Whenever I share my favorite exterior paint colors, there is one question I get asked a lot. What’s the best white for exterior trim? There are a handful of whites that I recommend for trim colors because they have nicely-balanced undertones, and they work well with a wide range of different colors. After reading this post, you’ll have a short list of the best exterior white trim paint colors to sample, and hopefully feel more confident about your exterior paint color choices.
In general, I recommend warmer whites for an exterior white trim color. Cooler whites can look icy, and even a bit blue in natural light, whereas warm white paint colors are much more inviting and versatile. Not only do warm whites work great with other warm colors (including red brick), but they can also help enhance cooler hues, like blues and greens.
Dreaming of a white house with black trim? Check out this post to discover the best white colors and black trim options for getting this classic look.
LRV and Why it Matters
First, let’s talk a little bit about LRV (Light Reflectance Value). LRV is a measure of how light or dark a paint color is on a scale of 0 (darkest) to 100 (lightest). For exteriors, it’s important to keep the LRV below a certain value, or your paint colors will look overly bright. Like, “I can’t look at your house without sunglasses” bright.
LRV is really important when choosing exterior white paint colors. A good rule of thumb is that a white exterior trim should have an LRV less than 85. In some cases, for example if your home gets a ton of shade, you can push the LRV to 85-92. You’ll find the LRV of a paint color on the manufacturers website (often under the Details section/tab).
OK, let’s move on to the best whites for exterior trim…
#1 – Benjamin Moore White Dove
I consider BM White Dove to be the absolute best white paint color for exterior trim, and it’s my number one for a reason. White Dove has an LRV of 85, so it’s on the lighter side, but not overly bright.. It’s a warm white with greige undertones, and plays well with a wide range of different colors, including cooler grays, blues, and greens. White Dove looks like a neutral, crisp, clean white on exterior trim, and rarely ever reads too harsh or stark. If you need a white trim paint, be sure to put White Dove at the top of your list of whites to sample.
Here’s a mockup showing a cool gray with blue undertones on the body (it’s BM Coventry Gray) and BM White Dove on the trim. You can read more about this versatile white in this blog post about White Dove. Get peel-and-stick a sample of White Dove HERE.
#2 – Sherwin Williams Alabaster
Coming in at number two on my list, Sherwin Williams Alabaster (LRV of 82) is a gorgeous, bright, slightly creamy white. It’s a very popular body color for that trendy white farmhouse exterior look, but it’s also a fantastic choice for exterior trim. For my exterior paint consultation clients, Alabaster is my go-to white when I want just a hint of creaminess on the trim.
When you pair Alabaster with a soft blue or blue-gray shade, it enhances the color and the result is pure magic. It also works well as a trim color for warmer body colors, like tans and greiges. If you want just the slightest hint of creaminess in your exterior white trim paint, give Alabaster a go. Get peel-and-stick a sample of Alabaster HERE.
Here’s an example of SW Alabaster on the trim, paired with SW Granite Peak on the body.
#3 – Sherwin Williams Pure White
SW Pure White has more gray in it than the others on this list. It also has just a hint of warmth, which keeps it from looking too drab and muddy. If you’re painting your exterior a neutral gray, and you don’t want your white trim paint to have any creamy vibes, then Pure White is a great choice for you. It’s also one to consider if your home is west-facing, and you want to neutralize the effects of warm afternoon sun. Get a peel-and-stick sample of Pure White HERE.
Here’s a picture of SW Pure White on the trim, paired with SW Dorian Gray on the body.
#4 – Sherwin Williams Dover White
With its soft yellow undertones, SW Dover White is more of a creamy, ivory white. However, it has an LRV of 83, so it’s still quite bright for an exterior trim paint. Dover White is slightly brighter and creamier than SW Alabaster, and looks great with warm body colors (tans, beiges). It also pairs nicely with dark, earthy colors like browns, taupes, and greens, where a creamier white can help soften the transition between body and trim color. Also, if your home is north or east facing, you might benefit from the extra warmth of Dover White. Shop for your sample of SW Dover White HERE.
