You’ve seen them, right? The gorgeous, white, modern farmhouse style houses that are popping up all over the place? Maybe, you’ve even been thinking about painting your house white. White can be a beautiful, but tricky exterior color…too bright, and you risk blinding drivers passing by…too dark, and it just looks “muddy.” If you’re considering painting your house white, keep reading this blog post! I’ve rounded up the best white paint colors for exteriors, so you can be sure to have that gorgeous white house you’ve been dreaming of.

best white paint for exteriors

Source: Vincent Longo Custom Builders (with BM Simply White)

First things first…let’s talk about LRV (Light Reflectance Value).  I know you were ready to dive into paint colors, and I’m being a total buzzkill, but LRV is important for white home exteriors. LRV is a measure of how light or dark a paint color is on a scale of 0 (darkest)  to 100 (lightest).

I really don’t want to go into too much detail, because the specifics are a bit boring, but a good rule of thumb is that an exterior LRV should be no higher than 85. If you get higher than 85, you’re gonna need sunglasses to look at your house.

A good white for the exterior of your home should have an LRV between 73-ish to 85. You can find the LRV of a paint color on the manufacturers website. There you go…LRV lesson is over.

Let’s move on to the paint colors, so you can find the best white exterior paint color for your home.

White Dove by Benjamin Moore

White Dove is one of my all-time favorite white paint colors. It’s the brightest white on this list with an LRV of 85, and is a popular choice for a beautiful, pure white exterior.  If you compared it to true white, however, you’d see that White Dove is actually a soft, warm white with a hint of gray, which makes it one of the most beloved whites amongst designers for both interiors and exteriors. Go with White Dove if you have a house that gets lots of shade, and/or you want that crisp and clean white look. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of BM White Dove HERE.

Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams

Alabaster is one of the most versatile exterior white paint colors out there. Sherwin-Williams chose Alabaster as its Color of the Year for 2016, and Joanna Gaines painted her own house with it, so you know it’s good! With a slightly lower LRV of 82, Alabaster is a bit softer and slightly creamier (more yellow undertones) than White Dove, but it still reads like a bright white. This is a great choice for a classic, timeless, inviting look! Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of SW Alabaster HERE.

Seapearl/China White by Benjamin Moore

Seapearl and China White are the exact same color, just a different name (confirmed with Benjamin Moore). Regardless of the name, it has an LRV of 78, and is a fabulous white for exteriors! It’s called an off-white, but it’s really more like a very light, warm greige.

While it can sometimes look a bit dingy when used for interior paint, when you paint it outside it blossoms into a beautiful, clean white. It has a very neutral, soft look – not too creamy and not too bright – with just enough color to stand out against bright white trim. With its greige notes, it pairs just as beautifully with blues and greens, as it does with dark brown or bronze accents, and can give a smoother transition with gray stonework. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of BM Seapearl/China White HERE.

Shoji White by Sherwin-Williams

If you’re concerned about your white exterior being too bright, check out Shoji White (LRV 74). It is one of my favorite off-whites for exteriors, and I recommend it often! It has warm undertones with subtle hints of gray and beige.

Shoji White can look more like a white, or more like an off-white, depending on how much natural light you receive (shady or cloudy versus direct sunlight). Shoji White is a solid choice for a softer overall look, without being too creamy or too gray.  Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of SW Shoji White HERE.

shoji white exterior house

Source: @mrsparanjape (Lori Paranjape on Instagram)

Olympic Mountains by Benjamin Moore

Olympic Mountains is very similar to Shoji White, in that it’s a very well-balanced off-white, with similar coloring. However, it has the lowest LRV on this list at just under 72, so it could almost be considered a very light beige. It’s so light of a beige that it will read like a soft, creamy white, and its gray undertones will keep it subtle and fresh for today’s more muted looks. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of BM Olympic Mountains HERE.

bm olympic mountains exterior

Designed by: Frusterio Design | Image Source: One Kindesign

Moderne White by Sherwin-Williams

Moderne White has a slightly muddier look to it than some of the other whites on this list. It is similar to BM Seapearl/China White, in that it has gray undertones, but it has a lower LRV at 74. It won’t be a bright white, but will still look white, and it will pair beautifully with darker gray accents. Great for homes that get a lot of warm, west-facing sun, as the gray undertones can help neutralize the warm light. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of SW Moderne White HERE.

White Duck by Sherwin-Williams

White Duck is a great choice if you are looking for a creamier, off-white exterior appearance. It has greige undertones, so it stays neutral in a range of different lighting conditions. With an LRV of 74, White Duck is a good option for creating a softer overall look. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of SW White Duck HERE.

Ballet White by Benjamin Moore

Ballet White is the creamiest (most beige) of the whites on this list, and has been a popular choice for exteriors. However, unlike other typical cream paint colors that have a yellow base, Ballet White has a neutral base. Which means that it will look like a nice, balanced, creamy white on your exterior.

With an LRV just shy of 74, Ballet White has one of the lowest LRV of the whites on our list. Go with this shade if you want a low-key, muted, creamy white exterior. Order a peel-and-stick sample sheet of BM Ballet White HERE.

benjamin moore ballet white

Source: Houzz (BM Ballet White on the brick and SW Attitude Gray on the shutters)

White homes are all the rage today, but they truly are classic and timeless.  For a modern-farmhouse look, opt for gray or black trim. SW Iron Ore and SW Urbane Bronze are two of my favorite dark trim colors to pair with whites. Install a wood front door, wood garage doors, and some beautiful landscaping, and you’ll have a house that gets compliments for years to come!

Want to know the best paint colors for a white house with black trim? Check out this post.

Looking for the best white trim colors for exteriors? I have a blog post all about that!

If you need some more color in your life, paint your front door and add colorful shutters into the mix. With a white house, the options are endless!

How to test exterior paint colors

Now that you have a list of the best white paint colors for exteriors, it’s time to get some samples and try them out to see which paint color is the perfect exterior white paint color for your home. Place the different colors on your home’s exterior, and view them at different times of the day to see how the colors look with your lighting conditions. That’s the best (and only) way to be sure you end up with the right white for your home. You’re one step closer to that gorgeous white house you’ve been daydreaming about!

For sampling, I highly recommend purchasing the peel-and-stick vinyl sample sheets from Samplize. So much easier than having to buy all the supplies and paint directly on your house!  For exteriors, the generous size of Samplize sheets are the best way to view and test color options for your exterior.

Need some help choosing the right white for your exterior? Don’t be the white house that blinds passersby, or the one that ends up looking slightly blue! My exterior paint consultation is the perfect solution for you! 

exterior paint color consultation** This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience.