Behr Dynasty vs Marquee: Is the Upgrade Worth it?

Behr Marquee is well-known among DIY painters. This high-quality paint-and-primer combination has been on the market for over ten years. Offering extreme durability in fewer coats of paint, it’s no wonder Behr Marquee is a popular choice among homeowners.

Behr Dynasty, released in 2022, has many of the same qualities as Behr Marquee. The new combination paint-and-primer offers a few upgrades at a higher price.

Should DIY painters stick with Behr Marquee or spring for Dynasty? Read on to see when to choose Behr Dynasty vs Marquee.

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Behr Dynasty vs Marquee

Until Dynasty was released, Behr Marquee was the company’s most expensive premium paint product. While some DIY painters initially balked at the high price, many more were sold on Marquee’s quality.

Behr Marquee is best known for its one-coat guarantee. While the guarantee only covers certain applications, there’s no denying the paint-and-primer’s amazing coverage. Behr Marquee doesn’t require a separate primer even in tricky situations, like painting over dark walls with a lighter color. Many DIYers felt Marquee’s efficiency was well worth the price tag.

Behr Marquee’s newest competitor is its successor: Behr Dynasty. Behr Dynasty has all the same premium features as Marquee, plus a few upgrades. It’s also more expensive. Dynasty averages about seven dollars more per gallon than Behr Marquee.

Are the upgrades worth the extra investment? Let’s break it down.

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High Traffic Areas

The biggest difference between Behr Dynasty and Marquee is Dynasty’s scuff and mar resistance. Behr’s newest paint line includes additives that make the paint and color more durable. In high traffic areas, that’s a huge plus.

It’s hard to keep frequently-used rooms looking clean. In rooms that see a lot of foot traffic, walls and trim see a lot of dirt and wear. It’s especially frustrating–and common–to see this daily wear and tear become permanent scuffs, scratches, and discoloration. Behr Dynasty offers a solution for that, and many homeowners may feel it’s well worth the expense.

Remember, high traffic means more than just foot traffic. Think of areas behind a shoe rack, next to a toy box, or under a laundry chute. Imagine being able to wipe these down with just a little soap and water–if they get scuffed at all!

It’s important to note that scuff and mar resistance refers to new marks on the dried paint. If you’re painting over pre-existing stains, there’s no difference between Behr Dynasty and Marquee. Both paints are considered stain-blocking, so you can count on full coverage over watermarks, crayon murals, and repairs.

If your concern is the paint’s durability against future stains, however, Behr Dynasty will offer more protection vs Marquee. Bottom line: Dynasty is the way to go to keep busy areas looking clean and freshly painted.

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Apply With Ease

Because of the additives, Behr Dynasty is slightly less thick and sticky than Marquee. If you’re a beginning painter or prefer thinner paint, Dynasty might be a better bet than Marquee.

Keep in mind that the thinner consistency doesn’t mean less coverage. Behr Marquee and Dynasty both have a higher percentage of volume solids than comparable brands. Volume solids are the components of the paint that won’t evaporate after drying.

Behr Dynasty has a slightly lower percentage of volume solids vs Marquee, which makes the paint thinner straight out of the can. However, after drying on the wall, both Marquee and Dynasty will be thicker and more durable than other brands.

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Exterior Applications

There are many advantages to using Behr’s paint-and-primer products for exterior projects. Both Marquee and Dynasty exterior paints allow you to skip using a separate primer. In limited circumstances, you can even get away with one-coat coverage. That’s a big savings in terms of time and effort.

Until recently, Behr Dynasty was only available as interior paint, while Marquee was available in interior and exterior. If you were considering Behr Dynasty or Marquee for an exterior project, Marquee would have been the clear winner. However, in April of 2023, Dynasty also released its exterior paint line.

Exterior Behr Dynasty paint has one significant upgrade over Marquee’s exterior line. Dynasty offers an Exterior Color Fade Protection Palette. These hues have a ten-year color fade protection guarantee. While two coats are required for this application, long-term fade resistance is a big bonus in exterior painting.

However, Marquee also has exceptional fade resistance. While it doesn’t come with a ten-year guarantee, Marquee’s UV protection still makes it more durable than competitors’.

In all other respects, there isn’t much of a difference when considering Behr Dynasty or Marquee exterior paint. Both can be applied in temperatures between thirty-five and ninety degrees Fahrenheit. Only sixty minutes of dry time is needed before either paint can stand up to rain. And with coverage of 250 to 400 square feet per gallon, both Marquee and Dynasty deliver quality in quantity.