Here is SW Tavern Taupe paired with SW Dover White trim.
#5 – Sherwin Williams Natural Choice
With an LRV of 73, SW Natural Choice is the darkest of the whites on my list, with a nicely balanced creaminess to it. When should you use an off-white for your exterior trim? If you’re planning to paint the body of your home a dark gray/charcoal, chocolate brown, or a dark green, sometimes a bright white trim is just too drastic of a contrast. In that case, give Natural Choice a try to help smooth the transition. Your exterior trim will still look white, but just a bit softer. Get a peel-and-stick sample of Natural Choice HERE.
Here, I’m showing one of my favorite dark greens (SW Pewter Green) on the body with SW Natural Choice on the exterior trim.
#6 – Benjamin Moore Simply White
Simply White is a beautiful, bright, warm white that I recommend often for interiors. However, when it comes to exteriors, it’s on the cusp of being too bright with an LRV of almost 92. So, why is it on my list of whites for exterior trim?
As I mentioned in the LRV section, there are situations where you may need a brighter white for your exterior trim. If your home is heavily shaded, or is north facing, you can push the LRV of your white trim color a bit higher. If you fall into that category, Simply White is a fantastic trim option, and is one you should sample.
Here is a picture of BM Simply White trim paired with BM Revere Pewter on the body. Simply White can also work well if you want to paint your exterior off-white, and want a brighter white trim for a subtle contrast. Get a sample sheet of BM Simply White HERE.
A Few More White Exterior Trim Colors
Here are a few other white exterior paint color options that I also like and recommend, but just didn’t quite make my top 6. Check them out, and grab samples of any you think would work well with your exterior body color.
- SW Greek Villa
- SW Shoji White – also read more about Shoji White in this blog post.
- BM Swiss Coffee
- BM Linen White
- BM Dove Wing
- BM Navajo White
How to Sample Your Exterior Paint Colors
I recommend getting 2-3 samples of every color family for your exterior, and evaluating them in different lighting to see which one looks best. For example, if you’re painting your house a medium greige with white trim, choose 2-3 greige colors and 2-3 whites to try.
When sampling your colors, be sure to test them in different lighting areas of your exterior. For example, view them in the front and back of the house, and in full sun and shade
I absolutely love the peel-and-stick sample sheets from Samplize. They are inexpensive, and super easy to use. For exteriors, I recommend sticking the sample sheets onto poster board or foam board, rather than directly on your exterior. Or, you can just leave them on their backing paper. The reason for this is that they don’t always stick well to exterior surfaces. However, the generous size of Samplize sheets still make these a great option for viewing and testing color options for your exterior (especially when it comes to your front door).
Need More Help Choosing Exterior Paint Colors?
Hi Melissa,
I just love your posts, they are so helpful! We are in the midst of an exterior remodel. We have decided to paint the exterior BM Creekside Green, it’s the perfect green color that I found based on your recommendation from another blog post ‘Best BM Colors for Exteriors”. We are struggling with a trim color. We are replacing our windows with white vinyl windows. We have sampled BM White Dove and SW Alabaster. Though lovely, both of those colors are “too white” for our taste. We have also tested BM Ballet White and BM Wind’s Breath. We love both of these colors with Creekside Green. Our concern is that Ballet White or Wind’s Breath, painted next to our white vinyl windows will make the trim color look dingy? Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!
I honestly don’t think using Ballet White or Wind’s Breath as your trim color will be a problem next to white windows. I love the combination of Creekside Green with both of those softer white options, so it sounds like you’re on the right track.
Hi April,
We are thinking about painting our new siding Creekside Green, and wonder if you have any photos of your house if you are finished painting? Thanks so much.
Hi Deblane,
Our exterior remodel is almost completed. We should be able to paint in the next couple weeks if the weather holds.
We were able to paint our well house as a “test” of what Creekside Green would look like on our home. We absolutely love it! It’s a solid choice. I wasn’t able to post a picture on this thread, so my apologies. We are still struggling with a trim color. We sampled several, but all of them seemed to be a bit too yellow for our taste. We may end up with something a bit more white like SW Alabaster, Pure White or BM White Dove which was not our first choices initially.
