Whisper White vs RAL 120-3 paint color comparison

Whisper White vs RAL 120-3

Whisper WhiteBehrvsRAL 120-3RAL EffectΔE 1.7Subtle difference

Where Whisper White belongs to Behr's range, RAL 120-3 is a RAL Effect color. Hue-wise, Whisper White belongs to the beige-white family and RAL 120-3 to the beige-greige family. Whisper White (LRV 89) reflects noticeably more light than RAL 120-3 (LRV 85), a difference of 4 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. At ΔE 1.7, 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 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Whisper White vs RAL 120-3 in Real Spaces

4 real rooms side by side. Whisper White and RAL 120-3 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.

Living Room

In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The brightness difference is modest but present — Whisper White gives the walls a little more lift.

Whisper WhiteBehr HDC-MD-08 hallway color

@caffeinatedcasa

RAL 120-3RAL Effect 120-3 living room walls

@visualization

Kitchen

In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Whisper White reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.

Whisper WhiteBehr HDC-MD-08 kitchen interior

@sherylsandersdesigns

RAL 120-3RAL Effect 120-3 kitchen review

@visualization

Bathroom

Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Whisper White reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.

Whisper WhiteBehr Whisper White boho bathroom paint

@diy_project_junkie

RAL 120-3RAL Effect 120-3 bathroom

@visualization

Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Whisper White reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.

Whisper WhiteBehr Whisper White kitchen cabinets color

@thehanshomestead

RAL 120-3RAL Effect 120-3 kitchen cabinets

@visualization

Color Details

Whisper White
Behr · HDC-MD-08
LRV89.1
BrandBehr
NumberHDC-MD-08
UndertoneYellow
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessLight
RAL 120-3
RAL Effect · RAL 120-3
LRV85.2
BrandRAL Effect
NumberRAL 120-3
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessLight

Whisper White vs RAL 120-3 Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Whisper White on one side and RAL 120-3 on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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 Whisper White comparisons

See how Whisper White stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

Whisper White
Ammonite
Whisper White
Ammonite
Behr
Whisper White
HDC-MD-08 · LRV 89
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

At LRV 89 vs 69, Whisper White is decisively the brighter choice.

Whisper White
White Dove
Whisper White
White Dove
Behr
Whisper White
HDC-MD-08 · LRV 89

Whisper White reads slightly lighter (LRV 89 vs 83), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.

Whisper White
Iron Ore
Whisper White
Iron Ore
Behr
Whisper White
HDC-MD-08 · LRV 89

Whisper White reflects far more light (LRV 89 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.

Whisper White
Purbeck Stone
Whisper White
Purbeck Stone
Behr
Whisper White
HDC-MD-08 · LRV 89

At LRV 89 vs 52, Whisper White is decisively the brighter choice.

Whisper White
Evergreen Fog
Whisper White
Evergreen Fog
Behr
Whisper White
HDC-MD-08 · LRV 89

At LRV 89 vs 30, Whisper White is decisively the brighter choice.

Whisper White
Mizzle
Whisper White
Mizzle
Behr
Whisper White
HDC-MD-08 · LRV 89
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Whisper White reflects far more light (LRV 89 vs 52), opening up a space where Mizzle encloses it.

Whisper White
Agreeable Gray
Whisper White
Agreeable Gray
Behr
Whisper White
HDC-MD-08 · LRV 89

At LRV 89 vs 60, Whisper White is decisively the brighter choice.

Whisper White
Accessible Beige
Whisper White
Accessible Beige
Behr
Whisper White
HDC-MD-08 · LRV 89

Whisper White reflects far more light (LRV 89 vs 58), opening up a space where Accessible Beige encloses it.

Whisper White
Denim Drift
Whisper White
Denim Drift
Behr
Whisper White
HDC-MD-08 · LRV 89

Whisper White reflects far more light (LRV 89 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.

Whisper White
French Gray
Whisper White
French Gray
Behr
Whisper White
HDC-MD-08 · LRV 89

At LRV 89 vs 43, Whisper White is decisively the brighter choice.

Whisper White
Naval
Whisper White
Naval
Behr
Whisper White
HDC-MD-08 · LRV 89
Sherwin-Williams
Naval
LRV 4

At LRV 89 vs 4, Whisper White is decisively the brighter choice.

