Latex vs Acrylic

Latex vs Acrylic

  Distinction between the terms “Latex” and “Acrylic” house paint.  Latex paint typically refers to house paint used for walls, ceilings, and trim, while “acrylic paint” usually means artist-grade paint for canvas, crafts, and fine art.  In the house paint world, “latex” and “acrylic” are often used interchangeably, and many paint companies now use “acrylic” as the preferred term. This is because modern “latex” house paints don’t actually contain natural latex rubber anymore - they use acrylic resins or vinyl-acrylic blends as binders.
  Here’s how it generally breaks down: 100% acrylic paint is considered the highest quality for house paint. It uses pure acrylic resins as the binder, which provides better adhesion, flexibility, color retention, and resistance to cracking and peeling. Premium exterior paints are almost always 100% acrylic.
   Vinyl-acrylic or latex paint uses a blend of vinyl and acrylic resins, or sometimes predominantly vinyl resins. These are typically more budget-friendly but don’t perform quite as well over time, especially outdoors.
   So when you see “acrylic” on a house paint can, it’s the same water-based category as “latex” - they’re both referring to water-based paints as opposed to oil-based ones. The shift toward calling it “acrylic” is partly marketing (it sounds more modern) and partly accuracy (since there’s no actual latex in it).
   Some insights from a painter who actually works with these products daily, are that some homeowners just see the price tag and don’t understand the chemistry of what they’re paying for - or more importantly, what they’re not getting with the cheapest option.
Using a second-tier grade makes a lot of sense, the top-tier paints often have features that only matter in specific situations - like extreme weather exposure, high-traffic commercial spaces, or when you need absolute maximum longevity. For most residential projects, that second grade hits the sweet spot of quality and value. You’re getting good performance and durability without paying for specialized features that won’t make a difference in a typical home.
The bottom-tier paints, though, can really cost people in the long run - needing extra coats, not covering as well, breaking down faster, poor clean-up capabilities.  False economy. But that mid-grade usually has enough quality binder and pigment to do the job right.