Sherwin-Williams Agreeable GrayvsBenjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray
Why this comparison: The flagship Sherwin-Williams greige against Benjamin Moore’s — the most common cross-brand greige shortlist in US paint. Agreeable Gray and Edgecomb Gray are very close (ΔE 2.86). 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
Edgecomb Gray is slightly lighter (LRV 63 vs 60, 3-point delta).
What Each Color Really Is
A warm gray built on a taupe base, not a beige one — and that distinction explains almost everything about how it behaves. Beige-based neutrals carry yellow, so they stay warm no matter what the light does. Agreeable Gray carries a soft brown-violet instead, which is why it reads gray first and warm second, and why the warmth can switch off when the light turns cool. Sherwin-Williams sells it as the agreeable one because it refuses to commit to an undertone, and that refusal is both the reason it goes on more American walls than almost any other color and the reason a small share of people hate it.
At LRV 60 it reflects a bit more than half the light that lands on it, which puts it in the mid-light band — light enough to open a room, not light enough to act as a bright neutral. The number looks close to Revere Pewter (HC-172) at 56, but on a wall the gap feels bigger than four points because Revere Pewter also carries green and reads a full step heavier and more traditional. Put Agreeable Gray beside a real off-white like Alabaster (SW 7008) at LRV 82 and the comparison is honest: this is a color, not a pale wash, and it will hold visible shadow in corners and behind furniture.
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.
Specs Side by Side
| Spec | Agreeable Gray | Edgecomb Gray |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams | Benjamin Moore |
| SKU | SW 7029 | HC-173 |
| Hex | #D1CBC1 | #D9D3C4 |
| RGB | 209, 203, 193 | 217, 211, 196 |
| LRV | 60 | 63 |
| Undertone | red-orange / warm | red-orange / warm |
| Family | Neutral | Neutral |
How Light Changes Them
Warms up and looks its softest and lightest. Can wash toward a pale beige at midday — most people love it anyway.
The warmth drains out. Gray, sometimes violet, often just dingy. Sample this room first — or go warmer.
2700K lamps push it cozy and beige. 4000K daylight bulbs pull the gray out and can trigger the violet. Swap bulbs before you repaint.
One color, two rooms, two looks: warm and beige by the south windows, gray and cool in the shaded corner. Fine if you expect it, jarring if you don't.
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.
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-house flow in rooms with real daylight · open-plan main floors · kitchen and bath cabinets with brass or matte black · anyone who thinks beige is too yellow and gray is too cold
Your room is north-facing and dim · your trim or cabinets are cream · your tile, counters or flooring lean cool violet-gray · you want a wall color with an actual opinion
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
No comparison page can see your light. Upload one photo of your room and try both colors on the same walls, seconds apart.
Agreeable Gray vs Edgecomb Gray FAQ
Which is lighter, Agreeable Gray or Edgecomb Gray?
Edgecomb Gray is lighter: LRV 63 vs 60. Edgecomb Gray is slightly lighter (LRV 63 vs 60, 3-point delta).
Which is warmer, Agreeable Gray or Edgecomb Gray?
They share the same undertone family — both read red-orange / warm. The difference between them is lightness and depth, not temperature.
How similar are Agreeable Gray and Edgecomb Gray?
Agreeable Gray and Edgecomb Gray are very close (ΔE 2.86). 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 Agreeable Gray and Edgecomb Gray together in one house?
Not in the same room, and be careful in the same house. At ΔE 2.86 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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