Amsterdam vs Iron Ore
Where Amsterdam belongs to Benjamin Moore's range, Iron Ore is a Sherwin-Williams color. Amsterdam reads as blue-grey, while Iron Ore reads as grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Amsterdam (LRV 29) reflects noticeably more light than Iron Ore (LRV 6), a difference of 24 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Amsterdam runs blue while Iron Ore is decidedly neutral, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 33.1, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Amsterdam vs Iron Ore in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing Amsterdam and Iron Ore in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Color Details
Amsterdam vs Iron Ore Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Amsterdam on one side and Iron Ore 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 Amsterdam comparisons
See how Amsterdam stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 29, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 29), opening up a space where Amsterdam encloses it.
With LRVs of 30 and 29, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 29), opening up a space where Amsterdam encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 29, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 29 vs 27), so neither reads brighter in a room.
French Gray reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 29), opening up a space where Amsterdam encloses it.
At LRV 55 vs 29, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 44 vs 29, Hardwick White is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 29), opening up a space where Amsterdam encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 29, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 29, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 29 vs 12, Amsterdam is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 29, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 29 vs 12, Amsterdam is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 45 vs 29, Saybrook Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 31 and 29, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Amsterdam reflects far more light (LRV 29 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.
Amsterdam reads slightly lighter (LRV 29 vs 24), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Guilford Green reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 29), opening up a space where Amsterdam encloses it.
Just Walnut reflects far more light (LRV 72 vs 29), opening up a space where Amsterdam encloses it.