The front door is the highest-ROI exterior paint decision a US homeowner makes, and Benjamin Moore® is the catalog that has supplied the canonical color list for the door for decades. Caliente AF-290 (Benjamin Moore Color of the Year 2018) is still the most-specified BM front door red, Hale Navy HC-154 is the most-specified BM front door navy, and Wrought Iron 2124-10 is the most-specified BM front door dark accent. Of 13,611 facade simulations rendered on FacadeColorizer in 2025-2026, the BM front door was tested on 32 US house-color combinations, generating the ranked top-15 list below. Each entry includes its LRV, approximate hex, recommended formula (Grand Entrance® versus Aura® Exterior), and the architectural style where it ranks highest.
This is a 2026 buyer guide, not a swatch dump. Below you will find the full ranked top 15, the Grand Entrance versus Aura formula decision rule (it matters more on a front door than on any other exterior surface), a color-by-house-color matrix mapping each of the 15 BM doors to white, gray, beige, blue, sage, and brown body colors, an 8-question FAQ, and a step-by-step protocol to test the shortlist on a photo of your own front entry with our exterior paint visualizer. For the cluster pillar, see front door colors for a gray house 2026; for the saturated-red sibling guide, see gray house with red front door 2026; for the navy-body-yellow-door composition, see navy blue house yellow door 2026; and for the 2026 Benjamin Moore Color of the Year hub, see Benjamin Moore Silhouette AF-655.
Upload one photo, preview Caliente, Hale Navy, Wrought Iron, and 12 more in 30 seconds. No signup.
1. The 2026 top 15 Benjamin Moore front door colors, ranked
The ranking below is composite. The frequency-of-use share is the FacadeColorizer 13,611-render dataset (2025-2026), restricted to renders where the door color was changed independently from the body. The architectural fit column is the style category where the color ranks highest by visual quality score across the same dataset.
| # | BM color | Code | LRV | Hex (approx) | Best architecture | 2026 share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Caliente | AF-290 | 9 | #A23A33 | Colonial, Cape Cod, Greek Revival | 14.2% |
| 2 | Hale Navy | HC-154 | 6 | #475866 | Coastal, Modern Farmhouse | 11.8% |
| 3 | Wrought Iron | 2124-10 | 6 | #44494C | Modern Farmhouse, Craftsman | 10.4% |
| 4 | Black Iron | 2120-20 | 3 | #393F44 | Modern, Contemporary | 8.6% |
| 5 | Heritage Red | HC-181 | 7 | #8D2D27 | Colonial, New England Cape | 7.2% |
| 6 | Cottage Red | HC-184 | 8 | #A3463B | Farmhouse, Cottage | 6.5% |
| 7 | Saybrook Sage | HC-114 | 49 | #A6AD96 | Coastal, Craftsman, Cottage | 5.9% |
| 8 | Bracken Brown | HC-78 | 14 | #5E4D40 | Craftsman, Tudor, Lodge | 4.8% |
| 9 | Newburyport Blue | HC-155 | 10 | #506779 | Coastal, Transitional | 4.2% |
| 10 | Black Forest Green | 2047-10 | 5 | #1F3530 | Tudor, English Cottage, Lodge | 3.8% |
| 11 | Bumblebee | 2018-20 | 39 | #E0AF1F | Cape Cod, Coastal accent | 3.4% |
| 12 | Million Dollar Red | 2003-10 | 7 | #9C2126 | Colonial, Federal, Townhouse | 3.1% |
| 13 | Simply White | OC-117 | 91 | #EEECE1 | Coastal, Modern Farmhouse (dark body) | 2.8% |
| 14 | Tarrytown Green | HC-134 | 17 | #46544A | Craftsman, Shingle Style | 2.4% |
| 15 | Buxton Blue | HC-149 | 53 | #A8BBC0 | Coastal, Beach Cottage | 2.1% |
Source: Benjamin Moore fan deck 2026, Affinity® and Historical Color® collections technical data sheets, FacadeColorizer 13,611-render facade dataset 2025-2026 restricted to door-only renders across 32 US house-color combinations.
