Eggshell Paint: What Is It and When to Use It?

What Is Eggshell Paint?

Eggshell is a paint sheen or gloss, that looks and feels somewhat flat but with a slight gloss to it. Eggshell paint is between matte (or flat) and satin paint sheens.

Eggshell paint reflects more light than matte to produce a low luster. This low luster pulls out more of the paint’s color than a flat sheen and it gives the room a soft glow. Because eggshell paint has a slight gloss, it is easier to maintain than matte or flat paint.

When and Why to Use Eggshell Paint

If any paint sheen can be called universal, it would be eggshell. Along with its closest sibling, satin, eggshell is the one to pick if you have to use it for the walls on nearly every interior surface.

Eggshell paint sheen works especially well for walls in bedrooms, living rooms, hallways, offices, and finished basements. It can even be used in higher traffic spaces such as kitchens and bathrooms or children’s rooms, though satin is a more durable choice.

Avoid using eggshell paint sheen on surfaces that generally should have a flat sheen, namely the ceiling. For high-impact surfaces such as door frames and window trim, you'll get better results by using glossier paint such as semi-gloss or even high gloss.

What Are the Benefits of Using Eggshell Paint?

Just some of the benefits of using eggshell paint are outlined below.

Conceals Surface Flaws

Greater reflectivity in a paint sheen highlights flaws on the surface. High gloss paint shows every imperfection. The more matte the paint sheen, the better it is at hiding bumps, grooves, and pitting. The only paint that is better at hiding surface flaws than eggshell is true matte paint.

Easy Application

Lapping is a problem that occurs when applying paint. Adjacent rows begin to show because they overlap each other. The glossier the paint, the worse the problem.

Eggshell is just flat enough that lapping is not noticeable. Neighboring rows melt into each other, and this means that time is not a factor when painting. You can stop a row, take a break, then get back to your work without lapping stripes showing up.

Greater Cleanability

One downside of matte paint is that it is difficult to clean. Eggshell paint has just enough gloss to it to prevent stains from soaking in. Also, burnishing is a problem with matte paint. Burnishing happens when the paint is rubbed too much and takes on a lighter color. Eggshell’s light gloss prevents or disguises burnishing.

How Does Eggshell Paint Differ From Satin Finish?

Although satin and eggshell paints are often used interchangeably, there are some key differences that make a difference in the look and feel painting with them achieves.

Greater Matte Sheen Than Satin

Eggshell has a slightly duller sheen than satin. It is a difference that is hard to discern with the bare eye, until the two are placed next to each other. Then it becomes apparent that satin sheen has just a bit more gloss than eggshell. But how much exactly?

The painting term PVC, which stands for pigment volume concentration (not the plastic PVC), describes the ratio of color pigments in paint to its binders.

Lower PVC numbers mean that paint is glossier. Eggshell and satin sit side by side with their PVC numbers, satin running about 30- to 35-percent and eggshell at about 35- to 40-percent.

So, satin sheen paint is 15- to 30-percent glossier than eggshell paint.

Lower Cost Than Satin

Many factors affect the cost of paint and sheen is one of them. Glossier paints are more expensive than flatter paints. You can feel the difference simply by lifting the cans. There are more of the solid binders in the glossier paints than in the flatter paints.

Eggshell paint is between 4- and 5-percent less expensive than satin paint. This slight difference in cost makes itself apparent when you buy multiple gallons of paint to coat many rooms or an entire house.

Slightly Less Durable Than Satin

As you move from flat paints to glossy paints, you also move the needle from less durable to more durable. More of the resinous binders in paint form a tighter seal and shell than paints with fewer binders.