9 Best Eco-Friendly Paints With Nontoxic Ingredients
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We’ve searched high and low for the safest, most eco-friendly, and sustainable VOC-free wall paints — these are our top picks.
Transforming a space into a sanctuary requires healthy and thoughtful choices. The products we choose to bring into our homes make an impact on our quality of life whether we know it or not. It’s true for the food we eat, the clothes we wear, and even the air we breathe.
Indoors, the air that surrounds us nearly 80 percent of the time isn’t always safe for people or the planet. Toxic interior paints are the culprits behind many common ailments that can affect us and our loved ones—including those furry four-legged family members. Even after paint dries, low levels of VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) can be emitted which can contribute to indoor air pollution and poor respiratory health. Eco-friendly paints are a better alternative to traditional paints as many have low-to-no VOC content, minimizing toxin exposure and improving indoor and outdoor air quality.
What makes a paint eco-friendly and non-toxic?
Describing a paint, finish, or lacquer as eco-friendly means that it doesn’t contain airborne chemicals or gases that will wreak havoc on your health. Eco-friendly paints use lower or VOC-free ingredients in their formulation as well as reduced hazardous chemicals like heavy metals and other toxins.
Volatile Organic Compounds are organic compounds that can vaporize and enter the air as gases. Paint is the leading culprit of VOC’s, with most products on the market containing them. Examples of VOC’s include benzene, formaldehyde, xylene, toluene, and ethylene glycol. Exposure to these chemicals is at its highest when paint is wet — as it dries VOC’s evaporate into the air, lasting for hours and sometimes even days. Once released into the air, VOC’s lead to poor air quality and also adverse health effects, including headaches, dizziness, visual and respiratory impairment — even memory loss. Knowing these risks, selecting an eco-friendly paint for your home can minimize the negative impacts of VOC’s on your health and the environment.
The EPA notes that the effects of VOCs are about two to five times higher indoors than outdoors, and if you’re stripping paint during a home project, studies show that it can skyrocket up to 1,000 times higher. The good news is that you can be proactive and clean up the air in your home with more than just a few potted plants and air purifiers. The use of biodegradable and renewable materials when producing and using paint also reduces the carbon footprint that most paints have, making them a more sustainable option for use in your home.
Our criteria:
Our editors have personally tested, researched, and read thousands of customer reviews to select the best nontoxic, eco-friendly, and sustainable wall paints for your home. The options on this list are all trusted brands that are committed to providing options that are safe to produce and for your home, with a low impact on the environment. We love many of the colors they offer, too. New favorites are regularly added to this list when they meet the following criteria.
- NONTOXIC | The options on this list are all no- or low-VOC and reduce the amount of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) that result from painting your home.
- ECOFRIENDLY & SUSTAINABLE | These brands prioritize natural ingredients, safe production processes, and even have give-back programs to promote a better planet for us all.
- ACCESSIBLE | We’ve included options that you can find at a nearby hardware store, others that will send swatches to your home, and affordable options so you can easily make the nontoxic choice.
Ready for a fresh start alongside your new fresh coat of paint? Here are our top picks for sustainable furniture, organic mattresses, and nontoxic rugs. (If painting is out of the question, don’t worry! You can check out these eco-friendly removable wallpapers, too.)
Best Overall | Most Colors | Best Outdoor
1. ECOS Paint
Best For | Odorless, organic paints
Colors Available | 1300+
Price | $89+ /gallon
The environmentally friendly ECOS Paint is “paint you can feel good about.” Entirely free of VOCs and odors, this USA-made brand offers a colorful selection of organic paints for interior and exterior walls (and a transparent ingredient list!). Best of all, a gallon covers 560 sq. feet, more than most traditional options. Used by the Louvre, Westminster Abbey, and the Getty Museum, these made-to-order paints mix quality and environmental consciousness like no other.
Customer Review | “I love that I can get color match on paint that doesn’t have harmful chemicals! The shopping process was easy. The paint arrived fairly fast and in wonderful packaging to ensure safety. The paint was easy to apply, covered well, and the colors are perfect!” – Kathryn M. (Read all reviews.)
2. Clare Paint
Best For | Trim paints
Colors Available | 75+
Price | $74+ /gallon
Clare Paint is dedicated to bringing designer-curated colors and environmentally-friendly paint right to your door. 100 percent of its paints are zero VOC and Greenguard Gold Certified, while its factories have low-waste production methods, recycled packaging, and water conservation systems throughout. Not sure where to start? The team offers swatch kits and the Clare Color Genius quiz to help you narrow down your options.
Customer Review | “The experience with Clare has been superb! From the palette to the stickers to speedy shipping and an outstanding product. I will NEVER return to a big box store for paint ever again!” – Haylee H. (Read all reviews.)
3. The Real Milk Paint Co.
Best For | Child-safe furniture paint
Colors Available | 52+
Price | $70 /gallon
Milk paint, made from organic milk protein, is a healthier alternative than water-based latex or oil-based paint used by many commercial options. The Real Milk Paint Co. has tons of great color options—including loose pigments so that you can blend your own custom color. The Real Milk Paint Co. has been innovating since 1995, and its time-tested formula is as biodegradable as ever. Even the waxes and finishing creams are non-VOC and odorless! Just add water, and it’ll work on raw wood, drywall, and concrete. Shop online or find a retailer near you.
