Pewter
2121-30 · #979C9F · LRV 34 — neutral with no strong undertone, mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light.
- 1Black Fox7
- 2Pewter Green12
- 3Pewter34
- 4Stardew43
- 5Sea Salt63
What Color Is Pewter, Really?
Pewter reads as a neutral with no strong undertone — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover how Benjamin Moore 2121-30 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Pewter
Pewter is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.
How Lighting Changes Pewter
Pewter sits in the mid-range at LRV 34, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. South-facing rooms will pull it lighter and warmer, while north light cools it down.
Most complaints about Pewter 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 2121-30 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 | DustbluSW 9161 · Sherwin-Williams | 1.1 | 32 | Color page → |
| Behr | Pencil SketchN500-4 · Behr | 1.1 | 33 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Chrome8006-7C · Valspar | 0.6 | 32 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | UFOPPG1011-4 · PPG / Glidden | 1.1 | 34 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Cool Metalwork Grey50BG 33/025 · Glidden | 0.3 | 33 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Rustic Blue430-4DB · Dutch Boy | 4.0 | 35 | Color page → |
Similar Benjamin Moore Colors
The nearest shades to Pewter 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 #979C9F in HSL space. Pair Pewter with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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