midrange Canadian Trim

4. Best Pro-Grade Alkyd-Style Trim

5. Best Value All-in-One Trim

1
BEST PREMIUM ALKYD-LIKE TRIM

Benjamin Moore Advance Interior Paint

Benjamin Moore Advance Interior Paint

Benjamin Moore Advance is a waterborne alkyd specifically formulated for trim and molding, prized for its outstanding self-leveling and brushability that produces a factory-like, enamel finish. It commands a premium price but delivers superior smoothness and low-VOC performance compared with more commodity options on this list, making it the go-to for contractors and homeowners who prioritize finish quality over cost.

4.5
★★★★☆

  • Self-leveling magic

  • Brush-friendly flow

  • Self-leveling magic

  • Brush-friendly flow

Review Summary

90%

"Users praise its exceptionally smooth, durable, and self-leveling oil-like finish ideal for trim and cabinetry; they note it's pricier and slower drying but holds up very well over time."

  • Low-VOC finish

  • Waterborne alkyd formula delivers a smooth, enamel-like finish ideal for trim and cabinets.

  • Low-VOC finish

  • Waterborne alkyd formula delivers a smooth, enamel-like finish ideal for trim and cabinets.

Aesthetic & Personal Appeal

Time-Saving Convenience

Eco-Friendly Living

Benjamin Moore Advance is a waterborne alkyd specifically formulated for trim and molding, prized for its outstanding self-leveling and brushability that produces a factory-like, enamel finish. It commands a premium price but delivers superior smoothness and low-VOC performance compared with more commodity options on this list, making it the go-to for contractors and homeowners who prioritize finish quality over cost.

  • Self-leveling magic

  • Brush-friendly flow

  • Low-VOC finish

  • Waterborne alkyd formula delivers a smooth, enamel-like finish ideal for trim and cabinets.

  • Excellent adhesion and leveling reduces brush marks for a factory-smooth appearance.

  • Self-leveling magic

  • Brush-friendly flow

  • Low-VOC finish

  • Waterborne alkyd formula delivers a smooth, enamel-like finish ideal for trim and cabinets.

  • Excellent adhesion and leveling reduces brush marks for a factory-smooth appearance.

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$110-160 CAD

2
BEST DIAMOND DURABILITY FOR TRIM

Dulux Diamond Interior Acrylic Paint

Dulux Diamond Interior Acrylic Paint

Dulux Diamond is an acrylic formula engineered for durability and stain resistance, offering a tough finish for high-traffic trim and moldings while remaining easier to clean than many standard interior paints. Positioned as a durable yet cost-competitive alternative, it trades some of the ultra-smooth leveling of waterborne alkyds for excellent abrasion and stain performance, giving it a financial edge in projects where longevity and lower lifecycle maintenance matter.

4.2
★★★★☆

  • Stain-defying armor

  • Washable toughness

  • Stain-defying armor

  • Washable toughness

Review Summary

82%

"Reviewers report strong durability, stain resistance and easy cleaning with a hard-wearing finish suited for trim. Some note it feels less premium than high-end alkyd-like products for extremely fine leveling."

  • Kid-proof grin

  • Acrylic formula engineered for high stain and scuff resistance on high-traffic trim.

  • Kid-proof grin

  • Acrylic formula engineered for high stain and scuff resistance on high-traffic trim.

Aesthetic & Personal Appeal

Time-Saving Convenience

Dulux Diamond is an acrylic formula engineered for durability and stain resistance, offering a tough finish for high-traffic trim and moldings while remaining easier to clean than many standard interior paints. Positioned as a durable yet cost-competitive alternative, it trades some of the ultra-smooth leveling of waterborne alkyds for excellent abrasion and stain performance, giving it a financial edge in projects where longevity and lower lifecycle maintenance matter.

  • Stain-defying armor

  • Washable toughness

  • Kid-proof grin

  • Acrylic formula engineered for high stain and scuff resistance on high-traffic trim.

  • Durable, washable finish that holds up to repeated cleaning and contact.

  • Stain-defying armor

  • Washable toughness

  • Kid-proof grin

  • Acrylic formula engineered for high stain and scuff resistance on high-traffic trim.

  • Durable, washable finish that holds up to repeated cleaning and contact.