Customer Review | “I’m a DIYer. I have used the real milk paint product, half and half for my kitchen counter that I made 15 years ago from salvaged pine trusses and I love everything about this product not only it is 100% natural but also the absorption and the final finish it is out of this world.” – Daniel (Read all reviews.)
4. The Organic & Natural Paint Co.
Best For | Natural paint
Colors Available | 192
Price | £79 /4 litres
The Organic & Natural Paint Co. was founded back in 2012 to help raise awareness of the importance of air quality in the family home. The founder’s family experiences genetic breathing conditions which propelled the development and production of their eco-friendly, organic, and nontoxic paints. Every single product (including their wood finishes) is VOC-free and uses natural raw ingredients in its formulation like clay, to create a ‘breathable’ paint that’s safe and functional for interior and exterior use.
Customer Review | “Excellent service. Prompt delivery and wonderful product which made painting a whole new positive experience. Would highly recommend.” – Wendy B. (Read all reviews.)
5. AFM Safecoat
Best For | Nature-inspired colors
Colors Available | 1000+
Price | Varies by seller
AFM Safecoat is dedicated to helping create healthy homes and environments through its medically approved building solutions. Each Safecoat recommended product is not only 100% VOC-free, but also completely free of HAPs (Hazardous Air Pollutants), to ensure only the cleanest products are being used when painting your space. With three paint lines to choose from, including a biophilic nature-inspired color line and an ayurvedic palette line, you’ll be excited to bring a bit of the outdoors, indoors! Find a retailer here.
6. Benjamin Moore Eco Spec
Best For | Environmentally-friendly paint
Colors Available | 3500+
Price | Varies by product
For the ‘greenest’ paint around, check out Benjamin Moore’s Eco Spec line. This 100% acrylic interior paint contains zero VOC’s and emissions—it’s also Green Seal certified for its protective limits on toxins and sustainable packaging. The brand uses a patented Gennex® colorant on its paints which offers excellent color retention while ensuring the paint remains zero-VOC even after tinting. We love the quick-drying properties of this paint and that it’s certified Asthma and Allergy Friendly for peace of mind.
Customer Review | “I only buy Benjamin Moore paint because it’s the best. The added support I get from my local store in choosing the right product and color is just another huge benefit.” – Stacey F. (Read all reviews.)
7. Behr Premium Plus
Best For | Budget-friendly paint
Colors Available | 59+
Price | $31+ /gallon
Behr Premium Plus makes our list for its budget-friendly and low-to-no VOC paint selection. Both LEED and GREENGUARD GOLD certified, these paints are extremely durable while being friendly on your wallet. Stain and mold-resistant properties within the formula will help keep your fresh paint job looking its best shape for years to come. If you’re unsure which paint line is best for your home, Behr’s VOC-free products will help you make a solid decision on what to select for your next interior paint job. You can find Behr at your local Home Depot.
Customer Review | “Ease of care – marks on walls and lasting quality! Quality of the paint – I’ve used Behr for years and will always go back to it. Love the latest innovation of the spout on the lid. Makes use and clean-up to neat and easy.” – Jane21 (Read all reviews.)
8. Backdrop
Best For | Exterior paints
Colors Available | 82
Price | $85+ /gallon
Backdrop spent a year curating 50 of the best colors for homes — and became the first climate-neutral paint company in 2020 along the way! Its line of interior and exterior colors are Green Wise certified, are low odor, and sent in a recyclable can. While Backdrop’s paints are low-VOC, we’ve included them in this list for their highly pigmented exterior paint colors and seamless selection and shipping process (many receive their orders the following day!). You’ll also find a paint calculator and essential painting supplies to tackle the job on your own, instead of paying four times the cost for professionals. From the first swatch to the final coat, you’ll be impressed with how these colors turn out.
Customer Review | “I’ve thought and reflected, but I don’t have a single complaint. The entire Backdrop experience was simple and more elegant than I expected. I ordered paint and supplies at three o’clock in the morning and it was delivered the next day. Felt like witchcraft. The paint went on beautifully, everything that I needed came in the delivery, and blissfully, I didn’t have to leave the house. I’ve painted many times in the past, but I’ve never felt like I was having a luxury experience. Already planning my next room!” – Benjamin P. (Read all reviews.)
9. Graham & Brown
Best For | One-stop shop for paint, wallpaper, and wall art
Colors Available | 260+
Price | $70+ /gallon
Graham & Brown makes it easy to coordinate your colors by offering eco-friendly wallpapers and paints to match. As a carbon-neutral company, the brand mixes your paints to order and plants trees to offset emissions. Though low-VOC, we’ve featured them on our guide for their nearly 260 water-based paint colors and wide range of finishes (including metallic and glitter topcoats). With all these options, you can be sure that Graham & Brown will have the perfect shade for your home. And if you’re not sure, you can request a color card or order a peel-and-stick sample in your favorite shade.
Customer Review | “I’ve bought this paint a couple of times now, about to move house so will need some more. Its absolutely the loveliest colour! Everyone compliments it! So rich and calming, very happy!” – EmmaCSG (Read all reviews.)
