Ebony Slate vs Iron Ore
Where Ebony Slate belongs to Benjamin Moore's range, Iron Ore is a Sherwin-Williams color. Hue-wise, Ebony Slate belongs to the blue-grey family and Iron Ore to the grey family. Ebony Slate (LRV 9) reflects noticeably more light than Iron Ore (LRV 6), a difference of 4 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Ebony Slate runs blue and purple while Iron Ore is decidedly neutral, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. The ΔE 7.8 gap is real but not dramatic — close enough to use together, distinct enough to matter as a choice. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Ebony Slate vs Iron Ore in Real Spaces
3 real rooms side by side. Ebony Slate and Iron Ore 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
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Ebony Slate reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Dining Room
A dining room lit by a dimmed pendant or candles is one of the most forgiving environments for paint — warm light softens almost everything. Ebony Slate has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Ebony Slate reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
Ebony Slate vs Iron Ore Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Ebony Slate 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 Ebony Slate comparisons
See how Ebony Slate stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
