Whether you’re a tradesman, a savvy DIYer, or beginner, finding exactly what you’re looking for in a hardware store can be overwhelming. That’s especially true in the paint aisle. A wall of paint cans can look nearly identical, but thankfully, one recent viral hardware-store paint cheat code revealed that some of those cans contain a much quicker visual cue. Shortcuts like this can make a crowded paint aisle easier to navigate, but they don’t work in all cases.
Learn how the viral paint-can code works, what each color means, and why shoppers should still read the label before heading to the register.
What Do the Colors on Do it Best Paint Cans Mean?
The trick comes from a T&M Hardware & Rental video showing colored sections on certain Do it Best paint cans.
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On those cans:
- Red identifies flat paint.
- Yellow identifies eggshell paint.
- Blue identifies satin paint.
- Green identifies semi-gloss paint.
- A white band near the bottom identifies interior paint.
- A black band near the bottom identifies exterior paint.
The colors give employees and shoppers a quick way to spot the right type of paint before reading the full label. Do it Best currently sells Best Look interior paint in flat, eggshell, satin, and semi-gloss finishes, as well as separate exterior paint products.
Do Paint Can Color Codes Work for Every Brand?
No. Paint can color codes aren’t universal.
Manufacturers use their own packaging systems, so a colored band on one brand may mean something different on another. Some brands use color to separate product lines rather than sheen.
That makes the viral T&M Hardware trick most useful for the same Do it Best paint line shown in the video. Shoppers should still check the sheen on the printed label and confirm whether the paint is intended for interior or exterior use.
Paint labels can also include tint-base terms such as white, neutral, or deep base. Those terms describe the paint base rather than its sheen. Anyone matching an old can should check the brand, product line, sheen, base, and color formula instead of relying on a colored band alone.
What Do Flat, Eggshell, Satin, and Semi-Gloss Mean?
Paint sheen affects how much light the finish reflects and where the paint usually works best.
Flat paint has very little shine and can make small wall flaws less noticeable. Eggshell has a slight sheen. Satin reflects more light and works well in many frequently used rooms. Semi-gloss has a shinier finish and often appears on trim or surfaces that need regular cleaning.
Paint brands don’t always use the same names or group their sheens in the same way. Sherwin-Williams and Behr, for example, list finishes including flat, matte, satin, and semi-gloss, and eggshell.
The color code can help narrow down a choice, but the printed sheen on the can remains the most reliable guide.
Sources
- T&M Hardware & Rental, “Instagram Video”
- Do it Best, “Interior and Exterior Paints”
- Sherwin-Williams, “How to Choose Paint Finishes”
- Behr, “How to Choose an Interior Paint Sheen”
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