But you can’t go wrong with Creekside Green as a body color!
April
Hi Melissa,
Thank you so much for your white trim descriptions. I am planning to paint my home exterior benjamin moore “platinum gray HC-179” — I prefer a cool crisp white trim, will this look okay or is platinum gray too muddy to pair with a cool bright white? and do you have a specific color suggestion? Decorators white? my home is north facing
Hi Melissa, We are building a Modern Farmhouse. Trying to chose exterior colors . Thinking of an off white like Shoji White for the body. The house will have white vinyl windows. Black shingles and gutters. The house will have a brick water table with greige and black peppered in. Also wood post and shutters. My trouble is visualizing what color trim would go with this combination. Trying not to make the white vinyl windows stand out too much. Any suggestions
Hi, what color shutters did you use in #5?
SW Tricorn Black
Hi Melissa, I’m looking for a recommendation for exterior white trim for colonial style home. Trim paint for pediment over front door; 2 column surrounds sides of front entry door; 4 pediments over first floor windows; Dentil molding across top of house and garage where there are two double hung windows as garages are on side. Siding, gutters and vinyl capping is almond. Front entry door and shutters are Benjamin Moore Onyx 2133-10. Windows are Pella double hung white with white grilles. House faces east with full sun for morning and early afternoon. Any white recommendation for the trim you provide will be greatly appreciated. Many thanks.
Hi Melissa, I’m looking for off white and light beige paint colors for the exterior of my house. It’s a cute craftsman style with 2 covered porches and the second floor is cedar shingle. (I’ll probably stain bc it’s too red of a brown now) I like BM Seapearl for the off white trim color, but what very slightly darker color (light beige) for the stucco first level of the house? I’m trying to go more Cape Cod beach house than Craftsman in the vibe. The whole house light and breezy. thanks, Vicki
Hi Melissa, I’m looking for off white and light beige paint colors for the exterior of my house. It’s a cute craftsman style with 2 covered porches and the second floor is cedar shingle. (I’ll probably stain bc it’s too red of a brown now) I like BM Seapearl for the off white trim color, but what very slightly darker color (light beige) for the stucco first level of the house? I’m trying to go more Cape Cod beach house than Craftsman in the vibe. The whole house light and breezy. thanks, Vicki
Sounds beautiful! Try BM Edgecomb Gray or even BM Manchester Tan for a slightly darker color that would work well with Seapearl.
Hu Melissa, I am wondering if you have written anything on white trim on a white house. I am wondering if it makes sense to use a different white and how that will enhance the house.
If you want your white trim to stand apart from the white body color, you can either use a different sheen on the trim (a satin or semi-gloss) or you can do a slightly brighter white. Otherwise, using the same white on both body and trim can give you a nice seamless look.
Hi., when you say that we might want to “Neutralize the effects of warm afternoon sun” in choosing a white trim for a West facing house, what do you mean? I am very color challenged, and I am trying to pick out a trim color for my colonial style west facing home which is a very dark gray, which I would guess is a more cool dark gray than warm. The current white trim feels so stark against the dark gray house, and when I drive up the driveway in the afternoon (when it’s in the full sun) I really notice its starkness. We inherited the house so I am not sure of exact color, but a sample of Decorator’s White is close! Can you elaborate on your recommendations for a West facing house? We are painting our trim but not our house. We also have a Black Door (which I love).
thanks!
Hi., when you say that we might want to “Neutralize the effects of warm afternoon sun” in choosing a white trim for a West facing house, what do you mean? I am very color challenged, and I am trying to pick out a trim color for my colonial style west facing home which is a very dark gray, which I would guess is a more cool dark gray than warm. The current white trim feels so stark against the dark gray house, and when I drive up the driveway in the afternoon (when it’s in the full sun) I really notice its starkness. We inherited the house so I am not sure of exact color, but a sample of Decorator’s White is close! Can you elaborate on your recommendations for a West facing house – does that mean go creamier or cooler? We are painting our trim but not our house. We also have a Black Door (which I love).
thanks!
Thanks for your question! When a house faces west, the late afternoon sun casts a warm glow on the exterior, which can make paint colors look warmer (more yellow, more beige). So, for some west-facing houses, a trim color that is more neutral will look better. For your home, if the trim looks too “stark” to you, it’s probably either too cool for your lighting, or it’s too bright. With a dark charcoal body, it’s often best to use a trim that’s a bit darker (like an off-white or light greige), rather than a bright white. Otherwise, you end up with an extreme contrast that can be almost hard to look at when the sun is shining on the house. If your trim is similar to Decorator’s White (which is a cooler white), you might want to go with a warmer white. Here’s my recommendation: if you like the brightness of your trim, but it looks too cool/gray to you, then try BM White Dove or BM Swiss Coffee. If your trim feels too bright, try something like SW Natural Choice or BM Seapearl.
Sherwin Williams Alabaster and Sherwin Williams Dover White are always are go to when it comes to exterior trim. We utilize the Alabaster when the exterior has more cool colors and we use Dover when the home has warmer colors.
When there’s so many options on the market it can be so difficult to decide, especially for DIYers.
Also, couldn’t agree more with your advice on viewing your sample colors in all kinds of different lighting. It’s amazing how different colors can look in different lighting!
Hi Melissa,
Re modeling our deck and looking for an exterior white trim paint which will look OK next to the new white vinyl railings and posts.
Would like to stay in the Shewin Williams family if possible.
Any suggestions ?
Try SW Pure White. It should blend in nicely with your new deck railings and posts, without looking too bright or stark.
Hi Melissa. We have a home in central Florida. The body of the house is SW olive grove. I’d like to find a white trim color to complement this color. We have black shutters. The front of the house faces east, so we get a lot of morning sun. What do you suggest?
SW Alabaster or SW Natural Choice are great trim options with Olive Grove.
Hello! I’m trying determine best white trim/garage door color for Sherwin Williams Sensible Hue. Which looks like a light blue/gray/green color. I tried SW Alabaster, it’s brighter than what I’m use too, but may still go for it, maybe it’s best to go brighter with the lighter body color? The Sensible hue suggests Origami white on the back of the swatch. What do you think?
Hi Melissa, wondering if you can suggest a shade of white paint for exterior trim with white siding, white windows, white oak front doors and black roof. The siding is LP SmartSide in the color Snowscape White. We would also be using the trim color on the front and back porch ceilings, which are tongue and groove. Our house is North East facing. My husband wanted me to have the trim color picked for our painter to come today (great timing to find your post!), but it’s harder than he thinks! Thank you for any input you may be able to provide
Sincerely, Kristen
The best way to match a paint color to the siding is to compare samples of each directly next to each other. Because of that, I won’t be able to give you a complete answer. However, I do know that LP SmartSide’s Snowscape White is a bright, clean white, so the first white trim colors I would start with would be SW Pure White and BM White Dove. If those are too “dark” you could try BM Simply White. I wouldn’t recommend going much brighter than that, unless your home gets a lot of shade. If that’s the case, BM Chantilly Lace might be an option, but be warned…it can be very bright on exteriors. Hope that helps!
Thank you so much, Melissa!! Not only does this help, but I can’t believe how quickly you responded! I really haven’t been sure if the trim should match the siding, be brighter, softer…Building a house has been quite the challenge to say the least, so insight like yours is extremely helpful! Between samples we’ve bought for our new build, and paints we’ve used in the past, I have all of the colors you suggested, so I will try each of them. My sincerest thanks!
Melissa
Thank you for creating such a great design resource! I have a white 1972 ranch with black shutters. I was planning to use White Dove as my base for the siding. Iron Ore for the shutters. Should I use White Dove for the windows, trim and fascia, or another white shade?
Hi Melissa, We have started painting our house exterior/trim SW Alabaster (one wall is done). My original plan was to paint the trim a lighter white, but our windows are white vinyl, and I could not find the right trim for that. What trim color would you recommend for us that goes well with Alabaster siding and white vinyl windows (Pella 250)? I appreciate your help!