LRV checker — light reflectance value calculator
Search a paint by name, paste any hex code, or use the color picker. The LRV calculates instantly, with band guidance for what the color is actually good for on a wall. Two-color contrast checker below — for trim against wall, or ADA signage.
Two-color LRV contrast (trim vs wall, ADA signage)
ADA signage requires 70% LRV contrast. For interior design: a difference of 30+ between wall and trim lets the trim read crisply. Under 15 and the trim disappears into the wall.
Want a live wall-and-trim preview and a plain verdict? Use the dedicatedcolor contrast checker →
LRV bands — what each range is actually for
| LRV | Band | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| 85+ | Bright whites | Ceilings, low-light rooms, trim against deep walls |
| 70–84 | Soft whites & pale neutrals | North-facing walls, kitchens, baths — bounces daylight |
| 50–69 | Mid-tone neutrals | Standard walls in well-lit rooms, designer greiges |
| 30–49 | Mid-deep saturation | Accent walls, dining rooms, primary bedroom walls |
| 15–29 | Deep & moody | Libraries, powder rooms, statement walls |
| Under 15 | Near-black | Trim, doors, cabinets, dramatic feature walls |
What LRV actually measures
LRV is the percentage of visible light a paint surface bounces back into the room. Zero is pure black, 100 is pure white. Every paint between those extremes has an LRV somewhere in the 3–95 range depending on hue and saturation. The number is calculated from the color's hex value — it's math, not a lab measurement, and any tool that knows your hex can derive it.
Why it matters more than the chip: paint chips lie. They're a 2-inch piece of cardstock in a paint-store light box. A wall is 12 feet of paint absorbing and bouncing light from windows, lamps, and ceiling fixtures. LRV tells you what the paint will actually do on the wall, before you commit. North-facing room with LRV 50 reads as dishwater grey. The same paint in a south-facing room reads as warm taupe. The number is the same. The room makes the difference.
The math, in plain words
Convert the hex to linear-light RGB (sRGB inverse companding), then weight the channels by how the human eye perceives them — about 21% red, 72% green, 7% blue. That's the Y component of the CIE XYZ color space. Multiply by 100 and round. The result is LRV. Same formula every paint manufacturer publishes.
When to use the contrast checker
- Trim against wall. Designers want 30+ LRV difference so the trim reads crisp under raking light. Under 15 and the trim dissolves into the wall — fine if you want a color-drenched look, intentional otherwise.
- ADA signage compliance. The federal standard is 70% LRV contrast between background and characters. If you're spec'ing wayfinding for a commercial space, the contrast number on the right has to be 70 or higher.
- Ceiling over wall. Standard "lift the ceiling" rule: pick a white at least 15 LRV higher than the wall color. The room reads taller.
How To Use LRV Results To Pick Paint
After you get your LRV number, use it as a filter, not a final answer. First, check the band table above and confirm the use case matches your room — if you're painting a north-facing bedroom and the color lands in LRV 30–49, you'll probably feel like the room is too dark once you live with it. Then pull actual paint chips from your top three choices, place them on your walls under all your room's real light sources (morning, afternoon, evening), and compare them in person. The chip won't lie to you once it's on your actual wall.
Why Hex-To-LRV Math Isn't A Lab Test
This tool calculates LRV from your hex using the same formula every paint manufacturer publishes — convert to linear-light RGB, weight by human eye perception, multiply by 100. It's mathematically sound. But the hex itself might not be accurate. A hex you grab from a website swatch, a screenshot, or a phone photo compresses color in ways the real paint won't match exactly. The LRV of that hex is correct; the hex's match to the actual paint is where error creeps in. For maximum confidence, always cross-check with the official LRV printed on the paint chip or brand's product page.
When LRV Alone Isn't Enough
LRV tells you brightness, but not character. Two colors can both be LRV 60 and read completely different on your wall — one might be a warm greige, the other a cool grey. Saturation (how pure or muted the color is) and undertone (which hue it leans toward) matter just as much for the final feel of the room. Use this tool to narrow down brightness range, then spend time with actual chips under your room's light before committing. The cheapest decision is three dollars in chips; the expensive one is a gallon you hate.
FAQ
Most light-filled living rooms land between LRV 55 and 75 for the walls — bright enough to bounce daylight back without glaring. North-facing rooms want the upper end (70+); south-facing rooms can take a richer 50–60.
Most major brands print it on the back of the chip card or the product page — Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams, Farrow & Ball, Behr, Clare all publish it. If a brand hides it, paste the hex above and the math gives you the answer.
No. LRV is the color of the dried film. A matte and a semi-gloss of the same color share an LRV. What changes is how the surface bounces specular light at one angle — gloss reads "brighter" but the LRV number is identical.
No. High-LRV walls can read sterile or chalky under strong direct sun, and they wash out architecture. A dining room or library often wants LRV 10–25 so the moldings and art read against the wall instead of dissolving into it.
Surroundings. A mid-LRV wall surrounded by white trim and high ceilings reads brighter; the same paint in a low-ceilinged room with dark floors reads ten points darker. LRV is the paint's own number, not the room's.
Partly. The LRV checker tells you how bright or dark a color will read on your wall — that's real information you can act on. But LRV is just one number. The hue, saturation, and undertone matter too. Use this tool to narrow down the brightness range, then get actual paint chips from the store to see undertone and saturation in your room's light.
Take a photo in even daylight (no direct sun, no shadows), use a color picker tool or phone app to extract the hex from the wall or object, then paste it here. The LRV will calculate, but remember: photo colors shift based on camera white balance and lighting. It's a starting point, not a lab reading.
No. LRV is tied to the color itself — the hex. The same Benjamin Moore color mixed as interior matte, exterior satin, or deck stain all share one LRV. What changes is durability, sheen, and UV fade over time outdoors. The brightness reading stays constant.
The math is exact — every paint brand uses the same formula. But the hex itself may not match reality. A hex from an online swatch or screenshot compresses color in ways the real painted wall won't. The LRV is accurate for that hex; accuracy depends on how faithfully the hex represents the actual paint.
Yes. If you want a mid-tone neutral (LRV 50–69), any color in that range from any brand will read the same brightness in your room. Colors are mixed to order, so brands can match each other. This tool pairs with the hex-to-paint matcher so you can find equivalent colors across all major brands.
LRV measures only brightness — how much light bounces back. Saturation is how pure or muted the hue is (vivid red vs dusty red). Undertone is which hue the color leans toward (warm beige vs cool beige). Two colors can have identical LRV 60 but read completely different because of saturation and undertone. Use this tool for brightness, then check chips for hue character.