Sheen comparison/Flat vs. Matte
Flat vs. Matte
Flat and matte look identical but perform very differently. A Benjamin Moore dealer explains washability, ceilings vs. walls, and which one you actually want.
- Many services same day/walk-in
- Local experts in Delray Beach
Short answer
They look nearly the same and perform very differently. Flat has essentially zero sheen and cannot be washed; modern matte has a trace of sheen and a resin package built to be wiped clean. For walls, choose matte. For ceilings, choose flat.
Twenty years ago these words were interchangeable. They are not anymore. Benjamin Moore's matte finishes — Aura Matte, Regal Select Matte, Aura Bath & Spa — were reformulated to survive cleaning, which is exactly what traditional flat cannot do. The visual difference is almost nothing; the practical difference is large.
| Flat | Matte | |
|---|---|---|
| Gloss level | 0–2 units. Completely non-reflective. | 2–5 units. Technically has sheen, visually reads as flat. |
| Cleaning | Poor. Wiping burnishes a shiny spot into the wall. | Good in premium lines. Wipes clean without polishing the surface. |
| Hiding flaws | Best available. Nothing hides drywall better. | Essentially the same. You give up almost no hiding power. |
| Where it belongs | Ceilings, closets, exterior stucco, low-traffic rooms. | Living rooms, bedrooms, and — in a moisture-rated version — bathrooms. |
| Price | Cheapest sheen in most lines. Ceiling flats are inexpensive by design. | Priced with the rest of the line; the performance is in the resin. |
Decide
Which one is right for your job?
Choose Flat when…
- You're painting a ceiling.
- You're painting exterior stucco or block.
- You need maximum flaw-hiding on a badly repaired wall.
- It's a closet, garage, or space nobody touches.
We stock: Waterborne Ceiling Paint · Regal Select Flat · Ultra Spec 500 Flat · Aura Exterior Flat
Shop FlatChoose Matte when…
- You want a flat look on a wall you'll actually live with.
- You have kids or pets but love the chalky, non-reflective look.
- You're painting a bathroom and want matte instead of a shiny finish.
- You're using a deep or saturated color — matte shows color depth better than any other sheen.
We stock: Aura Matte · Regal Select Matte · Aura Bath & Spa Matte · ben Matte
Shop MatteQuestions
Frequently asked
- Is matte paint really washable?
- In a premium line, yes. Aura Matte and Regal Select Matte are formulated to be wiped with a damp cloth without burnishing. A contractor-grade flat is not, and it never will be — that difference is in the resin, not the sheen number.
- Can I use matte paint in a bathroom?
- Yes, if it's rated for it. Aura Bath & Spa is a matte specifically built for high-humidity rooms and carries a mildew-resistant finish, which matters a great deal in South Florida.
- Why does flat paint on my ceiling look patchy where I touched it up?
- Flat burnishes — pressure or a damp cloth polishes the film and creates a shinier spot. It also flashes at touch-ups. On ceilings the fix is almost always to recoat the full plane rather than spot-patch.
Let the tool decide
Answer four questions about your surface, room, and wall condition and we'll name the sheen — plus the Benjamin Moore products we stock in it.
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