Classic Gray vs RAL 340-M

Classic GrayBenjamin MoorevsRAL 340-MRAL EffectΔE 65.1Very different colors

Where Classic Gray belongs to Benjamin Moore's range, RAL 340-M is a RAL Effect color. Hue-wise, Classic Gray belongs to the beige-greige family and RAL 340-M to the pink family. Classic Gray (LRV 74) reflects noticeably more light than RAL 340-M (LRV 6), a difference of 68 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. With a ΔE of 65.1, 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 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Classic Gray vs RAL 340-M in Real Spaces

5 real rooms side by side. Seeing Classic Gray and RAL 340-M in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.

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 LRV gap is large enough that Classic Gray will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than RAL 340-M would.

Classic GrayBenjamin Moore Classic Gray living room makeover

@linseygalliart

RAL 340-MRAL Effect 340-M living room interior

@visualization

Bedroom

The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Classic Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 340-M.

Classic GrayOc-23 Bedroom

@thecolorconcierge

RAL 340-MRAL Effect 340-M bedroom

@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. Classic Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 340-M.

Classic GrayBenjamin Moore Classic Gray bathroom ensuite

@mhi.painting

RAL 340-MRAL Effect 340-M bathroom

@visualization

House

Seen across an entire facade, subtle tonal differences become pronounced. What reads as nearly the same on a chip often reads as clearly different at scale. Classic Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 340-M.

Classic GrayOc-23 Exterior

@amyfreemaninteriors

RAL 340-MRAL Effect 340-M victorian house interior

@visualization

Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Classic Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than RAL 340-M.

Classic GrayBenjamin Moore Classic Gray Kitchen Cabinets

@paintdoctorsllc

RAL 340-MRAL Effect 340-M kitchen cabinets

@visualization

Color Details

Classic Gray
Benjamin Moore · OC-23
Hex#E3E0D7
LRV73.7
BrandBenjamin Moore
NumberOC-23
UndertoneYellow
TemperatureWarm
BrightnessLight
RAL 340-M
RAL Effect · RAL 340-M
Hex#53353B
LRV5.6
BrandRAL Effect
NumberRAL 340-M
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessDark

Classic Gray vs RAL 340-M Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Classic Gray on one side and RAL 340-M 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 Classic Gray comparisons

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

White Dove
Classic Gray
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove reads slightly lighter

Ammonite
Classic Gray
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Classic Gray reads slightly lighter

Iron Ore
Classic Gray
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
Classic Gray
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Classic Gray reads noticeably lighter

Evergreen Fog
Classic Gray
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Mizzle
Classic Gray
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Classic Gray reads noticeably lighter

Agreeable Gray
Classic Gray
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Classic Gray reads noticeably lighter

Denim Drift
Classic Gray
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Tranquil Dawn
Classic Gray
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Classic Gray reads noticeably lighter

Balboa Mist
Classic Gray
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Classic Gray reads slightly lighter

Vintage Vogue
Classic Gray
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Pale Green
Classic Gray
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Pine Needle
Classic Gray
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Classic Gray
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Black grey
Classic Gray
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Piazza
Classic Gray
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Classic Gray reads slightly lighter

Humble Yellow
Classic Gray
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Classic Gray reads noticeably lighter

Windmill Lane
Classic Gray
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Senses
Classic Gray
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Lamp Black
Classic Gray
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
Classic Gray
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Classic Gray reads noticeably lighter

Tea with Florence
Classic Gray
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Thames Fog
Classic Gray
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Ocean Abyss
Classic Gray
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
Classic Gray
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

Teton Blue
Classic Gray
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Classic Gray is the lighter choice

RAL 110-2
Classic Gray
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

Nearly identical in tone

RAL 110-1
Classic Gray
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 reads slightly lighter

Paper
Classic Gray
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper reads noticeably lighter

Passageway
Classic Gray
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Classic Gray is the lighter choice