Benjamin Moore Drywall Primer · Interior K265
New drywall?
Start here.
Benjamin Moore's acrylic primer for new or previously painted drywall and plaster. It seals paper and joint compound evenly, so your topcoat goes on smooth with no flashing over the seams. High hiding, dry in 30 minutes, and ready to paint in 2 hours.
2 hrsto topcoat*
<50g/L VOC, low odour
$36.903.79 L from
$249+ships free in Canada
*At 25 °C and 50% humidity. Interior use only.
Drywall Primer, WhiteSeals new drywall for an even topcoat
Plan my roomBenjamin Moore Drywall Primer, Interior (K265)
Regular price
$36.90 CAD
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Benjamin Moore Drywall Primer, Interior (K265)
Benjamin Moore Drywall Primer (K265) is an interior acrylic primer for new or previously painted drywall and plaster. It offers high hiding and excellent sealing and holdout over paper and joint compound, so your topcoat dries to a uniform finish. It's quick drying: dry to the touch in 30 minutes and ready to topcoat in 2 hours.
Key Features
- Even sealing over drywall paper and joint compound, to prevent flashing.
- High hiding over patches and colour differences.
- Fast: touch dry in 30 minutes, topcoat in 2 hours.
- Low odour: under 50 g/L VOC, CDPH emissions certified, MPI 50.
- Brush, roll or spray; soap-and-water clean-up.
White (00). 3.79 L and 18.9 L. Interior use only. Also for non-bleeding wood and smooth concrete. For stains, bleeding woods or exterior work, use Fresh Start High-Hiding All Purpose Primer.
Specs & Coverage
| Type | Interior acrylic primer |
| Sheen | Flat (under 5 @ 85°) |
| Coverage | 350–450 sq ft (32.5–41.8 m²) per 3.79 L |
| Dry time (25 °C, 50% RH) | Touch: 30 minutes. Recoat: 2 hours |
| Application temperature | 10–32 °C (50–90 °F) |
| VOC | Under 50 g/L |
| Application | Brush, roller or airless spray (1,500–2,500 PSI, .013–.017 tip) |
| Clean-up | Warm soapy water |
Application Guide
- Sand joint compound smooth and remove all sanding dust.
- Cure new plaster and masonry 30–60 days before priming.
- Stir well and apply 1 or 2 coats by brush, roller or airless spray.
- Topcoat after 2 hours; clean up with soap and water.
FAQ
1Do I need to prime new drywall?
Yes. Primer seals paper and joint compound evenly so the topcoat doesn't flash.
2How long before I can paint over it?
2 hours at 25 °C and 50% humidity.
3How much do I need?
A 3.79 L can covers 350–450 sq ft per coat.
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 prime
The coat nobody sees makes the one everybody does.
New drywall is two different surfaces: paper and joint compound. Paint straight over them and the seams and screw holes show through. A coat of drywall primer evens it all out first.
01
No flashing
Excellent sealing and holdout, so your topcoat dries to one even sheen and colour over paper, mud and patches.
02
High hiding
Covers patched areas and colour differences well, so your finish coats don't have to work as hard.
03
Fast and low odour
Dry to the touch in 30 minutes and ready to topcoat in 2 hours. Water-based, under 50 g/L VOC, soap-and-water clean-up.
For interior drywall and cured plaster, new or previously painted, plus non-bleeding wood and smooth concrete. Interior use only. Apply between 10 °C and 32 °C. Certified MPI 50, CDPH emissions certified, LEED v4 eligible.
Primer calculator
How much do I need?
Enter your room size. We'll work out the cans, using 350 sq ft per 3.79 L, the low end of Benjamin Moore's coverage so you don't run short on thirsty new drywall.
ft
ft
ft
Coats
You need
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Set up for a 12 × 12 ft room with 8 ft walls, one door and one window, and 1 coat. Finishing a basement or a whole house? Add up each room, and the calculator switches to the 18.9 L pail when it works out cheaper.
Compare
Which primer do I need?
New drywall and plaster
Drywall Primer
- Best for
- New construction, basements, renovations and big drywall patches, inside.
- What you get
- High hiding and even sealing over paper and joint compound, ready to topcoat in 2 hours.
- From
Stains and problem surfaces
Fresh Start All Purpose
- Best for
- Water stains, bleeding woods, glossy surfaces, exterior work and big colour changes.
- What you get
- A high-hiding all-purpose primer for interior and exterior, ready-mixed white or tinted.
- From
Already painted walls
Regal Select
- Best for
- Repainting walls in good condition, where you can skip a separate primer.
- What you get
- Washable paint and primer in one, tinted to any Benjamin Moore colour.
- From
Painting glossy tile, laminate or PVC? You need a bonding primer like INSL-X Stix. See all Benjamin Moore primers.
Specs
The details.
| Type | Interior acrylic primer (K265) |
|---|---|
| Use on | New or previously painted drywall and cured plaster, non-bleeding wood, smooth concrete |
| Colour | White (00). Can be lightly tinted toward your topcoat |
| Sheen | Flat (under 5 @ 85°) |
| Coverage | 350–450 sq ft (32.5–41.8 m²) per 3.79 L |
| Coats | 1 or 2 |
| Dry time | Touch 30 minutes. Recoat or topcoat 2 hours |
| Apply at | 10–32 °C (50–90 °F), air and surface |
| VOC | Under 50 g/L |
| Apply with | Nylon/polyester brush, premium roller, or airless spray (1,500–2,500 PSI, .013–.017 tip) |
| Thinning | If needed, up to 236 mL water or K518 Extender per 3.79 L |
| Clean-up | Warm soapy water. Mineral spirits rinse for spray equipment |
| Certified | MPI 50, CDPH emissions certified, LEED v4 and CHPS eligible |
Dry times at 25 °C and 50% humidity. Protect from freezing.
How to apply
Prime it right.
- Finish the drywall. Let joint compound dry fully, sand it smooth, then remove all the sanding dust with a damp cloth or vacuum. Leftover dust stops primer from bonding properly.
- Check plaster and concrete. New plaster and masonry need 30–60 days to cure. Knife off bumps on plaster instead of sanding.
- Stir well before and during use. Don't add other paints or solvents.
- Cut in, then roll or spray with a quality roller or airless sprayer. Work from unpainted areas back into wet primer.
- Topcoat after 2 hours with your finish paint, like ben, Regal Select or Aura.
- Clean up with warm soapy water. Give spray equipment a final mineral spirits rinse to prevent rust.
FAQ
Questions, answered.
Do I need to prime new drywall?
Yes. Drywall paper and joint compound soak up paint differently, so unprimed seams and patches show through the topcoat as dull or shiny patches (called flashing). Drywall Primer seals both evenly, so your finish coat goes on smooth and uniform and you need less of it.
Can I skip the primer and use paint and primer in one?
On walls that are already painted and in good shape, yes: ben, Regal Select and Aura are self-priming. On new drywall, a dedicated drywall primer is made to seal fresh paper and joint compound evenly, and it's the economical way to do it before your topcoats.
What surfaces can I use it on?
Interior drywall and cured plaster, new or previously painted, plus non-bleeding wood, engineered wood and smooth poured or precast concrete. It's for interior use only. For stains, bleeding woods like cedar, glossy surfaces or exterior work, use Fresh Start High-Hiding All Purpose Primer instead.
Can it be tinted?
Benjamin Moore allows Drywall Primer to be tinted lightly toward your topcoat colour, which helps hiding when you're going darker. We sell it online in white. Want it tinted? Ask us and tell us your topcoat colour.
How much do I need?
A 3.79 L can covers 350–450 sq ft per coat, and an 18.9 L pail covers about five times that. One coat is usually enough on new drywall. Use the calculator above.
How long before I can paint over it?
Dry to the touch in 30 minutes and ready to topcoat in 2 hours at 25 °C and 50% humidity. Cool, humid rooms take longer.
Can I spray it?
Yes. Use an airless sprayer at 1,500–2,500 PSI with a .013–.017 tip. If needed, thin with up to 236 mL of water or K518 Extender per 3.79 L. Never add other paints or solvents.
How long should new plaster cure before priming?
New plaster and masonry need to cure for 30–60 days. Cured plaster should be hard with a slight sheen and a pH of 10 or less. Don't sand plaster: knife off bumps instead, and prime before and after patching.
Is it low odour?
Yes. It's a water-based acrylic with under 50 g/L VOC, CDPH emissions certified, and it cleans up with warm soapy water.
Sizes and shipping?
3.79 L cans and 18.9 L pails. We ship across Canada, free on most orders over $249, or pick up free in Mississauga.
Ready to prime?
Not sure which primer your job needs? Ask our team. We've been helping painters and contractors since 1997.