Three patterns dominate the ranking. Reds occupy four of the top 12 slots (Caliente, Heritage Red, Cottage Red, Million Dollar Red), which is the most-saturated category on a Benjamin Moore front door because the brand's red pigment load is deeper than any cross-shop equivalent at the same LRV. Dark accents (navy plus charcoal-black) occupy four more (Hale Navy, Wrought Iron, Black Iron, Newburyport Blue), driven by Coastal and Modern Farmhouse. The remaining slots are split between architectural-soft picks (Saybrook Sage, Bracken Brown, Tarrytown Green, Buxton Blue) and the high-saturation accent doors (Bumblebee yellow, Simply White on dark bodies).
2. Grand Entrance versus Aura Exterior, the formula decision rule
The single largest technical decision on a Benjamin Moore front door is whether to specify the color in Grand Entrance® or Aura® Exterior. The two products are not interchangeable, they target different door substrates and different priorities.
| Attribute | Grand Entrance® | Aura® Exterior |
|---|---|---|
| Resin system | High-gloss alkyd-modified acrylic | 100% acrylic with Color Lock® |
| Sheen | High-gloss only | Flat, low-lustre, soft-gloss, semi-gloss |
| Best substrate | Smooth wood, fiberglass, primed steel doors | Wood siding, fiber cement, board-and-batten |
| Flow and levelling | Self-levelling, brush-mark-free | High build, slight brush texture |
| Color stability (UV) | Strong on reds and dark colors | Strongest on dark colors (NIR-reflective Color Lock) |
| Practical service life | 8-12 years on a covered entry | 12-15 years on full sun exposure |
| Best for | Saturated reds, dark navies, dark accents, high-gloss editorial finish | Soft architectural greens, soft sages, full-house matched-body doors |
| Specify for | Caliente, Heritage Red, Hale Navy, Wrought Iron, Black Iron, Bumblebee | Saybrook Sage, Bracken Brown, Tarrytown Green, Buxton Blue, Simply White |
Substrate fit and resin system data from the Benjamin Moore Grand Entrance and Aura Exterior technical data sheets 2025-2026. Service-life estimates assume two-coat application with appropriate primer on a properly prepared substrate.
The short rule is specify Grand Entrance for saturated reds and dark accents on a steel or fiberglass door; specify Aura Exterior for soft architectural colors or when matching trim/body. The Grand Entrance high-gloss finish amplifies depth on saturated colors (Caliente, Heritage Red, Million Dollar Red, Hale Navy, Wrought Iron), which is the reason editorial features in Coastal Living and Better Homes & Gardens almost always specify Grand Entrance for the door even when the body is in Aura. For the soft architectural colors at higher LRV (Saybrook Sage, Bracken Brown, Buxton Blue), Aura's softer finish is the better match because Grand Entrance gloss can read as "plastic" on lower-saturation colors. For a full Aura Exterior product walk-through, see our Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior review.
Side-by-side AI render in 30 seconds. Free, no signup.
3. Color-by-house-color matrix, mapping the top 15 to your facade
The matrix below maps each of the top-15 BM front door colors to the six most common US body color categories. The rating reflects average visual quality score (1 to 5) for that door against that body across the FacadeColorizer 13,611-render dataset. A "5" denotes an editorial-grade pairing, "1" denotes a clash to avoid.
| BM door color | White body | Gray body | Beige body | Blue body | Sage body | Brown body |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caliente AF-290 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Hale Navy HC-154 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Wrought Iron 2124-10 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 |
| Black Iron 2120-20 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Heritage Red HC-181 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Cottage Red HC-184 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Saybrook Sage HC-114 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| Bracken Brown HC-78 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 2 |
| Newburyport Blue HC-155 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
| Black Forest Green 2047-10 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Bumblebee 2018-20 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Million Dollar Red 2003-10 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Simply White OC-117 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Tarrytown Green HC-134 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| Buxton Blue HC-149 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 |
Rating scale: 5 = editorial-grade pairing, 4 = strong, 3 = neutral, 2 = mediocre, 1 = avoid. Composite of FacadeColorizer 13,611-render dataset, Painting Contractors Association exterior pairings 2025-2026, and editorial usage in Coastal Living, Better Homes & Gardens, and HGTV® 2024-2026.
The matrix exposes three useful patterns. First, Wrought Iron 2124-10 is the only top-5 door that scores 4 or higher across every body color in the list, which is why it is the safest "no-fail" BM dark door pick. Second, Simply White OC-117 only works on dark bodies (blue, sage, brown) plus pure gray, and it actively clashes with another white body, which makes it the most-misused color on the list. Third, Bracken Brown HC-78 is the highest-rated door on a sage body (5), ahead of any black or dark accent, and is the under-specified pick for Craftsman and Lodge architectures. For the full sage-body pairings guide, see our BM Saybrook Sage HC-114 exterior guide.
Upload your facade photo and preview the top 3 doors for your body color. Free, 30 seconds.
4. The four reds, Caliente vs Heritage Red vs Cottage Red vs Million Dollar Red
Benjamin Moore's red catalog runs deeper than any cross-shop competitor, and the difference between the four most-used front door reds is real, not cosmetic. Below is the side-by-side technical read.
| Attribute | Caliente AF-290 | Heritage Red HC-181 | Cottage Red HC-184 | Million Dollar Red 2003-10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRV | 9 | 7 | 8 | 7 |
| Hex (approx) | #A23A33 | #8D2D27 | #A3463B | #9C2126 |
| Undertone | True red, slight orange warmth | Deep brick red, brown shadow | Soft barn red, weathered cast | Pure saturated red, slight blue |
| Reads as | Modern saturated true red | Heritage brick | Vintage farm | Editorial bold red |
| Best architecture | Colonial, Cape Cod, Greek Revival | New England Cape, Federal | Farmhouse, Cottage, Rustic | Federal, Townhouse, Urban |
| Status | BM Color of the Year 2018, still top BM red | Historical Collection mainstay | Affinity Collection heritage red | Most editorial high-end red |
| Recommended formula | Grand Entrance high-gloss | Grand Entrance high-gloss | Aura Exterior soft-gloss | Grand Entrance high-gloss |
Source: Benjamin Moore Affinity, Historical Color, and Classic Color Collections technical data sheets; BM Color of the Year 2018 announcement archive; FacadeColorizer red-door render dataset 2025-2026.
The practical rule is Caliente AF-290 for the true red, Heritage Red HC-181 for the heritage brick, Cottage Red HC-184 for the soft farm look, and Million Dollar Red 2003-10 for the most saturated editorial red. Caliente remains the most flexible because LRV 9 lets it work on white, gray, and beige bodies; Million Dollar Red 2003-10 is more committed and reads strongest only on white or pure gray. For the full red door pairing matrix on a gray body, see our gray house with red front door 2026.
5. The dark accents, Wrought Iron vs Black Iron vs Black Forest Green
The dark accent door is the most-specified non-red door type on Benjamin Moore in 2026, and the three colors below cover more than 22% of the dataset combined. They are not interchangeable; the choice between them turns on body undertone and architectural era.
- Wrought Iron 2124-10 at LRV 6 is the deep charcoal-blue-black with a faint cool blue lean. The most architectural of the three, it reads as a "soft black" on most house colors and is the only true neutral in the trio. Specify Grand Entrance high-gloss on steel doors, Aura Exterior soft-gloss on wood. For the full color profile, see our Wrought Iron 2124-10 complete guide.
- Black Iron 2120-20 at LRV 3 is the deeper, near-pure-black sibling. Stronger on modern and contemporary architecture, reads as a "true black" rather than a charcoal. Grand Entrance is mandatory; Aura is acceptable on shaded north entries only. Best paired with white or pure gray bodies, struggles on warm beige.
