Findings · updated October 12, 2026

What 1,693 paint Safety Data Sheets show

We collected the Safety Data Sheets and technical documents for 1,693 paints and primers from Behr, Benjamin Moore, KILZ, Sherwin-Williams, Valspar: 253 product lines, with every sheen and base counted as its own product because each has its own formula and Safety Data Sheet. 1,665 had enough published data to score. Here is what the documents show.

19%Zero VOCof products report under 5 g/L VOC in the untinted base (319 of 1673).
49%50+ g/L VOCreport 50 g/L or more, the level many green-building standards use as a ceiling for flat interior paint.
97%Tint VOC unknowndon't say how much VOC tinting adds. Most paint is tinted, so the label number is often not what goes on your wall.
32%Cancer, genetic or reproductive warningcarry at least one of these warnings for an ingredient in the liquid paint itself (528 products).
58%Dust-only cancer warninglist ingredients like titanium dioxide or silica that are hazards only as dust. This matters when sanding or spraying, not when the paint is on the wall.
27%Skin allergenlist a skin sensitizer, often a preservative. Wear gloves when painting.
17%No hazard warningshave a Safety Data Sheet that lists no hazard classifications at all.
45%Emissions testeddocument third-party low-emissions testing (GREENGUARD, CDPH or LEED emissions).
7%Full ingredient listpublish a Health Product Declaration with their full ingredient list. Most disclose only what the Safety Data Sheet requires.

What this means for your home

The VOC number on the can covers the untinted base. Almost no maker says how much VOC tint adds, so ask for zero-VOC colorants when you buy tinted paint.

Warnings for titanium dioxide, silica and similar ingredients apply to dust. They matter when you sand or spray, so wear a mask then, but they say little about a cured wall.

Warnings for ingredients in the liquid paint, like cancer, genetic or reproductive warnings, are worth taking seriously. Compare alternatives before painting a bedroom or nursery.

Percentages are of scored products, except VOC (products that publish a VOC figure) and "no hazard warnings" (all products). Warnings come from each maker's US Safety Data Sheet; we don't add or estimate any. How we score

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