Benjamin Moore Ultra Spec 500 · Zero VOC interior paint
The contractor's interior paint.
Zero VOC. Great hide.
Ultra Spec 500 is Benjamin Moore's professional interior paint, made for painting contractors. It hides well, touches up easily, flows and levels smoothly, and has zero VOCs and low odour, so you can paint occupied homes, offices and schools. In five finishes, from flat ceilings to semi-gloss trim.
ZeroVOC, low odour
450sq ft per 3.79 L, max
3.79 L from
$249+ships free in Canada
Revere PewterHC-172 · try any colour
Benjamin Moore Ultra Spec 500 Zero VOC Interior Paint
Regular price
$52.40 CAD
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Benjamin Moore Ultra Spec 500 is a professional-quality, zero VOC interior paint made for painting contractors, property managers and anyone painting large interior spaces. Its cross-linking acrylic resin gives excellent hiding, smooth flow and levelling, and touch-ups that blend in, so walls look uniform with fewer callbacks. Low odour and Gennex zero VOC colorants make it a good fit for occupied homes, offices, schools and clinics. Choose from five finishes, from a flaw-hiding flat for ceilings to a stain-releasing semi-gloss for doors and trim, tinted to almost any Benjamin Moore colour.
Key Features & Benefits
- Zero VOC and low odour, even when tinted, so rooms can be back in use sooner.
- Excellent hiding helps you finish in fewer coats.
- Great touch-up for patches and repairs that blend into the wall.
- Superior flow and levelling for a smooth, uniform finish.
- Five finishes: Flat, Low Sheen Eggshell, Eggshell (scrubbable), Satin/Pearl and Semi-Gloss (both wash clean easily).
- Meets common specs: MPI and MPI X-Green listed, CDPH emissions certified, LEED v4 and CHPS eligible, Class A fire rated.
Applications & Recommended Uses
Interior walls and ceilings in commercial, institutional and residential repaints: offices, schools, hospitals, rental units, condos and new builds. Use it on new or previously painted drywall and masonry, and on primed or previously painted plaster, wood and metal. Satin/Pearl and Semi-Gloss are also rated for interior doors, trim and cabinets.
Product Specifications
| Product type | Waterborne cross-linking acrylic interior paint |
| Finishes | Flat F535 (0–2.5 @ 85°), Low Sheen Eggshell F537 (15–20 @ 85°), Eggshell F538 (20–25 @ 85°), Satin/Pearl F545 (20–35 @ 60°), Semi-Gloss F546 (45–55 @ 60°) |
| Coverage | 400–450 sq ft (37.2–41.8 m²) per 3.79 L |
| Dry time (25 °C, 50% RH) | Touch 1–2 hours; recoat 2–3 hours (Satin/Pearl and Semi-Gloss 4 hours); washable after 2 weeks |
| Application temperature | 10–32.2 °C (50–90 °F) |
| VOC | 0 g/L |
| Application | Nylon/polyester brush, premium roller, or airless spray at 1,500–2,500 PSI with a .013–.017 tip |
| Thinning | Up to 236 mL water or Paint Extender K518 per 3.79 L, if needed |
| Clean-up | Warm soapy water |
| Sizes | 3.79 L and 18.9 L |
How to Use / Application Tips
- Prep: clean off dirt, grease and mildew, scrape loose paint, feather-sand edges, dull glossy areas and remove all drywall dust.
- Prime: Ultra Spec 500 can prime drywall itself. Use Fresh Start Undercoater (K032) on bare wood and Fresh Start High-Hiding All Purpose Primer (K046) on cured plaster and smooth concrete. On repaints, spot prime bare areas.
- Apply 1 or 2 coats, keeping a wet edge. Box your cans on large jobs for consistent colour.
- Recoat after 2–3 hours (Satin/Pearl and Semi-Gloss 4 hours). Clean tools with warm soapy water.
Why Buy From The Paint People?
We're a family-run Benjamin Moore retailer serving painting contractors in Mississauga since 1997. We tint every order to your colour, can match other brands, and ship across Canada, free on most orders over $249, or you can pick up free in Mississauga. Tinted paint is made to order and final sale.
Ultra Spec 500 FAQ
1Is Ultra Spec 500 zero VOC?
Yes, 0 g/L, even when tinted with Gennex colorants.
2How much paint do I need?
A 3.79 L can covers 400–450 sq ft per coat.
