Benjamin Moore Advance Waterborne Alkyd Enamel Review (2026)
By Nate Sawyer, Editor · Updated July 2026
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- Cabinets
- Trim
- Doors
- High traffic
A waterborne alkyd enamel that self-levels like oil paint for a smooth, factory-like finish and cures hard on cabinets, trim and doors, with soap-and-water cleanup and low VOC. Patience is required: full cure takes up to 30 days, so surfaces can dent if used too soon, the ~16-hour recoat slows work, and it is BM-dealer-only.
Pros
- Self-levels like oil paint for a smooth, factory-like finish
- Durable hard enamel that holds up on high-touch cabinets and trim
- Water cleanup and low VOC despite alkyd-level performance
Cons
- Very long full cure (up to 30 days) — cabinets can dent or stick if used too soon
- Long recoat window slows projects (~2 coats/day)
- Premium price and sold only through Benjamin Moore dealers
Specifications
| Type | Waterborne alkyd |
|---|---|
| Sheens | Matte, satin, semi-gloss, high-gloss |
| Recoat | ~16 hrs (full cure up to 30 days) |
| Cleanup | Soap and water |
| Use | Interior cabinetry, trim, doors |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long does Benjamin Moore Advance take to fully cure?
- Up to 30 days, and this is the number that catches people out. Cabinets can dent or stick if they are loaded and used too soon, so plan to live with bare shelves or careful handling for weeks after the paint looks finished.
- Why does Advance look so smooth?
- It is a waterborne alkyd, so it self-levels like oil paint and dries to a smooth, factory-like finish. That is the specific reason it gets chosen for cabinets and doors over a standard acrylic enamel.
- How many coats can you get done in a day?
- Realistically one. The recoat window is around 16 hours, so a two-coat job is a two-day job at minimum. Budget the schedule accordingly rather than expecting a weekend kitchen.
- Is Advance worth $90 a gallon?
- If the finish quality is the priority and you can wait out the cure, yes - it gives alkyd-level hardness on high-touch cabinets and trim with water cleanup and low VOC. If you need the kitchen back quickly, a faster-curing enamel is the more sensible buy. It is sold only through Benjamin Moore dealers, so it is not a convenience purchase either.