Sherwin-Williams Cashmere Paint Review: Sheens and Specs

Sherwin-Williams Cashmere is the company's interior acrylic latex line, sold as paint and primer in one. The product page calls it an ultra-smooth paint with a silky finish, and the data sheets back that up with published numbers: 350 to 400 square feet per gallon at 4 mils wet, a 1-hour touch time, a 4-hour recoat window at 77°F and 50% relative humidity, and VOC below 50 g/L. This review uses Sherwin-Williams' published figures and two government sources, shows what those numbers mean for a room, and places Cashmere among the other interior lines.

Two limits first. Cashmere is not Gray Cashmere, a Benjamin Moore color that this page does not cover. And the technical figures come from three Sherwin-Williams data sheets, for the Flat, Low Lustre and Eg-Shel sheens. We did not check a data sheet for the other two sheens or for the competing lines, so we do not compare their numbers.

What Sherwin-Williams says Cashmere is

The homeowner product page describes Cashmere as an ultra-smooth acrylic latex that glides on and dries to a silky, rich finish. It is marketed as "Cashmere interior paint and primer in one." The data sheet repeats the same family of claims: "Paint and Primer in one," "Outstanding coverage and hide," and "Scrubbable for easy cleaning and maintenance." It also describes a "silky, low-stipple appearance that looks good from all angles."

Two of those claims need a closer look. "Scrubbable" is the company's own word. Neither the homeowner page nor the flat data sheet gives a scrub-test standard, a cycle count or a result. Second, the homeowner page shows a "Lifetime Limited Warranty" label but no warranty text, so read the written warranty before you count on it.

The five sheens on the product page

Sherwin-Williams lists five finishes for Cashmere. The table gives the company's description, the gloss reading from the matching data sheet where we found one, and whether we checked that sheet.

Eg-Shel is the sheen the page recommends for walls. Flat is the one it describes as helping hide surface imperfections. Medium Lustre is its choice for doors and trim, and we did not check that sheet, so this review does not recommend Cashmere for trim on the basis of any number.

Gloss is measured at a stated angle, so compare readings only at the same angle. The Low Lustre sheet gives two readings, 5 to 15 units at 60 degrees and 35 to 45 units at 85 degrees, and both belong to that one sheen.

Published technical data, sheet by sheet

The three data sheets share their coverage, drying and VOC figures. They differ on volume solids, weight per gallon and vehicle type. The Flat sheet is dated 07/2023, and the Low Lustre and Eg-Shel sheets are dated 12/2024.

Volume solids is the share of the paint that stays on the wall as dry film, and the sheets give it with a tolerance of plus or minus 2 percent. For planning a job, use the coverage line rather than the solids figure.

The drying figures are the same on all three sheets: touch-dry in 1 hour and recoat at 4 hours, at 77°F and 50% relative humidity. The sheets add that drying and recoat times depend on temperature, humidity and film thickness, so plan the second coat by the recoat window and allow more time in a cooler or damper room.

All three sheets state VOC below 50 grams per liter, or 0.42 pounds per gallon, citing the federal rule at 40 CFR 59.406. They also list compliance with CARB SCM 2007 and CARB SCM 2020. CARB describes its Suggested Control Measure for architectural coatings as a model rule that California air districts can adopt. A low VOC figure says how much solvent the paint carries, not how it will look or wear.

Coverage: how much paint a room takes

Sherwin-Williams gives coverage as 350 to 400 square feet per gallon at 4 mils wet, which dries to about 1.6 mils. That is a film thickness, not a promise for every surface. Rough, porous or unprimed surfaces can take more paint than the figure suggests, so plan with the bottom of the range.

Here is our own calculation, which is not a Sherwin-Williams figure. A 12 by 12 foot room with 8-foot walls has a wall perimeter of 48 feet, which gives 384 square feet of wall before doors and windows. Two coats cover 768 square feet. At 350 to 400 square feet per gallon, that is 1.9 to 2.2 gallons before you subtract the openings. Subtract the door and windows, and the figure falls.

