CP

Benjamin Moore Puritan GrayHC-164 · #979F9B · LRV 34

Puritan Gray reads as a neutral with no strong undertone — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover the color's details, what Benjamin Moore HC-164 actually looks like under different light, and the closest matches at competing US brands.

BENJAMIN MOORE PURITAN GRAY
RGB 151, 159, 155LRV 34

Color spec

BrandBenjamin Moore
NamePuritan Gray
SKUHC-164
Hex#979F9B
RGB151, 159, 155
HSL150°, 4%, 61%
LRV34
Undertoneneutral with no strong undertone
FamilyGray
See Benjamin Moore Puritan Gray on your own walls — upload a room photo.SEE IT IN YOUR ROOM →

About Benjamin Moore Puritan Gray

Puritan Gray 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.

Puritan Gray 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.

Closest matches by brand

18 brands within ΔE 5

The closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Only colors within ΔE 5 (close enough to substitute on a wall) are shown — brands with no real match are left off. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all gray from that brand.

Sherwin-Williams

1,947 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.29
All gray at Sherwin-Williams →
SW 7660 · #969A96 · ΔE 2.29 · LRV 32
SW 9132 · #969C92 · ΔE 3.08 · LRV 32
SW 7655 · #A0A09A · ΔE 3.91 · LRV 35
SW 9563 · #9E9D99 · ΔE 4.46 · LRV 34

Behr

5,644 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.33
All gray at Behr →
790B-4 · #969D9B · ΔE 1.33 · LRV 33
PPU11-16 · #9BA19E · ΔE 1.38 · LRV 35
HDC-SM16-02 · #99A1A1 · ΔE 2.28 · LRV 35
MQ6-22 · #9E9E9D · ΔE 4.6 · LRV 34

Valspar

2,858 colors in deck · best ΔE 0.98
All gray at Valspar →
M346 · #959C98 · ΔE 0.98 · LRV 32.3
V140-4 · #969B96 · ΔE 1.77 · LRV 32.3
V116-2 · #959C9C · ΔE 2.44 · LRV 32.5
V120-2 · #9A9B97 · ΔE 3.49 · LRV 32.5

PPG / Glidden

2,132 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.35
All gray at PPG / Glidden →
PPG0994-5 · #9C9F9A · ΔE 2.35 · LRV 34
PPG1036-4 · #919FA2 · ΔE 4.02 · LRV 33
PPG1011-4 · #999FA3 · ΔE 4.79 · LRV 34
PPG0995-5 · #9F9F9F · ΔE 4.98 · LRV 35

Glidden

3,101 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.87
All gray at Glidden →
PPG0994-5 · #9B9F9A · ΔE 1.87 · LRV 34
50GY 32/046 · #979C95 · ΔE 2.04 · LRV 32
PPG0995-5 · #9E9F9E · ΔE 4.12 · LRV 35
50BG 33/025 · #989DA0 · ΔE 4.48 · LRV 33

Dutch Boy

1,340 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.88
All gray at Dutch Boy →
425-4DB · #99A096 · ΔE 2.88 · LRV 34
430-4DB · #93A1A5 · ΔE 4.45 · LRV 35
429-4DB · #8B9FA0 · ΔE 4.94 · LRV 33
HGSW 1473 · #969A96 · ΔE 2.29 · LRV 32
HGSW 7660 · #969A96 · ΔE 2.29 · LRV 32
HGSW 3284 · #969C92 · ΔE 3.08 · LRV 32
HGSW 9132 · #969C92 · ΔE 3.08 · LRV 32

Dunn-Edwards

2,298 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.23
All gray at Dunn-Edwards →
DEC789 · #979D9A · ΔE 1.23 · LRV 31
DE6312 · #97A2A0 · ΔE 1.7 · LRV 33
DEGR68 · #999D9A · ΔE 2.07 · LRV 33
DESS37 · #939E9F · ΔE 2.76 · LRV 34

Magnolia Home

160 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.23
All gray at Magnolia Home →
JG-94 · #929898 · ΔE 3.23 · LRV 31
JG-75 · #97A399 · ΔE 3.61 · LRV 35
JG-84 · #91A1A4 · ΔE 4.37 · LRV 34

Farrow & Ball

302 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.12
All gray at Farrow & Ball →
NO. 265 · #9EA09D · ΔE 3.12 · LRV 35
NO. 25 · #9A9F94 · ΔE 3.44 · LRV 34

Diamond Vogel

1,386 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.25
All gray at Diamond Vogel →
0478 · #93A09B · ΔE 2.25 · LRV 34
0449 · #9DA39A · ΔE 2.77 · LRV 36
0464 · #96A59D · ΔE 3.9 · LRV 36

Hirshfield's

1,469 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.98
All gray at Hirshfield's →
0449 · #99A098 · ΔE 1.98 · LRV 35
0541 · #9D9E9D · ΔE 4.1 · LRV 35
0464 · #8FA099 · ΔE 4.13 · LRV 35
0526 · #99A1A5 · ΔE 4.5 · LRV 36

Rodda

357 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.01
All gray at Rodda →
R069 · #9CA19A · ΔE 2.01 · LRV 35
R068 · #9FA398 · ΔE 3.8 · LRV 36
R074 · #8DA09F · ΔE 4.37 · LRV 34
CA195 · #939DA2 · ΔE 4.83 · LRV 33