3Which finish is for trim and doors?
Satin/Pearl (F545) or Semi-Gloss (F546).
Canada Shipping
- Enjoy free shipping in Canada on orders over $249. Yukon, NWT, Nunavut not included.
Winter Shipping:
- From December to April, shipping outside of Ontario and Quebec is limited.
- Returns accepted within 35 days from the date of delivery.
- Custom tinted paints are classified as Final Sale items and are not eligible for return or store credit.
Why Ultra Spec 500
Built for the way pros paint.
Repaints, turnovers and new builds need paint that covers in fewer coats, touches up without flashing and doesn't keep people out of the room. That's what Ultra Spec 500 is made for.
01
Hides and touches up
Excellent hiding, easy touch-up, and smooth flow and levelling for a uniform finish wall to wall.
02
Zero VOC, low odour
0 g/L VOC with Gennex zero VOC colorants. Paint offices, schools, clinics and occupied homes with less disruption.
03
Meets the spec
MPI and MPI X-Green listed, CDPH emissions certified, LEED v4 and CHPS eligible, Class A fire rated over non-combustible surfaces.
For interior walls and ceilings, plus doors, trim and cabinets in Satin/Pearl and Semi-Gloss: new or previously painted drywall and masonry, and primed or previously painted plaster, wood and metal. Apply between 10 °C and 32.2 °C.
Pick your finish
Five finishes, ceilings to trim.
Tap a finish to select it in your order. All five come in 3.79 L cans and 18.9 L pails.
Paint calculator
How much do I need?
Enter your room size. We'll work out the cans and pails, using 400 sq ft per 3.79 L, the low end of Benjamin Moore's coverage, so you don't run short.
ft
ft
ft
Coats
You need
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Doors count as 20 sq ft and windows as 15 sq ft. Painting a whole unit? Run each room and add them up. The calculator switches to 18.9 L pails when they work out cheaper.
Colour ideas
Start with the favourites.
Browse by colour family. Tap a colour to use it for your order, or search every Benjamin Moore colour in the box above Add to cart. It stays zero VOC in any colour.
Color Stories (CSP) colours can't be made in Ultra Spec 500. Screen colours are a guide, so try a colour sample first.
Compare
Ultra Spec 500, ben or Regal Select?
Contractor value
Ultra Spec 500
- Best for
- Contractors, property managers, rentals, offices and schools.
- What you get
- Zero VOC, great hide and touch-up, five finishes, and 18.9 L pails.
- From
Homeowner value
ben
- Best for
- Budget-friendly refreshes at home.
- What you get
- Zero VOC paint and primer in one, with a long open time for fewer lap marks.
- From
Our best seller
Regal Select
- Best for
- Busy family rooms and Color Stories colours.
- What you get
- Stain release, so marks wash off with soap and water. Scrubbable and mildew resistant.
- From
Need the lowest odour for a nursery or clinic? See Eco Spec. Browse all interior paints.
Specs
The details.
| Type | Waterborne cross-linking acrylic interior paint |
|---|---|
| Finishes | Flat F535 (0–2.5 @ 85°), Low Sheen Eggshell F537 (15–20 @ 85°), Eggshell F538 (20–25 @ 85°), Satin/Pearl F545 (20–35 @ 60°), Semi-Gloss F546 (45–55 @ 60°) |
| Use on | Interior walls and ceilings (plus doors, trim and cabinets in Satin/Pearl and Semi-Gloss): drywall, masonry, primed or previously painted plaster, wood and metal |
| Coverage | 400–450 sq ft (37.2–41.8 m²) per 3.79 L |
| Coats | 1 or 2 |
| Dry time | Touch 1 hour (Flat, Low Sheen Eggshell), 2 hours (Eggshell, Satin/Pearl, Semi-Gloss). Recoat 2–3 hours (Satin/Pearl and Semi-Gloss 4 hours). Washable after 2 weeks |
| Apply at | 10–32.2 °C (50–90 °F), air and surface |
| VOC | 0 g/L, Gennex zero VOC colorants |
| Volume solids | 39–42% ± 2%, by finish |
| Apply with | Nylon/polyester brush, premium roller or airless spray (1,500–2,500 PSI, .013–.017 tip) |
| Thinning | Up to 236 mL water or Paint Extender K518 per 3.79 L, if needed |
| Clean-up | Warm soapy water. Mineral spirits rinse for spray equipment |
| Certified | MPI 53, 143 (Flat); 44, 138, 144 (Low Sheen Eggshell); 52, 139, 145 (Eggshell); 43, 140, 146 (Satin/Pearl); 54, 141, 147 (Semi-Gloss); MPI X-Green; CDPH emissions; LEED v4 and CHPS eligible; Green Seal GS-11 criteria; Class A fire rating (ASTM E-84) |
Dry times at 25 °C and 50% humidity. High humidity and cool temperatures slow drying. Protect from freezing.