The specifier page lists flat containers in both 1 gallon and 5 gallons, with examples such as Flat High Reflective White in 1 gallon and Flat Deep Base in 5 gallons.

Surface prep and the primer question

The "paint and primer in one" claim has conditions. The flat data sheet gives a route for each surface, and the route depends on what is on the wall today:

• New drywall: two coats of Cashmere on its own, or one coat of Premium Wall & Wood Primer and then two coats of Cashmere.
• Previously painted walls: one to two coats of Cashmere, once the surface is sound.
• Wood trim: one coat of Premium Wall & Wood Primer and then two coats of Cashmere. If the wood bleeds, such as tannin or knot holes, prime with Multi-Purpose Primer.
• Bare plaster: one coat of Loxon Concrete & Masonry Primer and then two coats of Cashmere. Textured, soft, porous or powdery plaster is first treated with one pint of household vinegar to one gallon of clean water, repeated until the surface is hard, then rinsed and dried.

The sheet adds two points for a repaint. A drastic color change needs a coat of primer to improve the hiding of the topcoat. And two coats at the recommended film thickness can help where hiding a previous coating, or new drywall, is a factor. On prep, existing peeled or checked paint should be scraped and sanded to a sound surface, glossy surfaces sanded dull, and stains from water, smoke, ink, pencil or grease sealed with a primer-sealer. The sheet notes that prep short of removing the old coating may compromise the service life of the system.

Lead paint in homes built before 1978

If the house was built before 1978, the walls may carry lead paint. The flat data sheet warns that scraping, sanding or removing old paint can release lead dust and points readers to the EPA lead guidance. The EPA says known information about lead-based paint must be disclosed before renting or buying a home built before 1978. It also says firms doing renovation, repair and painting work that disturbs lead-based paint in those homes must be trained and certified in lead-safe work practices.

Mildew and bathrooms

The data sheets we read do not claim that Cashmere resists mildew. Their mildew section covers cleaning existing mildew before painting. It says to test any cleaner on a small, inconspicuous area, then wash the mildewed area with one part liquid bleach to three parts clean water, leave it for 10 minutes and rinse. It also warns that bleach can discolor existing paint films. If mildew resistance is the reason you are buying, check the data sheet of the exact sheen you plan to use, not the general claim on a product page.

Application, tools and storage

• Temperature: apply above 50°F.
• Mixing: make sure the product is completely agitated, mechanically or by hand, before use.
• Brush: a nylon-polyester brush. The Low Lustre sheet names a Purdy Clearcut as its example.
• Roller: a 3/8 to 3/4 inch nap synthetic cover.
• Airless spray: 2000 psi with a .017 to .021 inch tip.
• Touch-ups: the sheets say the same application method and batch as the original coat help the touch-up blend. If the original was sprayed, running the touch-up paint through the spray tip helps.
• Cleanup: clean spills, hands and tools right away with soap and warm clean water. Flush spray equipment with a compliant cleanup solvent to prevent rust.
• Storage: 36 months unopened. Protect from freezing.
• Use: interior use only, according to the sheets.

Where Cashmere fits, and where it does not

Sherwin-Williams gives each sheen a job, and that split is the first place to start. The data-sheet limits sit next to it.

• Walls in busy rooms: Eg-Shel, which the page recommends for walls and says holds up better to cleaning.
• Walls where imperfections show: Flat, which the page describes as helping hide surface imperfections. Its gloss reading is 3 to 6 units at 85 degrees.
• Doors and trim: the page points to Medium Lustre. We did not check that sheet.
• Bathrooms and damp rooms: the sheets make no mildew-resistance claim. Compare the mildew statement on each product's sheet before you decide.
• Cabinets: the sheets cover drywall, plaster, wood and masonry. They give no cabinet guidance.
• Deep colors: the colorant ranges rise from the white bases to Deep Base and Ultradeep Base, and a primer step helps a large change from the old color.