- Black Forest Green 2047-10 at LRV 5 is the third option, a deep blackened green with brown undertone. The English Cottage and Tudor archetype, brown-body pairing rates higher than for either Wrought Iron or Black Iron (5 versus 3 to 4). Grand Entrance recommended for the depth-amplifying gloss.
The decision rule is Wrought Iron when in doubt, Black Iron when the architecture is modern or contemporary, Black Forest Green when the body or roof brings in brown undertone. For the broader exterior trim and accent overview, see our exterior trim paint colors guide 2026.
Side-by-side AI render on your actual door. Free, 30 seconds.
6. The soft picks, Saybrook Sage, Bracken Brown, Newburyport Blue, Buxton Blue
The "soft architectural" door category is the under-utilized half of the Benjamin Moore catalog. These four colors are not saturated accent statements; they are extensions of the architectural palette into the door surface. They work best on bodies where a saturated red or near-black would over-compete.
- Saybrook Sage HC-114 (LRV 49) is the soft architectural sage. Higher LRV than most "sage" categories, which is why it reads as light and architectural rather than saturated and statement. Best on cream or white bodies with stone elements. For the full Saybrook Sage walk-through, see our BM Saybrook Sage HC-114 exterior guide.
- Bracken Brown HC-78 (LRV 14) is the warm Craftsman brown door. Mahogany-leaning, with red undertone that flatters natural cedar shake siding and stained-wood trim. The strongest BM door for Craftsman, Tudor, and Lodge architectures.
- Newburyport Blue HC-155 (LRV 10) is the lighter sibling to Hale Navy. Cool gray-blue, transitional rather than coastal, reads as contemporary on transitional architecture. Best on white or pale gray bodies where Hale Navy would feel too dark.
- Buxton Blue HC-149 (LRV 53) is the soft beach-cottage blue. Very pale, almost a tinted white, works only on white bodies as a quiet "shoreline" door for beach cottages and Nantucket-style architecture.
All four are best specified in Aura Exterior soft-gloss, not Grand Entrance high-gloss, because the gloss finish would amplify saturation and break the "soft architectural" reading that defines the category.
7. The accent yellow, Bumblebee 2018-20
Benjamin Moore Bumblebee 2018-20 (LRV 39) is the signature Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard yellow door, the only saturated yellow in the top 15. It is the heritage Cape Cod accent door, paired most often with Hale Navy or Cottage Red HC-184 bodies. Specify Grand Entrance high-gloss for the saturation-amplifying finish; Aura would mute the color. Brass hardware is mandatory; black hardware reads as wrong era. For the navy-body Bumblebee composition, see our navy blue house yellow door 2026.
8. The matched-body picks, Simply White OC-117 on dark bodies
Simply White OC-117 (LRV 91) on the door is a counter-intuitive but high-rated pick when the body is dark navy, dark sage, or near-black. The white door reads as a quiet exclamation point rather than an accent, and is the canonical Coastal and Modern Farmhouse "all-white-trim" composition. Specifically not for use on a white-body facade (rated 1 on the matrix), where it produces a body-and-door uniform reading that flattens the entire elevation.
For the broader exterior color combinations reference, including the dark-body-white-door composition matrix, see our exterior house color combinations 2026 guide.
Upload one photo. Preview the Coastal all-white composition free in 30 seconds.
9. How to test the top 15 on your front door (step-by-step)
The free FacadeColorizer protocol below collapses the top-15 BM front door shortlist into a 15-minute on-photo decision rather than a $400 paint-sample-and-foamboard exercise. The physical sample step remains the authoritative final check before purchase.
Method A, the AI photo render (15 minutes, free)
- Photograph the front entry straight-on, around 10 AM or 2 PM on an overcast day. Avoid harsh midday sun (blows out saturated reds) and golden hour (warms everything artificially).
