Benjamin Moore Aura paint typically costs about $75-$115 per gallon, with an average near $95 before tax; a five-gallon-equivalent purchase can put paint materials around $375-$575. The full price of an Aura painting project depends on the product line, number of coats, wall condition, paint color, labor rates, and whether preparation or old-paint removal is needed.
| Item | Low | Average | High | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aura paint, 1 gallon | $75 | $95 | $115 | Retail price varies by product, color, and dealer |
| Aura paint, 5 gallons | $375 | $475 | $575 | Approximate total at the per-gallon rate |
| Paint for a typical room | $150 | $285 | $460 | About 2-4 gallons, excluding labor |
| Professional interior painting | $2.50 | $4.50 | $7.50 | Per sq ft of paintable wall area, including labor and standard materials |
What Benjamin Moore Aura Paint Costs Per Gallon
Aura is a premium Benjamin Moore paint line, so its price per gallon is substantially higher than many standard interior paints. A practical U.S. budget is $75-$115 per gallon, with about $95 a common planning figure for a standard Aura interior product. Actual shelf prices depend on the dealer, finish, package size, local pricing, and color formulation.
Aura includes different products, including interior, exterior, and Bath & Spa formulations. The intended surface and product type matter: do not assume that one gallon price applies to every Aura product. Some specialty finishes or less common colors may cost more, and dealer promotions or account pricing may bring a quote below the typical range.
For coverage planning, manufacturers commonly list coverage around 350-400 sq ft per gallon under suitable conditions. Two coats therefore require roughly one gallon per 175-200 sq ft of finished surface, before allowing for waste, porous surfaces, or touch-ups. A gallon covers less when the wall absorbs paint or the color change calls for extra coats.
For a straightforward estimate, use $85-$105 per gallon and verify the exact Aura product and finish with the local dealer.
Assumptions: U.S. retail pricing before tax; ordinary colors and standard gallon containers; local dealer pricing may differ.
How Aura Interior Paint Raises a Room Repaint Quote
Paint is only one part of a professional estimate. Labor, surface preparation, masking, and the number of coats can cost more than the Aura product itself. The table uses a representative 12-by-12-foot room with roughly 400 sq ft of wall surface, two coats, standard ceiling height, and walls in reasonable condition.
| Quote component | Typical price | Basis | What changes the charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aura paint | $190-$285 | 2-3 gallons at $85-$95 | Coverage, finish, color, and coats |
| Labor | $400-$850 | About 8-14 hours | Prep work, trim, access, and local rates |
| Supplies and masking | $40-$120 | Room-level allowance | Drop cloths, tape, rollers, and patching materials |
| Repair or primer | $0-$250 | As needed | Stains, damaged drywall, or major color changes |
| Estimated room total | $630-$1,505 | Paint and standard labor | Trim, ceiling, furniture moving, and repairs may be extra |
Contractors may quote by room, by day, or by paintable square foot. Wall-area pricing of roughly $2.50-$7.50 per sq ft can include paint and labor, but the scope must be checked: some quotes exclude trim, ceilings, repairs, or premium paint. An hourly labor rate of $40-$75 and 8-14 hours would yield $320-$1,050 before materials, depending on the crew and work included.
Ask whether the estimate includes two coats, Aura paint, wall repairs, trim, and cleanup before comparing totals.
Does Aura’s Finish, Coverage, or Color Change the Price?
Finish selection usually affects the paint price less than product line and color, but it still matters to the estimate. Aura interior options include finishes such as matte, eggshell, satin, and semi-gloss, with availability varying by product. A dealer can confirm the price for the specific finish and base; bathroom or exterior formulations should not be substituted for interior wall paint without checking the intended use.
Color and surface conditions can change how much paint a job consumes. A deep color, a strong change from dark to light, or a highly porous new surface can require additional material or a primer. If a room needs a third coat, a 400-sq-ft wall area may take roughly three gallons rather than two, adding around $85-$105 for one extra gallon before labor.
Size is another direct cost driver. For a 1,000-sq-ft wall area receiving two coats, coverage of 350-400 sq ft per gallon per coat implies about 5-6 gallons, plus a reserve for waste and touch-ups. At $85-$105 a gallon, the paint allowance is around $425-$630. Textured walls, patched areas, and application losses can push it higher.
Calculate gallons from paintable surface area and coats, not room floor area alone.
Assumptions: Two coats; typical coverage conditions; no major primer requirement; paintable area excludes windows and doors.
How Much Does Professional Aura Painting Labor Add?
Professional labor commonly adds about $400-$850 to repaint the walls of an uncomplicated bedroom, while a larger or detail-heavy room can exceed $1,000 in labor. Rates vary with location and crew structure; a planning range of $40-$75 per painter-hour is useful, but many contractors price a fixed scope rather than bill hourly.
A basic room may take one painter about 8-14 hours for protection, minor patching, cutting in, rolling two coats, and cleanup. High ceilings, extensive trim, furniture that must be moved, and repairs can extend the schedule. A two-person crew may finish sooner on the clock, but the total labor charge does not necessarily fall because two workers are being paid.
