Whale Gray vs Graphite black
Where Whale Gray belongs to Behr's range, Graphite black is a RAL Classic color. These are both blue-greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue-grey to land. Whale Gray (LRV 13) reflects noticeably more light than Graphite black (LRV 5), a difference of 8 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. At ΔE 2.2, these are close — the kind of difference that matters when choosing between them, but doesn't read strongly in a finished room. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Whale Gray vs Graphite black in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Whale Gray and Graphite black are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Whale Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Graphite black.
Color Details
Whale Gray vs Graphite black Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Whale Gray on one side and Graphite black on the other.
Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.
More Whale Gray comparisons
See how Whale Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
Ammonite reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 13), opening up a space where Whale Gray encloses it.
At LRV 83 vs 13, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
A 7-point LRV gap (13 vs 6) makes Whale Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 13), opening up a space where Whale Gray encloses it.
Evergreen Fog reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 13), opening up a space where Whale Gray encloses it.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 13), opening up a space where Whale Gray encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 13, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 27 vs 13, Denim Drift is decisively the brighter choice.
French Gray reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 13), opening up a space where Whale Gray encloses it.
Whale Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 13 vs 4), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 55 vs 13, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 13 vs 13), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 44 vs 13, Hardwick White is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 13), opening up a space where Whale Gray encloses it.
Artichoke reads slightly lighter (LRV 21 vs 13), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 66 vs 13, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 13, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 83 vs 13, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.
Pigeon reflects far more light (LRV 51 vs 13), opening up a space where Whale Gray encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 13 vs 12), so neither reads brighter in a room.
A 5-point LRV gap (13 vs 8) makes Whale Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 68 vs 13, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Dix Blue reflects far more light (LRV 41 vs 13), opening up a space where Whale Gray encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 13 vs 12), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 45 vs 13, Saybrook Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
Pale Green reflects far more light (LRV 31 vs 13), opening up a space where Whale Gray encloses it.