Cashmere next to Emerald, Duration Home and SuperPaint

The usual question is how Cashmere compares with Emerald, Duration Home and SuperPaint. We did not check official data sheets for those three in this review, so their numbers do not appear next to Cashmere's. Third-party tables list figures for them, but none is a manufacturer sheet, so we left those figures out.

The checklist below works for any two Sherwin-Williams interior sheets. The middle column holds the Cashmere Flat figures. The right column says where to read the same field on the other sheet.

For the Emerald side, read our Sherwin-Williams Emerald paint review. For the wider Sherwin-Williams interior range, start with the Sherwin-Williams interior paint colors guide. If you are weighing Sherwin-Williams against Benjamin Moore, our Sherwin-Williams vs Benjamin Moore interior comparison covers both brands.

Tinting and color choice

The sheets list SherColor as the colorant for every base. The flat sheet lists Hi Reflective White, Extra White, Deep Base and Ultradeep Base as tint bases. Deep Base takes 4 to 12 ounces of colorant per gallon and Ultradeep Base 10 to 12 ounces, while the white bases take 0 to 6 or 0 to 7 ounces. The Low Lustre sheet gives the same Deep Base and Ultradeep Base ranges. The base you start from therefore sets how much colorant goes in.

For color direction, our Comfort Gray 6205 undertones guide and Realist Beige 6078 undertones guide cover two neutrals in detail, and the sheen and surface advice above applies to whichever color you pick.

Price: what the page shows today

When we checked the homeowner product page on November 4, 2026, it showed no price and asked the visitor to register or sign in to confirm pricing and availability. This article therefore gives no price. We did not want to publish a figure we could not trace to a Sherwin-Williams source, and a store or account price can differ from any list figure. Ask for the current price before you set a budget, and work the paint quantity from the coverage figures above.

Our verdict on Cashmere

Cashmere fits when you want a smooth, silky finish, a product the company markets as paint and primer for the right surfaces, and a sheen chosen by wall type. It is a weaker fit when mildew resistance is the goal, because the sheets do not claim it. It is not the page's answer for trim, where Sherwin-Williams points to Medium Lustre. Choose the sheen from the table, follow the primer route for your surface, and confirm the color on your own wall before you buy the full order. Our interior paint visualizer is built for interior walls, so you can test a shortlist on a room photo first.

Disclaimer: Sherwin-Williams, Cashmere, Emerald, Duration Home and SuperPaint are trademarks of The Sherwin-Williams Company. Benjamin Moore is a trademark of Benjamin Moore and Co. FacadeColorizer is an independent paint visualization service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Sherwin-Williams or Benjamin Moore. Data sheet figures are as published on the dates shown and may change, so check the current sheet before you buy. Screen colors approximate the manufacturer's chip, so confirm with a physical sample.

Sources and references

• Sherwin-Williams, Cashmere Interior Acrylic Latex, homeowner product page: sheen names and descriptions, the paint and primer claim, the scrubbable wording, the warranty label and the sign-in prompt for pricing (checked 4 November 2026).
• Sherwin-Williams, Cashmere Interior Acrylic Latex, specifier page: example SKUs for flat containers in 1 and 5 gallons, and the link to the product data sheet.
• Sherwin-Williams, Cashmere Interior Acrylic Flat Enamel, D16-150 Series, product data sheet (07/2023): coverage, touch and recoat times, volume solids, VOC, primer routes, surface preparation, application, tinting and cleanup.
• Sherwin-Williams, Cashmere Interior Acrylic Low Lustre, D17-150/250 Series, product data sheet (12/2024): volume solids, weight per gallon, the two gloss readings and the MPI listing.
• Sherwin-Williams, Cashmere Interior Latex Eg-Shel, D19-50/150 Series, product data sheet (12/2024): vinyl acrylic vehicle, volume solids, gloss reading and MPI listing.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Lead: disclosure for homes built before 1978 and certification for renovation, repair and painting work.
• California Air Resources Board, Architectural Coatings: the Suggested Control Measure is a model rule that California air districts can adopt.