How to apply
Get a pro finish.
- Prep. Clean off dirt, grease and mildew, scrape loose paint, feather-sand the edges and dull glossy areas. Remove all drywall dust.
- Prime where needed. Ultra Spec 500 can prime drywall itself. Use Fresh Start Undercoater on bare wood and Fresh Start All Purpose on plaster and smooth concrete.
- Stir well and box your cans on big jobs so the colour is consistent.
- Cut in, then roll or spray, keeping a wet edge to avoid lap marks.
- Second coat after 2–3 hours (Satin/Pearl and Semi-Gloss 4 hours) if needed.
- Clean up with warm soapy water, and wait 2 weeks before washing the walls.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
What is Ultra Spec 500?
Benjamin Moore's professional-quality interior paint, made for painting contractors. It's a zero VOC, cross-linking acrylic with excellent hiding, low odour, easy touch-up and good flow and levelling, for walls and ceilings in commercial, institutional and residential repaint work.
Is it really zero VOC?
Yes. It's 0 g/L VOC and is tinted with Benjamin Moore's Gennex zero VOC colorants. It's also CDPH emissions certified, meets Green Seal GS-11 criteria, and is eligible for LEED v4 and CHPS low-emitting credit.
Ultra Spec 500, ben or Regal Select?
Ultra Spec 500 is the contractor choice for big jobs, rentals and turnovers, with 18.9 L pails. ben is a zero VOC paint and primer for homeowners. Regal Select adds stain release and scrubbability for busy family rooms.
Which finish should I choose?
Flat (0–2.5 @ 85°) hides flaws and touches up easily, for ceilings and low-traffic walls. Low Sheen Eggshell (15–20 @ 85°) is a washable soft sheen for offices and bedrooms. Eggshell (20–25 @ 85°) is a scrubbable finish for hallways and corridors. Satin/Pearl (20–35 @ 60°) and Semi-Gloss (45–55 @ 60°) wash clean easily and are the ones for doors, trim and cabinets. Semi-Gloss has excellent stain release.
How much do I need?
A 3.79 L can covers 400–450 sq ft per coat, and an 18.9 L pail about 2,000–2,250 sq ft. A 12 × 12 ft room with 8 ft ceilings has about 350 sq ft of wall, so two coats take about two cans. Use the paint calculator above.
Do I need a primer?
On drywall, Ultra Spec 500 can prime itself. Use Fresh Start Undercoater K032 on bare wood, and Fresh Start High-Hiding All Purpose K046 on cured plaster, smooth concrete and bleeding woods like cedar. Bare steel needs a metal primer. On a repaint, prime bare spots only.
How long does it take to dry?
At 25 °C and 50% humidity, Flat and Low Sheen Eggshell are dry to the touch in 1 hour; Eggshell, Satin/Pearl and Semi-Gloss in 2 hours. Recoat Flat, Low Sheen Eggshell and Eggshell after 2–3 hours, and Satin/Pearl and Semi-Gloss after 4 hours. All can be washed after 2 weeks.
Can I spray it or thin it?
Yes. Spray with an airless sprayer at 1,500–2,500 PSI with a .013–.017 tip. If needed, add up to 236 mL of water or Paint Extender K518 per 3.79 L to lengthen open time.
How cold can it be when I paint?
Air and surface must be between 10 °C and 32.2 °C (50–90 °F), so heat the space first in winter. Store it between 4.4 °C and 32.2 °C and protect it from freezing.
Colours, sizes and shipping?
White (01), or tinted to any Benjamin Moore colour (Color Stories colours aren't available), and we can match other brands. 3.79 L cans and 18.9 L pails. Tinted paint is made to order, so it's final sale. We ship across Canada, free on most orders over $249, or pick up free in Mississauga.
Ready to start your next job?
Ordering for a big job? Ask our team for a quote. We've been helping painters and contractors since 1997.