Benjamin Moore Edgecomb GrayvsBenjamin Moore Pale Oak
Why this comparison: Two of BM’s most-sampled light neutrals; Pale Oak is lighter and more delicate, Edgecomb warmer and sturdier. Edgecomb Gray and Pale Oak are very close (ΔE 2.19). The difference shows up most in side-by-side comparison and under specific light.
Built from our full reviews of both colors — same measured data, same real-room photos. About the testing process →
The Numbers
Pale Oak is slightly lighter (LRV 69 vs 63, 6-point delta).
What Each Color Really Is
A light warm greige — a gray with real beige in it, not a gray with a hint of beige. The measured hue sits in the orange-tan part of the wheel at 23 percent saturation, which is more color than a true neutral carries. That is why it never looks cold, and also why it can look tan on a big sunny wall instead of the soft gray people expect from the chip. The chip fools people because it is small and surrounded by white card stock; the wall shows the beige.
LRV 63 is the number that decides whether you will like it. Revere Pewter sits at 56, and that seven-point gap is exactly why so many people move here after seeing Revere Pewter go heavy in a hallway. But 63 is not bright — Pale Oak is 67 and Classic Gray is 74, and both of those look noticeably airier on the same wall. Edgecomb Gray is light enough to keep a normal room open and dark enough to go dull when the light runs out.
A greige built on the warm side of the fence — soft red-orange taupe, grayed way down. The important part is how little color is actually in it. At roughly a quarter saturation it barely commits to anything, which is exactly why it flatters furniture and floors instead of competing with them. It is the reason Pale Oak shows up in round-up after round-up as the safe warm neutral: it is a color that agrees with the room you already have.
At LRV 69 it reflects a lot of light without going blank. That number is the useful comparison point. Edgecomb Gray sits at 63 and reads visibly heavier and greener on the same wall; Classic Gray at 74 reads almost like a warm white with the color drained out. Pale Oak lands in the gap — light enough for a dim hallway, still colored enough that you can tell somebody chose it.
Specs Side by Side
| Spec | Edgecomb Gray | Pale Oak |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Benjamin Moore | Benjamin Moore |
| SKU | HC-173 | OC-20 |
| Hex | #D9D3C4 | #DDD9CE |
| RGB | 217, 211, 196 | 221, 217, 206 |
| LRV | 63 | 69 |
| Undertone | red-orange / warm | red-orange / warm |
| Family | Neutral | Neutral |
How Light Changes Them
Steady warm light all day keeps it soft and creamy — the version everyone photographs.
Cool flat light drains the warmth and the gray-green side comes forward. Dim north rooms go drab.
Golden and tan at the sun hours, quiet gray after. West rooms can tip peach at sunset.
2700K bulbs push it to plain beige. 3000K to 3500K keeps the gray in it. Swap bulbs, not paint.
Cool, indirect daylight pulls the violet forward. Sample here first, not in the sunny room.
Warm and creamy, but a sun-flooded room can wash it out to plain off-white.
2700K: warm taupe, cozy. 3500K and up: gray, then pink. Buy the bulbs before the paint.
Warm at the sun hours, grayer the rest of the day. Most people like the movement.
Both Colors in Real Rooms
Photos from our full reviews — the same rooms and captions, so you can judge each color where it actually lives, not on a chip.
When to Pick Which
Whole main floors with several windows · homes full of oak, beige tile or cream trim · kitchen cabinets with brass or black hardware · anyone who found Revere Pewter too dark
Your room has one small north window · your trim is a bright white and stays that way · you want a clean, cool gray · your counters and tile are cool blue-gray
Open-plan main floors that need one calm color · bedrooms with warm lamps · homes with oak and warm wood floors · anyone who finds Revere Pewter too heavy
Your room is north-facing and dim · your trim or cabinets are cream · you hate pink and purple undertones · you want a color you can actually see on the wall
No comparison page can see your light. Upload one photo of your room and try both colors on the same walls, seconds apart.
Edgecomb Gray vs Pale Oak FAQ
Which is lighter, Edgecomb Gray or Pale Oak?
Pale Oak is lighter: LRV 69 vs 63. Pale Oak is slightly lighter (LRV 69 vs 63, 6-point delta).
Which is warmer, Edgecomb Gray or Pale Oak?
They share the same undertone family — both read red-orange / warm. The difference between them is lightness and depth, not temperature.
How similar are Edgecomb Gray and Pale Oak?
Edgecomb Gray and Pale Oak are very close (ΔE 2.19). The difference shows up most in side-by-side comparison and under specific light. The only reliable test is seeing both in your own room and light — a side-by-side on a screen or chip flattens the difference.
Can I use Edgecomb Gray and Pale Oak together in one house?
Not in the same room, and be careful in the same house. At ΔE 2.19 they are so close that two walls in each will read as a tinting mistake, not a design choice. Pick one, or keep them on different floors where they are never seen together.
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