With so many similarities, is investing in Marquee for your exterior painting worthwhile? In our opinion, no. Dynasty’s exterior paint is even more pricey than its interior paint. You’ll pay an average of ten dollars more per gallon for exterior paint if you go with Dynasty over Marquee.

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Paint Sheen

Marquee is available in a range of paint sheens. Marquee interior paint is available in matte, eggshell, satin, and semi-gloss. Marquee exterior paint is available in flat, satin, and semi-gloss finishes.

Behr Dynasty offers fewer paint sheen options vs Marquee. Until recently, it was only available as an interior paint, and only in three sheens: matte, eggshell, and semi-gloss. The newly-released Dynasty Exterior paint is available in flat, satin, and semi-gloss, just like Marquee.

Matte or flat paint is a stylistic choice with several disadvantages. Decorators love this velvety finish for deep, saturated colors. Without any shine whatsoever, matte and flat paints appear richer.

However, keeping a matte-painted wall clean is another matter. Even in low-traffic rooms, flat paints aren’t very durable. Simply wiping fingerprints off the wall can remove some of the paint, leaving a chalky appearance. If any drywall repairs are needed, the whole wall might need to be repainted to avoid flashing.

We would choose Dynasty for this reason for low-sheen paint. Behr Dynasty’s scuff and mar resistance will add more durability to flat and matte paints. If you love the look but not the upkeep of low-sheen paint, Behr Dynasty might be the solution.

That’s also why we aren’t too concerned about the lack of a satin finish in Behr’s Dynasty line. Satin interior paint is often the recommended sheen for kitchens and bathrooms for easy cleanup. For painters that prefer less of a sheen on these surfaces, Dynasty’s eggshell finish could be a great solution. The scuff and mar-resistant additives will enhance the durability of Dynasty’s eggshell finish. However, painters who prefer the look of a satin sheen will have to stick with Marquee.

Check out Satin vs. Eggshell: Which is Right for Your Next Paint Job? for more.

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Don’t Mess with Success

While Dynasty has replaced Marquee as Behr’s highest-quality paint, Marquee is still a premium quality, easy-to-use product. Even without the formula additives of the newer Dynasty paint, Marquee is durable, stain-blocking, and fade-resistant.

The scuff and mar-resistant additives are really the biggest difference between Behr Dynasty and Marquee. Is this upgrade worth the extra investment? It depends on your project. Unless you need exceptional protection from wear and tear, Behr Marquee will meet your needs at a lower price point. And if you’re taking on an exterior project, Marquee’s cost savings far outweigh Dynasty’s fade-resistant upgrades.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is Better for a Whole-House Paint Job?

If you’re preparing your home for sale, you might want to repaint every room in the house a neutral color. As far as whether to choose Behr Dynasty or Marquee for such a large project, make the most cost-effective choice. Unless there is a significant reason the entire interior of the home needs to be extra durable, you’ll get more bang for your buck with Behr Marquee.

Which is Better for a Low-Ventilation Area, Dynasty or Marquee?

When painting a basement or interior hallways, it can be hard to get adequate ventilation. That’s why choosing a low-VOC product is so important when painting a low-ventilation area.

Behr Dynasty and Marquee have the same low VOC ranking. There’s no appreciable difference between Behr Dynasty and Marquee in low-ventilation areas. Once again, we’d choose Marquee for the cost savings.

Read more about VOCs here: Everything You Need to Know About Low VOC Paint.

Behr Dynasty or Marquee: Which is Better for a Child’s Room?

Bedrooms are considered low-traffic areas, so we wouldn’t typically worry about scuffs and stains. There’s one exception. A child’s bedroom often doubles as a playroom and is frequently redecorated as the child grows. It pays to protect the walls with extra-durable paint.

Behr Dynasty is the superior choice for a child’s room. The scuff-resistant technology is a good investment for a child’s bedroom or playroom. Not only will it resist staining from art projects or crafts, but it will also stand up to bumps and scuffs from playtime.

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Wrapping Up Behr Dynasty vs Marquee

While Behr Marquee remains a premium paint choice, there are some circumstances when Behr Dynasty is worth the higher price tag. Dynasty’s scuff and mar resistance is great for family homes, especially in high-traffic areas. The thinner texture is also easier to apply.

However, sticking with Behr Marquee is worth the cost savings in most applications. Both of these Behr paint-and-primer combinations deliver excellent results in fewer coats of paint than most competitors. There’s a reason Behr Marquee has become a favorite among DIY painters. We think Behr Dynasty will be a favorite in some applications, too.

Try our DIY Paint Project Calculator to help calculate whether Behr Dynasty or Marquee will work for your budget.