C2 Paint

580 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.6
All gray at C2 Paint →
C2-954 · #959E95 · ΔE 2.6 · LRV 33
C2-713 · #8D9F9C · ΔE 4.02 · LRV 33
C2-698 · #939E92 · ΔE 4.2 · LRV 33
C2-969 · #9B9B9B · ΔE 4.99 · LRV 33

Clare

78 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.73
All gray at Clare →
PNT100-DP-78 · #99AAA4 · ΔE 4.73 · LRV 38

Backdrop

30 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.01
All gray at Backdrop →
BD-NU · #A4A89F · ΔE 4.01 · LRV 38

Rust-Oleum

16 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.63
All gray at Rust-Oleum →
285141 · #8E948A · ΔE 4.63 · LRV 29

Kompozit

1,321 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.98
All gray at Kompozit →
0449 · #99A098 · ΔE 1.98 · LRV 34
0541 · #9D9E9D · ΔE 4.1 · LRV 34
0464 · #8FA099 · ΔE 4.13 · LRV 33
0526 · #99A1A5 · ΔE 4.5 · LRV 35

Similar Benjamin Moore colors

closest in the Benjamin Moore deck

The nearest shades to Puritan 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.

1600 · LRV 35
CSP-735 · LRV 33
2139-40 · LRV 34
1614 · LRV 35
2121-30 · LRV 34
AF-700 · LRV 36

Coordinated palette

Generated by hue-rotating #979F9B in HSL space. Pair Puritan Gray with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.

COMPLEMENTARY
#979F9B + #9F979B
TRIADIC
#979F9B · #9B979F · #9F9B97
ANALOGOUS
#979F97 · #979F9B · #979F9F

Accessibility (WCAG contrast)

Sample text on white
2.71:1fail
Sample text on black
7.75:1AAA

WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.

Benjamin Moore Puritan Gray Equivalents at Other Brands

Matching Puritan Gray from a different paint counter? Below is the single closest color in each major US deck and how close it really is. Remember that any paint store can also custom-tint Benjamin Moore HC-164 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.

Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Puritan Gray

Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Puritan Gray. The nearest is Bedrock (SW 9563) at ΔE 4.46 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 34 vs 34). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Bedrock swatch →

Behr Equivalent of Puritan Gray

Behr's nearest match is Puddle (790B-4), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.33). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 33 vs 34) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Puritan Gray without repainting risk. See the full Puddle swatch →

Valspar Equivalent of Puritan Gray

The closest Valspar equivalent of Puritan Gray is Summer Storm (M346). At ΔE 0.98 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and runs slightly darker (LRV 32.3 vs 34). If Valspar is your counter, order Summer Storm and you'll get the same color. See the full Summer Storm swatch →

PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Puritan Gray

At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Puritan Gray is Steel Curtain (PPG0994-5) — very close at ΔE 2.35, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 34 vs 34) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Steel Curtain swatch →

Glidden Equivalent of Puritan Gray

Glidden's nearest match is Steel Curtain (PPG0994-5), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.87). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 34 vs 34) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Puritan Gray without repainting risk. See the full Steel Curtain swatch →

Dutch Boy Equivalent of Puritan Gray

At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Puritan Gray is Antiquated Pewter (425-4DB) — very close at ΔE 2.88, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 34 vs 34) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Antiquated Pewter swatch →

HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Puritan Gray

At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Puritan Gray is Thorntree (HGSW 3284) — very close at ΔE 3.08, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 32 vs 34) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Thorntree swatch →

Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Puritan Gray

Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Light Gray (DEC789), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.23). It runs slightly darker (LRV 31 vs 34) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Puritan Gray without repainting risk. See the full Light Gray swatch →

Magnolia Home Equivalent of Puritan Gray

Magnolia Home has no exact twin of Puritan Gray. The nearest is Clean Slate (JG-75) at ΔE 3.61 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 35 vs 34). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Clean Slate swatch →

Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Puritan Gray

At Farrow & Ball, the closest color to Puritan Gray is Pigeon (NO. 25) — very close at ΔE 3.44, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 34 vs 34) and carries a cool green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Pigeon swatch →

Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Puritan Gray

At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Puritan Gray is Singing in the Rain (0478) — very close at ΔE 2.25, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 34 vs 34) and carries a cool green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Singing in the Rain swatch →

Hirshfield's Equivalent of Puritan Gray

Hirshfield's's nearest match is Cannon Ball (0449), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.98). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 35 vs 34) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Puritan Gray without repainting risk. See the full Cannon Ball swatch →

Rodda Equivalent of Puritan Gray

At Rodda, the closest color to Puritan Gray is On the Rocks (R069) — very close at ΔE 2.01, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 35 vs 34) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full On the Rocks swatch →

C2 Paint Equivalent of Puritan Gray

At C2 Paint, the closest color to Puritan Gray is Salix (C2-954) — very close at ΔE 2.6, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 33 vs 34) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Salix swatch →

Kompozit Equivalent of Puritan Gray

Kompozit's nearest match is Cannon Ball (0449), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.98). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 34 vs 34) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Puritan Gray without repainting risk. See the full Cannon Ball swatch →

EXPLORE MORE