Lead Gray
2131-30 · #434E52 · LRV 7 — cool blue-green tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Lead Gray7
- 2Pewter Green12
- 3Retreat21
What Color Is Lead Gray, Really?
Lead Gray reads as a cool blue-green tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Benjamin Moore 2131-30 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Lead Gray
Lead Gray earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.
How Lighting Changes Lead Gray
At LRV 7, Lead Gray is about as dark as paint gets — it reads near-black on a wall and reveals its character only in direct daylight or under warm bulbs. Its teal undertone is the part to watch: it gets picked up by whatever sits next to it, so test it against your trim, floor and the room's main light before committing. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Most complaints about Lead Gray are a light mismatch. Upload a photo of your actual room and see it on your walls — then ask for the same wall in north light or evening lamps before you buy a single sample.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Benjamin Moore 2131-30 directly. If you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches, measured as ΔE2000. Under 2 is a difference you will not see on the wall.
| Brand | Closest color | ΔE | LRV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams | TarragonSW 9660 · Sherwin-Williams | 0.6 | 7 | Color page → |
| Behr | ThermalS440-7 · Behr | 3.2 | 7 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Slate Court5001-4C · Valspar | 1.5 | 7 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | WitchcraftPPG1037-7 · PPG / Glidden | 3.8 | 7 | Color page → |
| Glidden | ObsidianPPG1035-7 · Glidden | 0.9 | 8 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Shaded Forest427-7DB · Dutch Boy | 2.9 | 7 | Color page → |
Similar Benjamin Moore Colors
The nearest shades to Lead Gray within Benjamin Moore's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
WCAG 2.1: AA is 4.5 : 1 for normal text, 3 : 1 for large text, AAA is 7 : 1.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #434E52 in HSL space. Pair Lead Gray with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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