Exterior Aura work is usually priced differently from an interior room. House height, siding condition, ladder or lift access, scraping, caulking, and weather protection all affect crew time. An exterior quote should identify preparation and the surface area rather than applying an interior wall rate to the whole home.
Preparation and detail work—not simply the cost of premium paint—often explain the largest labor differences between quotes.
Aura Paint Quotes Across U.S. Markets
Paint prices and painting labor vary by market. As a broad comparison, major coastal cities and high-cost metro areas can run about 10%-25% above a national planning estimate for professional labor. Smaller towns and lower-cost regions may come in roughly 5%-15% below it, though contractor availability and local demand can reverse that pattern.
For example, a room estimate of $900-$1,300 in a mid-cost market might land near $1,000-$1,625 in a high-cost city if labor and overhead rise by 10%-25%. In a lower-cost area, a comparable scope might be closer to $765-$1,235 using a 15% reduction. Those comparisons are directional, not guaranteed local prices; the same Aura gallon can also have different dealer pricing by market.
Urban parking, building access, elevator restrictions, and limited work hours can add time. In rural areas, travel distance or a contractor’s minimum charge can offset lower hourly rates. Get itemized local quotes using the same paint product, wall area, coat count, and preparation requirements.
Compare local estimates on identical scope rather than relying on a national per-room average.
Three Aura Paint Budgets for Rooms and Exteriors
These examples show how material and labor add up under different conditions. They are planning estimates, not fixed contractor rates, and assume standard access with no major drywall replacement or extensive lead-safe work.
| Project | Paint quantity and price | Labor and prep | Estimated total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small bedroom walls, 300 sq ft, two coats | 2 gallons, $170-$210 | $350-$650 | $520-$860 |
| Large living room walls, 650 sq ft, two coats | 4 gallons, $340-$420 | $650-$1,200 | $990-$1,620 |
| Exterior siding, 1,500 sq ft, two coats | 8-10 gallons, $680-$1,050 | $2,000-$4,500 | $2,680-$5,550 |
The small-bedroom example allows for coverage variation and a modest paint reserve. The living room estimate excludes ceiling and trim painting. The exterior example assumes accessible siding in fair condition; extensive scraping, repairs, scaffolding, or a difficult color change can raise the labor and material allowance.
Exterior gallons should be estimated from actual siding area and the selected Aura exterior product’s label coverage. Windows, doors, siding texture, and existing coating condition change usable coverage. A contractor may also recommend primer for bare wood or repairs even if the finish paint is Aura.
For a reliable quote, have the contractor state the measured surface area, expected gallons, coat count, and included prep.
Aura Compared With Regal Select and Other Premium Paints
Aura is positioned at the high end of Benjamin Moore’s paint range. A rough retail comparison places Aura around $75-$115 per gallon, while other premium lines such as Regal Select may often fall near $60-$90 per gallon, depending on product and dealer. Less expensive interior paints can be substantially lower, but comparison should account for intended use, coverage, finish, and project requirements.
On a 10-gallon job, choosing a product that is $20 less per gallon can save about $200 in paint. It does not automatically reduce labor, and switching products can change coverage or the recommended application process. A contractor may also include a particular paint in a labor-and-material quote, so the product name and quantity should be written into the estimate.
DIY painting avoids hired labor but still involves tools, protection, surface preparation, and time. Rollers, brushes, trays, tape, drop cloths, patching compound, and primer can add roughly $50-$200 for a small room if supplies are not already available. For tall exterior walls or extensive repairs, equipment and safety needs can make professional work more practical to price.
Compare the total project cost, not just the per-gallon difference between Aura and a less expensive paint.
Where Can Buyers Trim an Aura Paint Budget?
The most direct saving is to measure carefully and buy only the quantity needed for the planned coats, while retaining enough paint for touch-ups. Avoid ordering extra gallons based solely on floor area. Ask the dealer or painter to estimate paintable wall area, expected coverage, and any allowance for porous surfaces or color changes.
Scope control can reduce labor more than switching paint brands. Painting walls only, leaving sound trim untouched, and moving furniture before the crew arrives can reduce billed time. Combining rooms in one visit may also avoid separate minimum charges, especially when a contractor has a small-job minimum or a travel fee.
Walls in good condition may need only cleaning and small patches, while peeling paint, water stains, or damaged drywall call for specific repairs. Ask the contractor to separate optional repairs from necessary preparation. Skipping required prep can lead to poor adhesion or an uneven finish, so savings should come from removing unneeded work rather than omitting essential surface treatment.
For a color that closely matches the existing wall, ask whether two coats are still included and whether a primer is genuinely required. Compare at least two or three written quotes with the same Aura product, finish, number of coats, wall area, and included repairs. A lower quote is not equivalent if it uses a different paint line or excludes masking and cleanup.
Keep Aura where its specified performance matters, but control measured area, unnecessary add-ons, and avoidable labor time.
Assumptions: Pricing is a broad U.S. estimate before sales tax; dealer prices and contractor rates vary by location, season, and project conditions.