Valspar

What Valspar does

Valspar is a U.S.-headquartered paint and coatings brand founded in 1806 and now operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Sherwin-Williams Company (NYSE: SHW) following a 2017 acquisition valued at approximately $9.8 billion. The brand offers a tiered portfolio spanning interior and exterior paints, primers, wood stains, concrete floor coatings, and painting tools, organized across value to premium SKUs (e.g., Valspar 2000/4000 at the entry level and Reserve, Signature, Accolade, Medallion Plus at the premium tier) and supported by proprietary formulation technologies including Rain Ready, FlexShield365, ScuffShield, and Advanced Water Beading. Its sub-brands such as Defense, Duramax, SeasonFlex, StormCoat, Valde, and Prep Step address specific durability, weather, and industrial use cases.

The company's commercial model is hybrid consumer and professional: DIY homeowners and design professionals are served through major retail partnerships (primarily Lowe's in the U.S., plus Ace Hardware, independent retailers, and B&Q in the UK), with marketing built around color expertise — annual Color of the Year announcements, a 2.2M+ color library, an AI-powered Color Visualizer, and Free Color Consult services. Professional painters and contractors are served through the dedicated Valspar Pro program, which bundles product guidance, a color toolkit, rep support, and technical documentation. Geographic footprint is concentrated in North America (U.S., Canada) with active international expansion into Brazil (2025) and the UK (2026 Olivia Bowen x B&Q palette, PaintCare participation). Revenue is generated through one-time unit sales across retail and direct channels, with no subscription or recurring-license component disclosed, and brand-level financials are not separately reported by Sherwin-Williams.

Name

Valspar

Legal name

Valspar

Website

https://valspar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1866

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Valspar is a 200-year-old U.S. paint and coatings brand, now a subsidiary of Sherwin-Williams, selling tiered interior/exterior paints, primers, stains, and coatings through Lowe's, independent retailers, Ace Hardware, and B&Q to DIY homeowners and professional painters.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Architectural Coatings

NAICS

Paint and Coating Manufacturing (325510)

SIC

Paints, Varnishes, Lacquers, Enamels & Allied Prods (2851)

akta.pro primary industry

Architectural & Decorative Coatings (IMAEAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Architectural & Decorative Paints (IMAEAHAA), Architectural & Decorative Paints (IMADAKAA)

Keywords

• Interior paints
• Exterior paints
• Wood stains
• Concrete coatings
• Painting supplies

Headquarters

HQ city

Cleveland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Paint and Coatings Sales: Valspar generates revenue through the sale of interior paints, exterior paints, primers, wood stains, concrete floor coatings, and painting tools and supplies. Products are sold through major retail partners including Lowe's and independent retailers, with various price points across product tiers from value (Valspar 2000, Valspar 4000) to premium (Valspar Reserve, Valspar Signature).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Valspar manufactures and sells architectural paint and coatings, including interior and exterior paints, primers, exterior wood stains, concrete floor coatings, and painting tools and supplies. Products are offered in tiered quality levels from value to premium, distributed through Lowe's, independent paint retailers, and Ace Hardware, with a dedicated Valspar Pro program for professional painters and contractors.

Product overview

Valspar is a paint and coatings brand owned by The Sherwin-Williams Company, offering a comprehensive portfolio of interior and exterior paints, primers, stains, concrete floor coatings, and painting tools and supplies. The product lineup is structured across multiple quality tiers: premium offerings like Valspar Reserve® and Signature® at the top end featuring advanced technologies like ScuffShield™ and lifetime warranties; mid-tier products including Accolade®, Medallion® Plus, and Defense™ featuring technologies like Rain Ready® and Advanced Water Beading Technology; and professional-grade offerings like StormCoat® and the Pro-Hide® primer line. The portfolio also includes specialized primers (Prep Step® and Stainblocking lines), exterior wood stains, concrete floor coatings, professional applicator tools (brushes, rollers, frames), and digital tools (Color Visualizer, Free Color Consult). Valspar distributes through Lowe’s and independent retailers, with a dedicated Valspar® Pro program for professional painters.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Valspar Reserve: Premium interior paint + primer with one-coat coverage and lifetime warranty
• Valspar Signature
• Valspar Ultra
• Valspar Defense
• Valspar Duramax
• Valspar SeasonFlex
• Valspar StormCoat
• Valspar Medallion Plus
• Valspar Accolade
• Valspar Expressions Select
• Valspar Integrity Select
• Valspar Supreme Edge
• Valspar Prep Step
• Valspar High-Hiding Primer
• Valspar Stainblocking Bonding Primer
• Valspar Oil-Based Primer + Sealer
• Valspar Valde