- Upload to FacadeColorizer's free AI exterior visualizer. No signup required for the first render.
- Generate the body-matching top 3 doors from the matrix in section 3. For a gray body, that means Caliente, Hale Navy, and Wrought Iron; for a white body, Caliente, Hale Navy, and Black Iron; for a sage body, Bracken Brown, Wrought Iron, and Simply White.
- Add one wild-card from the soft picks (Saybrook Sage, Newburyport Blue) or the accent yellow (Bumblebee). The wild-card test prevents anchoring on the obvious choice.
- Rank the 4 outputs by visual quality. Select the top 2 for the physical sample step.
Method B, the physical sample (2 days, ~$20)
- Buy one Benjamin Moore Color Sample pint for each of the top-2 shortlisted colors (~$10 each).
- Roll two coats on a 12" x 12" sealed cardboard sample, 24 hours between coats. Use a small foam roller for a finish closer to the final door surface.
- Tape each sample to the actual door, at eye level on the lock side. Test in 9 AM, 1 PM, and 6 PM light. Photograph each session.
- Commit only after the 6 PM observation. Saturated reds and dark accents read very differently in low evening light; a color that reads "right" at noon can read "muddy" or "loud" at sunset.
10. Frequently asked questions
What is the most popular Benjamin Moore front door color in 2026?
Caliente AF-290 is the most-specified Benjamin Moore front door color in 2026, holding 14.2% of all BM front door renders in the FacadeColorizer 13,611-render dataset. Caliente was the Benjamin Moore Color of the Year 2018, and it has remained the top BM door red because LRV 9 with a slight orange warmth makes it flexible across Colonial, Cape Cod, and Greek Revival architectures on white, gray, and beige bodies.
Should I use Benjamin Moore Grand Entrance or Aura Exterior on my front door?
Grand Entrance for saturated reds (Caliente, Heritage Red, Million Dollar Red), dark navies (Hale Navy), and dark accents (Wrought Iron, Black Iron, Black Forest Green, Bumblebee yellow) where the high-gloss finish amplifies depth. Aura Exterior for soft architectural colors (Saybrook Sage, Bracken Brown, Newburyport Blue, Buxton Blue) and matched-body doors (Simply White on a dark body) where the softer finish prevents the color from reading as plastic. Both products are sold at any Benjamin Moore dealer.
Is Caliente AF-290 the same red as Heritage Red HC-181?
No. Caliente AF-290 is a modern true red at LRV 9 with a slight orange warmth; Heritage Red HC-181 is a deeper brick red at LRV 7 with a brown shadow. Caliente reads as contemporary saturated red, Heritage Red reads as heritage brick. Both are mainstays of the Benjamin Moore red door catalog, but they are not substitutes. Choose Caliente for Colonial and Cape Cod on white or gray bodies; choose Heritage Red for Federal architecture or to match an existing brick chimney or pathway.
What is the closest Benjamin Moore equivalent to Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black for a door?
Two BM options sit in the same range. Black Iron 2120-20 at LRV 3 is the closer near-pure-black sibling; Wrought Iron 2124-10 at LRV 6 is the softer, more architectural charcoal-black with a faint blue undertone. Wrought Iron is the more popular BM front door choice (10.4% of dataset) because it reads as less "harsh" than Tricorn Black on traditional architecture. Any Sherwin-Williams® store will spectrophotometer-match either BM color to SW Emerald® or Duration® at 95-97% accuracy if you prefer the SW product line.
What BM front door color works on a sage green house?
Bracken Brown HC-78 is the highest-rated BM front door on a sage body, scoring 5 out of 5 on the matrix. The warm mahogany-leaning brown amplifies the architectural softness of the sage without competing for visual weight. Secondary picks: Wrought Iron 2124-10 (5 of 5, the no-fail dark accent) and Simply White OC-117 (4 of 5, the quiet all-architectural composition). Avoid Caliente AF-290 or any saturated red, which clashes against the sage body's green undertone.
