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A viral video from T&M Hardware & Rental shows colored bands on Do it Best paint cans that indicate sheen and interior/exterior use. Family Handyman confirms the codes apply to that brand’s packaging only, not industry-wide, and urges shoppers to verify the printed label before buying.
A viral hardware-store trick for identifying paint without reading the label is real — but it only works on one brand’s cans, according to a report from Family Handyman. The method, demonstrated in a video by T&M Hardware & Rental, decodes colored bands on certain Do it Best paint cans, letting shoppers and store employees spot the sheen and intended use at a glance. Family Handyman’s takeaway: the shortcut is genuine, but it is not universal, and buyers should still check the printed label before checking out.
According to the report, the color system works on specific Do it Best paint cans as follows: red identifies flat paint, yellow identifies eggshell, blue identifies satin, and green identifies semi-gloss. Two additional bands mark where the paint belongs: a white band near the bottom signals interior paint, while a black band signals exterior paint. The bands give employees and shoppers a fast visual cue before they read the full label.
The codes line up with Do it Best’s current product range. The company sells Best Look interior paint in flat, eggshell, satin, and semi-gloss finishes, along with separate exterior paint products, according to its own product listings.
However, Family Handyman cautions that the system stops at that brand’s packaging. Paint can color codes aren’t universal, the report states, because manufacturers use their own packaging schemes — and some use color to distinguish product lines rather than sheen. A colored band on another brand’s can may mean something entirely different. The report also notes that labels can carry tint-base terms such as white, neutral, or deep base, which describe the paint’s base rather than its finish.
Why the Label Still Beats the Band
For DIYers and tradespeople, the distinction matters because buying the wrong sheen or interior/exterior formula is a costly mistake that often isn’t noticed until the paint is already on the wall. Exterior paint used indoors, or a flat finish applied where a washable semi-gloss is needed, can mean repainting an entire room.
The report’s guidance is especially relevant for anyone matching an old can for touch-ups: Family Handyman advises checking the brand, product line, sheen, base, and color formula rather than relying on a colored band alone. Sheen names also vary between manufacturers — Sherwin-Williams and Behr list finishes including flat, matte, satin, semi-gloss, and eggshell, but group them differently — so a visual shortcut from one brand can mislead when applied to another.
The trick originated in an Instagram video posted by T&M Hardware & Rental, a hardware store, showing the colored sections on Do it Best paint cans. The video circulated widely as a “cheat code” for navigating the paint aisle, prompting Family Handyman to verify how the system works and where its limits lie.
As context for the sheens the colors represent: flat paint has very little shine and makes small wall flaws less noticeable; eggshell has a slight sheen; satin reflects more light and suits frequently used rooms; and semi-gloss is shinier and commonly used on trim and surfaces that need regular cleaning. Family Handyman cites product information from Do it Best plus finish guides from Sherwin-Williams and Behr.
“Paint can color codes aren’t universal. Manufacturers use their own packaging systems, so a colored band on one brand may mean something different on another.”
— Family Handyman report
Where the Trick Stops Working
It is not clear how many Do it Best products carry the colored bands, or whether the retailer uses the system consistently across all its paint lines and can sizes. The report confirms the codes for the cans shown in the video and the Best Look interior line, but does not say whether older or regional packaging follows the same scheme.
For every other brand, the coding remains unverified and brand-specific. Some manufacturers use color to separate product lines rather than sheen, according to the report, meaning the same visual cue can point to something unrelated on a competing can. Whether other retailers adopt similar standardized color systems has not been announced.
What Shoppers Should Do at the Store
For now, consumers can use the color bands as a quick first filter on Do it Best cans only, then confirm the details on the printed label: the sheen, whether the paint is rated for interior or exterior use, and the tint base. When repainting or touching up, photograph the old can’s label — including brand, line, sheen, base, and color formula — before heading to the store.
As viral home-improvement hacks continue to spread on social media, expect more retailers and publishers to either confirm or correct them; readers should treat store-specific tricks as tips to verify, not rules, until the manufacturer’s own labeling confirms them.
Key Questions
Do the viral paint can color codes work on all paint brands?
No. According to Family Handyman, the codes are specific to the Do it Best cans shown in the T&M Hardware video. Other manufacturers use their own packaging systems, and some use color to mark product lines rather than sheen.
What do the colors on Do it Best paint cans mean?
On those cans, red means flat, yellow means eggshell, blue means satin, and green means semi-gloss. A white band near the bottom indicates interior paint; a black band indicates exterior paint.
What’s the difference between flat, eggshell, satin, and semi-gloss?
Sheen describes how much light the finish reflects. Flat has little shine and hides wall flaws; eggshell has a slight sheen; satin reflects more light and suits high-traffic rooms; semi-gloss is shinier and used on trim and cleanable surfaces.
What do terms like ‘white base’ or ‘deep base’ on a paint label mean?
These are tint-base terms describing the paint’s base before colorant is added — not its sheen. Family Handyman warns not to confuse base labels with finish labels when matching paint.
How should I match an old paint can for touch-ups?
Check the brand, product line, sheen, base, and color formula on the old can rather than relying on any colored band. Photographing the label before shopping helps ensure an accurate match.
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