Products and services

• Valspar Reserve Interior Paint + Primer Valspar's most advanced interior paint with one-coat coverage, 100% acrylic formula, premium stain blocking, scratch and scuff resistance, backed by a lifetime limited warranty. Targeted at premium DIY homeowners and professionals.
• Valspar Signature Interior Paint + Primer Interior paint with ScuffShield Technology, 100% acrylic formula providing scuff and stain resistance with rich fade-resistant colors, backed by a lifetime warranty.
• Valspar Ultra Interior Paint + Primer Interior paint with everyday washable smooth finish and good stain resistance; 100% acrylic formula with built-in primer, Greenguard Gold certified, backed by lifetime warranty.
• Valspar Accolade Interior Paint + Primer Premium interior paint + primer applying with ultra smooth finish, advanced stain blocking, exceptional durability against scuffs and scrubs; sold through independent retailers.
• Valspar Medallion Plus Interior Paint + Primer One-coat interior paint and primer with fade-resistant color, 100% acrylic formula, mold- and mildew-resistant finish, and stain/scrub resistance; sold through independent retailers.
• Valspar Defense Exterior Paint + Primer One-coat exterior paint and primer with Advanced Water Beading Technology, mold/mildew/algae-resistant finish, and Rain Ready Technology ready in 1 hour; sold at Lowe's.
• Valspar Medallion Plus Exterior Paint + Primer Premium exterior paint and primer with all-season flexible finish resisting cracking and peeling, Rain Ready in 2 hours; sold through independent retailers.
• Valspar StormCoat Exterior Paint Professional-quality 100% acrylic exterior latex paint resisting cracking and peeling, applicable at temperatures as low as 35°F, Rain-Ready in 2.5 hours.
• Valspar Stainblocking Bonding Primer/Sealer High-quality latex primer providing extreme adhesion over glossy surfaces, drywall, cured plaster, masonry, wood, galvanized metal and aluminum; blocks tannin bleed and common household stains.
• Valspar Prep Step All-Stain Primer All-stain universal blocker for plaster, wood and drywall, hides stains from both water and oil sources, oil-fortified latex formula suitable for cabinets, trim, doors, furniture or paneling.
• Valspar Prep Step Multi-Purpose Primer Multi-purpose primer ideal for porous surfaces including drywall, wood, plaster and masonry, improving sheen uniformity and color consistency for topcoat.
• Valspar Oil-Based Primer + Sealer Oil-based primer designed to block stains and odors with strong adhesion for interior applications; available in various formats including aerosol.
• Valspar Valde Extreme Flex Cure Coating Technology Extreme Flex Cure coating technology designed for industrial applications, providing flexible and durable coating performance.
• Valspar Color Visualizer AI-powered virtual painting tool allowing users to virtually paint rooms with Valspar colors, view colors on their own home photos or sample room images.
• Valspar Free Color Consult Personalized color consultation service connecting customers with Valspar color experts who provide tailored advice for their spaces, with paint chips delivered to their door.
• Valspar Pro Professional program offering dedicated resources for painting professionals including product offerings, color toolkit, product guidance, data sheets, and Valspar Pro Rep support for contractors and professional painters.
• Valspar Love Your Color Guarantee Color satisfaction guarantee program allowing customers to return and replace paint color within 30 days at Lowe's or participating retailers if not satisfied with the color choice.
• Four New Paint and Stain Products New paint and stain product offerings launched by Valspar in May 2025 extending its paint and wood stain portfolio.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rain Ready Technology provides protection in as little as 1 hour (Defense) or 2 hours (Medallion Plus Exterior)
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Olivia BowenminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 18 June 2026Love Island star Olivia Bowen launched her second color palette collaboration with Valspar Paint, featuring seven exterior-focused shades ranging from earthy neutrals to vibrant hues. The collection is exclusively available in B&Q stores (UK market) and builds on the success of her first palette released in 2025.
• HGTVcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerValspar partners with HGTV for home design programming including HGTV Smart Home and HGTV Home Town. The partnership provides product placement and sponsored content opportunities reaching home improvement enthusiasts, with homes featuring Valspar paint products.
• The AstroTwinsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerThe AstroTwins (astrology experts) partnered with Valspar to match their newly-launched color palette with zodiac signs, providing a unique marketing angle connecting astrology with paint color selection.
• Sherwin-Williams Company (Parent)coreOthersValspar is a paint and coatings brand owned by The Sherwin-Williams Company. Sherwin-Williams acquired Valspar in 2017. Valspar benefits from Sherwin-Williams' extensive R&D capabilities, distribution network, and brand portfolio.
• British Coatings Federation / PaintCareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerValspar is participating in a PaintCare take-back scheme pilot in the UK West Midlands region, managed by the British Coatings Federation with waste partner Biffa. The industry-funded initiative aims to test collection models for leftover decorative paint and empty packaging with a goal of achieving 75% paint reuse and recycling by 2032.
• Lowe'scoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLowe's is the primary national retail partner for Valspar paint products in the United States. Valspar products available at Lowe's include premium lines like Valspar Reserve, Valspar Signature, Valspar Ultra, and exterior products like Valspar Defense and Valspar Duramax. The partnership includes exclusive products, promotions, and same-day delivery options.
• Independent RetailerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorValspar distributes through a network of independent paint and hardware retailers who carry different product lines than Lowe's, including Valspar Accolade, Valspar Medallion Plus, Valspar Expressions, and other offerings. Independent retailers often provide personalized color consultation services.
• Ace HardwareminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAce Hardware serves as an additional retail partner for Valspar paint products, expanding distribution accessibility for consumers.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Farrow & Ball: Farrow & Ball is a premium designer paint brand known for distinctive color palettes and designer mindshare. It competes with Valspar's premium Signature and Reserve tiers for design-conscious consumers and design professionals.

Broad incumbents

• Sherwin-Williams: Sherwin-Williams is Valspar's parent company and the largest U.S. paint manufacturer. It operates company-owned stores selling the Sherwin-Williams namesake brand directly to pros and consumers, making it both a portfolio owner and a sister-brand competitor.
• PPG Industries: PPG is a major global coatings manufacturer offering architectural paints (Glidden, Olympic, PPG Paints) alongside industrial and automotive coatings. Its consumer brands directly compete with Valspar at Home Depot, Lowe's, and independent dealers.

Direct peers

• Behr: Behr is the exclusive architectural paint brand sold at The Home Depot, the largest U.S. home improvement retailer. It is the closest direct competitor to Valspar, competing head-to-head for DIY homeowners and contractors with tiered interior/exterior paint lines.
• Benjamin Moore: Benjamin Moore is a premium architectural paint brand sold through independent retailers and designer channels. It competes with Valspar's premium tiers (Reserve, Signature, Accolade) for professional painters, designers, and design-conscious DIY consumers.
• Dutch Boy: Dutch Boy is a Sherwin-Williams-owned architectural paint brand historically sold at Walmart and independent retailers. It competes with Valspar at the value tier and overlaps in the independent retailer channel.
• Kilz: Kilz (Masco Corporation) is known for primers and specialty coatings, sold through The Home Depot and other retailers. It competes with Valspar's Prep Step and Stainblocking primer lines as well as select interior paint products.
• Olympic Paints: Olympic is a PPG-owned architectural paint and stain brand sold at Lowe's. It is a direct shelf competitor to Valspar at the same primary retailer, competing in interior, exterior, and stain categories across multiple price tiers.
• Glidden: Glidden is a PPG-owned architectural paint brand sold at The Home Depot and Walmart, competing on the value-to-mid tier. It overlaps directly with Valspar's lower-tier offerings (Valspar 2000, 4000) for price-sensitive DIY consumers.
• Rust-Oleum: Rust-Oleum (RPM International) specializes in protective and specialty coatings including paints, stains, and concrete floor coatings. It competes with Valspar's exterior stains, primers, and concrete coatings, particularly at Home Depot and Lowe's.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/ValsparPaint
• Xx.com/Valspar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Valspar