Does a Benjamin Moore front door color need a primer?
Yes on raw or stripped wood, fiberglass, and bare steel. Benjamin Moore Grand Entrance and Aura Exterior both perform best on a primed substrate, and saturated reds (Caliente, Heritage Red, Million Dollar Red) in particular show coverage issues without a tinted gray primer underneath. The standard recommendation is Benjamin Moore Fresh Start® Premium Interior/Exterior Primer tinted to a gray P2 or P3 base for reds, and to a P1 base for soft architectural colors. Two finish coats over primer is the canonical specification.
How long does a Benjamin Moore front door color last before refresh?
Grand Entrance high-gloss holds editorial color depth for 8-12 years on a covered or partially shaded entry, and 5-8 years on a south or west-facing fully exposed entry. Aura Exterior soft-gloss holds for 12-15 years on full sun exposure thanks to the Color Lock® NIR-reflective technology. The first sign of fade on a saturated red door (Caliente, Heritage Red, Million Dollar Red) is a slight shift toward orange-brown; refresh before that shift becomes visible to avoid stripping and re-priming.
Are these BM front door colors HOA-compliant?
Most US HOAs allow the soft architectural picks (Saybrook Sage, Bracken Brown, Newburyport Blue, Buxton Blue, Simply White) without variance approval, because they read as neutrals. The saturated picks (Caliente, Heritage Red, Bumblebee yellow, Hale Navy, Wrought Iron) often require submission and approval where covenants restrict accent colors to "subdued tones." Always check your specific HOA design guidelines before purchase. The 2026 trend, especially in coastal and East Coast HOAs, is toward broader pre-approval of the historical reds (Caliente, Heritage Red) and the historical navies (Hale Navy), tracking the editorial mainstream.
Test the top 15 Benjamin Moore front door colors on your home photo. 1 HD render + 3 trim variations, no signup.
Bottom line. Caliente AF-290, Hale Navy HC-154, and Wrought Iron 2124-10 are the top three Benjamin Moore front door colors in 2026 by frequency of use across 13,611 facade simulations, and the three of them combined cover 36.4% of all BM front door specifications. Heritage Red HC-181, Cottage Red HC-184, and Black Iron 2120-20 round out the saturated top six; Saybrook Sage HC-114, Bracken Brown HC-78, and Newburyport Blue HC-155 carry the soft architectural category. The right formula matters as much as the right color: Grand Entrance high-gloss for saturated reds and dark accents, Aura Exterior soft-gloss for soft architectural picks and matched-body doors. Test on a photo of your own entry first, then validate with a Color Sample pint on a 12" x 12" cardboard sample before ordering the door gallon. Authoritative outbound references: the official Benjamin Moore front door paint page, the HGTV best front door paint colors gallery, and the Better Homes & Gardens front door color ideas reference.
Trademark notice. Benjamin Moore®, Caliente®, Hale Navy®, Wrought Iron®, Black Iron®, Heritage Red®, Cottage Red®, Saybrook Sage®, Bracken Brown®, Newburyport Blue®, Black Forest Green®, Bumblebee®, Million Dollar Red®, Simply White®, Tarrytown Green®, Buxton Blue®, Grand Entrance®, Aura®, Color Lock®, Fresh Start®, Affinity®, and Historical Color® are trademarks of Benjamin Moore & Co. Sherwin-Williams®, Tricorn Black®, Emerald®, and Duration® are trademarks of The Sherwin-Williams Company. HGTV® is a trademark of Discovery Communications, LLC. FacadeColorizer is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Benjamin Moore & Co., Sherwin-Williams, HGTV, or Better Homes & Gardens. References to brand and product names are made for descriptive and editorial purposes only, consistent with nominative fair use under the Lanham Act (15 U.S.C. § 1125). Color hex and LRV values are approximate digital renderings; the only authoritative reference is a physical Benjamin Moore Color Sample applied per manufacturer instructions.
