Anchor Gray vs Smoke Gray
Both from Benjamin Moore's palette. These are both blue-greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue-grey to land. Smoke Gray (LRV 21) reflects noticeably more light than Anchor Gray (LRV 14), a difference of 8 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean blue, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. With a ΔE of 10.5, 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.
Anchor Gray vs Smoke Gray in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing Anchor Gray and Smoke Gray in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Smoke Gray reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
Anchor Gray vs Smoke Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Anchor Gray on one side and Smoke Gray 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 Anchor Gray comparisons
See how Anchor Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
