Benjamin Moore Ashland Slate#696D72 · LRV 16
Ashland Slate reads as a true neutral (no measurable hue) — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover the spec, what Benjamin Moore 1608 actually looks like under different light, and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Color spec
| Brand | Benjamin Moore |
| Name | Ashland Slate |
| SKU | 1608 |
| Hex | #696D72 |
| RGB | 105, 109, 114 |
| HSL | 213°, 4%, 43% |
| LRV | 16 |
| Undertone | true neutral (no measurable hue) |
| Family | Gray |
About Benjamin Moore Ashland Slate
With an LRV of 16, Ashland Slate is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Ashland Slate works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.
Kompozit alternative
The closest hex in the Kompozit deck, ranked by ΔE2000 (perceptual color difference). ΔE under 2 is indistinguishable to most eyes; under 5 is a very close visual match.
Closest matches at every US brand
9 brands · top 5 each5 closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all gray from that brand.
Valspar
Behr
Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
PPG / Glidden
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Backdrop
Clare
Similar Benjamin Moore colors
closest in the Benjamin Moore deckThe nearest shades to Ashland Slate within Benjamin Moore's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #696D72 in HSL space. Pair Ashland Slate with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Accessibility (WCAG contrast)
WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.