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$80-120 CAD

3
BEST MIDRANGE CANADIAN TRIM

SICO Evolution Interior Paint

Sico
🏠 Local Product

SICO Evolution is a Canadian-market paint that balances good coverage, low odor and affordability, making it attractive for DIYers tackling trim and molding across larger areas on a budget. It offers reliable performance and easier application than many bargain brands, and while it may not match the glass-like finish of top-tier alkyds, its price-to-performance ratio often undercuts premium rivals on cost-sensitive jobs.

4
★★★★☆

  • Odor-free victory

  • Scuff-resistant coat

  • Odor-free victory

  • Scuff-resistant coat

Review Summary

78%

"Buyers appreciate its value, good coverage and stain resistance for interior trim. Some long-term users report occasional sheen variation and less self-leveling compared with premium trim enamels."

  • High-hide coverage

  • Acrylic-latex chemistry provides durable, mildew-resistant finish suited to trim and baseboards.

  • High-hide coverage

  • Acrylic-latex chemistry provides durable, mildew-resistant finish suited to trim and baseboards.

Eco-Friendly Living

Aesthetic & Personal Appeal

Time-Saving Convenience

SICO Evolution is a Canadian-market paint that balances good coverage, low odor and affordability, making it attractive for DIYers tackling trim and molding across larger areas on a budget. It offers reliable performance and easier application than many bargain brands, and while it may not match the glass-like finish of top-tier alkyds, its price-to-performance ratio often undercuts premium rivals on cost-sensitive jobs.

  • Odor-free victory

  • Scuff-resistant coat

  • High-hide coverage

  • Acrylic-latex chemistry provides durable, mildew-resistant finish suited to trim and baseboards.

  • Formulated for easy application with good flow and leveling to minimize brush marks.

  • Odor-free victory

  • Scuff-resistant coat

  • High-hide coverage

  • Acrylic-latex chemistry provides durable, mildew-resistant finish suited to trim and baseboards.

  • Formulated for easy application with good flow and leveling to minimize brush marks.

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From 36.32$
4
BEST PRO-GRADE ALKYD-STYLE TRIM

Sherwin-Williams ProClassic Interior Waterbased Acrylic-Alkyd

Sherwin-Williams ProClassic Interior Waterbased Acrylic-Alkyd

Sherwin-Williams ProClassic blends acrylic and alkyd technology to deliver a hard, fast-drying enamel finish favored by professionals for trim and molding work, combining the look of traditional oil-based enamels with water cleanup. As a market leader it offers consistent quality, wide color and sheen options and strong national distribution, positioning it as the practical professional choice that rivals Benjamin Moore on finish and beats many competitors on availability and contractor preference.

4.4
★★★★☆

  • Alkyd-like sheen

  • Exceptional leveling

  • Alkyd-like sheen

  • Exceptional leveling

Review Summary

89%

"Pros praise its alkyd-like flow, excellent leveling and durability on doors and trim, delivering a professional finish with waterborne cleanup; a few mention higher cost and potential slight yellowing in low-light areas over many years."

  • Touch-up friendly

  • Water-based acrylic-alkyd hybrid gives a classic hard-enamel look with improved handling.

  • Touch-up friendly

  • Water-based acrylic-alkyd hybrid gives a classic hard-enamel look with improved handling.

Aesthetic & Personal Appeal

Optimized Work Efficiency

Time-Saving Convenience

Sherwin-Williams ProClassic blends acrylic and alkyd technology to deliver a hard, fast-drying enamel finish favored by professionals for trim and molding work, combining the look of traditional oil-based enamels with water cleanup. As a market leader it offers consistent quality, wide color and sheen options and strong national distribution, positioning it as the practical professional choice that rivals Benjamin Moore on finish and beats many competitors on availability and contractor preference.

  • Alkyd-like sheen

  • Exceptional leveling

  • Touch-up friendly

  • Water-based acrylic-alkyd hybrid gives a classic hard-enamel look with improved handling.

  • Professional-grade adhesion and toughness designed for doors, cabinetry and trim.

  • Alkyd-like sheen

  • Exceptional leveling

  • Touch-up friendly

  • Water-based acrylic-alkyd hybrid gives a classic hard-enamel look with improved handling.

  • Professional-grade adhesion and toughness designed for doors, cabinetry and trim.

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$100-140 CAD

5
BEST VALUE ALL-IN-ONE TRIM

Behr Premium Plus Ultra Interior Semi-Gloss Enamel

Behr Premium Plus Ultra Interior Semi-Gloss Enamel

Behr Premium Plus Ultra is a paint-and-primer-in-one semi-gloss that provides good durability and stain resistance for trim and moldings while delivering strong hide and easy application, sold at big-box retailers for convenient purchasing. It represents one of the best value propositions on this list—offering competitive performance at a lower upfront cost than many premium enamel systems—though it may fall short of the ultra-smooth leveling achieved by specialty waterborne alkyds.

4.1
★★★★☆

  • All-in-one coverage

  • Semi-gloss pop

  • All-in-one coverage

  • Semi-gloss pop

Review Summary

80%

"Customers like its one-coat coverage, ease of cleaning and strong value for DIY trim work, but many note it doesn't level as smoothly as professional-grade trim enamels and can show brush marks over time. Still performs reliably for regular use."

  • Stain-blocking smile

  • Paint-and-primer-in-one semi-gloss enamel reduces coats and speeds DIY trim jobs.

  • Stain-blocking smile

  • Paint-and-primer-in-one semi-gloss enamel reduces coats and speeds DIY trim jobs.

Aesthetic & Personal Appeal

Time-Saving Convenience

Eco-Friendly Living

Behr Premium Plus Ultra is a paint-and-primer-in-one semi-gloss that provides good durability and stain resistance for trim and moldings while delivering strong hide and easy application, sold at big-box retailers for convenient purchasing. It represents one of the best value propositions on this list—offering competitive performance at a lower upfront cost than many premium enamel systems—though it may fall short of the ultra-smooth leveling achieved by specialty waterborne alkyds.

  • All-in-one coverage

  • Semi-gloss pop

  • Stain-blocking smile

  • Paint-and-primer-in-one semi-gloss enamel reduces coats and speeds DIY trim jobs.

  • Semi-gloss finish offers a durable, washable surface for moldings and baseboards.

  • All-in-one coverage

  • Semi-gloss pop

  • Stain-blocking smile

  • Paint-and-primer-in-one semi-gloss enamel reduces coats and speeds DIY trim jobs.

  • Semi-gloss finish offers a durable, washable surface for moldings and baseboards.

Order Now

$45-80 CAD

What research and standards say about trim paint performance

Laboratory testing and published standards help explain why some trim paints perform better for interior architectural features. Tests measure abrasion resistance, adhesion, color retention, VOC emissions, and leveling behavior — all factors that determine how well a trim paint holds up to everyday use and indoor air-quality expectations.

Low-VOC and indoor air quality: Health Canada guidance and independent indoor air studies show that using low-VOC interior coatings reduces short-term emissions and improves occupant comfort during and after painting.

Abrasion and scuff resistance: Standardized abrasion tests (for example, ASTM D4060 and equivalent industry procedures) demonstrate that semi-gloss enamels and hybrid alkyd formulations typically deliver higher wear resistance for trim exposed to contact.

Adhesion and primer importance: Adhesion tests and contractor experience confirm that proper surface preparation and a suitable primer significantly increase long-term bond strength, reducing peeling and chipping on molded surfaces.

Waterborne alkyd technology: Comparative lab work and manufacturer data indicate that modern waterborne alkyds approximate traditional solvent-based alkyd leveling and hardness while offering easier cleanup and lower VOCs.

Color retention and yellowing: Accelerated aging tests show that quality trim paints designed for interiors maintain brightness and resist yellowing better when formulated with stable resins and modern pigment systems.

In the Canadian context, choosing the right trim and molding paint means balancing durability, finish, and indoor-air considerations. The top five options we evaluated are Benjamin Moore Advance Interior Paint, Dulux Diamond Interior Acrylic Paint, SICO Evolution Interior Paint, Sherwin-Williams ProClassic Interior Waterbased Acrylic-Alkyd, and Behr Premium Plus Ultra Interior Semi-Gloss Enamel. For many homeowners and professionals seeking the best combination of smooth leveling, durable finish, and low-VOC performance, Benjamin Moore Advance Interior Paint stands out as the most versatile choice on this list. We hope you found what you were looking for — you can refine or expand your search using the site search to compare sheens, colours, or product performance details.

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