Benjamin Moore Puritan Gray#979F9B · LRV 34
Puritan Gray reads as a true neutral (no measurable hue) — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover the spec, what Benjamin Moore HC-164 actually looks like under different light, and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Color spec
| Brand | Benjamin Moore |
| Name | Puritan Gray |
| SKU | HC-164 |
| Hex | #979F9B |
| RGB | 151, 159, 155 |
| HSL | 150°, 4%, 61% |
| LRV | 34 |
| Undertone | true neutral (no measurable hue) |
| Family | Gray |
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.
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
Dunn-Edwards
Behr
Sherwin-Williams
Magnolia Home
PPG / Glidden
Backdrop
Farrow & Ball
Clare
Similar Benjamin Moore colors
closest in the Benjamin Moore deckThe 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.
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.
Accessibility (WCAG contrast)
WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.