Whisper White
Tranquil Dawn
Whisper White
Tranquil Dawn
Behr
Whisper White
HDC-MD-08 · LRV 89

Whisper White reflects far more light (LRV 89 vs 55), opening up a space where Tranquil Dawn encloses it.

Whisper White
Bancha
Whisper White
Bancha
Behr
Whisper White
HDC-MD-08 · LRV 89
Farrow & Ball
Bancha
LRV 13

Whisper White reflects far more light (LRV 89 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.

Whisper White
Hardwick White
Whisper White
Hardwick White
Behr
Whisper White
HDC-MD-08 · LRV 89

Whisper White reflects far more light (LRV 89 vs 44), opening up a space where Hardwick White encloses it.

Whisper White
Pure White
Whisper White
Pure White
Behr
Whisper White
HDC-MD-08 · LRV 89

A 5-point LRV gap (89 vs 84) makes Whisper White the marginally brighter of the two.

Whisper White
Artichoke
Whisper White
Artichoke
Behr
Whisper White
HDC-MD-08 · LRV 89
Sherwin-Williams
Artichoke
LRV 21

At LRV 89 vs 21, Whisper White is decisively the brighter choice.

Whisper White
Balboa Mist
Whisper White
Balboa Mist
Behr
Whisper White
HDC-MD-08 · LRV 89

Whisper White reflects far more light (LRV 89 vs 66), opening up a space where Balboa Mist encloses it.

Whisper White
Shoji White
Whisper White
Shoji White
Behr
Whisper White
HDC-MD-08 · LRV 89

Whisper White reflects far more light (LRV 89 vs 74), opening up a space where Shoji White encloses it.

Whisper White
Snowbound
Whisper White
Snowbound
Behr
Whisper White
HDC-MD-08 · LRV 89
Sherwin-Williams
Snowbound
LRV 83

Whisper White reads slightly lighter (LRV 89 vs 83), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.

Whisper White
Pigeon
Whisper White
Pigeon
Behr
Whisper White
HDC-MD-08 · LRV 89
Farrow & Ball
Pigeon
LRV 51

At LRV 89 vs 51, Whisper White is decisively the brighter choice.

Whisper White
Pewter Green
Whisper White
Pewter Green
Behr
Whisper White
HDC-MD-08 · LRV 89

Whisper White reflects far more light (LRV 89 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.

Whisper White
Duck Green
Whisper White
Duck Green
Behr
Whisper White
HDC-MD-08 · LRV 89

Whisper White reflects far more light (LRV 89 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.

Whisper White
Skimming Stone
Whisper White
Skimming Stone
Behr
Whisper White
HDC-MD-08 · LRV 89

Whisper White reflects far more light (LRV 89 vs 68), opening up a space where Skimming Stone encloses it.

Whisper White
Dix Blue
Whisper White
Dix Blue
Behr
Whisper White
HDC-MD-08 · LRV 89
Farrow & Ball
Dix Blue
LRV 41

At LRV 89 vs 41, Whisper White is decisively the brighter choice.

Whisper White
Hicks' Blue
Whisper White
Hicks' Blue
Behr
Whisper White
HDC-MD-08 · LRV 89

Whisper White vs Hicks' Blue

Whisper White
Slaked Lime Deep
Whisper White
Slaked Lime Deep
Behr
Whisper White
HDC-MD-08 · LRV 89

Whisper White vs Slaked Lime Deep

Whisper White
Vintage Vogue
Whisper White
Vintage Vogue
Behr
Whisper White
HDC-MD-08 · LRV 89

Whisper White reflects far more light (LRV 89 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.

Whisper White
Livid
Whisper White
Livid
Behr
Whisper White
HDC-MD-08 · LRV 89

Whisper White vs Livid

Whisper White
Saybrook Sage
Whisper White
Saybrook Sage
Behr
Whisper White
HDC-MD-08 · LRV 89

Whisper White reflects far more light (LRV 89 vs 45), opening up a space where Saybrook Sage encloses it.

Whisper White
Pale Green
Whisper White
Pale Green
Behr
Whisper White
HDC-MD-08 · LRV 89
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

At LRV 89 vs 31, Whisper White is decisively the brighter choice.

Whisper White vs RAL 120-3 Paint Color Comparison