Gentle Gray vs RAL 820-1

Gentle GrayBenjamin MoorevsRAL 820-1RAL EffectΔE 2.5Subtle difference

Gentle Gray is a Benjamin Moore color while RAL 820-1 comes from RAL Effect. These are both blue-greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue-grey to land. With LRVs of 57 and 57, they'll behave almost identically in terms of how much light they reflect back into a room. With a ΔE of 2.5, the difference is subtle — you'd need them side by side to reliably tell them apart. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Gentle Gray vs RAL 820-1 in Real Spaces

3 real rooms side by side. Gentle Gray and RAL 820-1 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

Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.

Gentle GrayBenjamin Moore Gentle Gray hallway color

@primecoatpainting

RAL 820-1RAL Effect 820-1 living room

@visualization

Bedroom

Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. The two are close enough that the choice comes down to finer qualities — undertone, texture, what the color sits next to.

Gentle GrayBenjamin Moore Gentle Gray bedroom panelling

@briahammelinteriors

RAL 820-1RAL Effect 820-1 bedroom

@visualization

Bathroom

Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The two are close enough that the choice comes down to finer qualities — undertone, texture, what the color sits next to.

Gentle GrayBenjamin Moore Gentle Gray bathroom color review

@harmonyhaus

RAL 820-1RAL Effect 820-1 bathroom

@visualization

Color Details

Gentle Gray
Benjamin Moore · 1626
Hex#C0CACD
LRV57.2
BrandBenjamin Moore
Number1626
UndertoneBlue
TemperatureCool
BrightnessMedium
RAL 820-1
RAL Effect · RAL 820-1
Hex#C5C8CA
LRV57.3
BrandRAL Effect
NumberRAL 820-1
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessLight

Gentle Gray vs RAL 820-1 Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Gentle Gray on one side and RAL 820-1 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 Gentle Gray comparisons

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

White Dove
Gentle Gray
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Gentle Gray
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite reads slightly lighter

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

Gentle Gray is the lighter choice

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

Gentle Gray reads slightly lighter

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

Gentle Gray is the lighter choice

Mizzle
Gentle Gray
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Gentle Gray reads slightly lighter

Agreeable Gray
Gentle Gray
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray reads slightly lighter

Denim Drift
Gentle Gray
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Gentle Gray is the lighter choice

Tranquil Dawn
Gentle Gray
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Nearly identical in tone

Balboa Mist
Gentle Gray
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist reads slightly lighter

Vintage Vogue
Gentle Gray
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Gentle Gray is the lighter choice

Pale Green
Gentle Gray
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Gentle Gray is the lighter choice

Pine Needle
Gentle Gray
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Gentle Gray is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Gentle Gray
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Gentle Gray is the lighter choice

Black grey
Gentle Gray
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Gentle Gray is the lighter choice

Piazza
Gentle Gray
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza reads slightly lighter

Humble Yellow
Gentle Gray
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Nearly identical in tone

Windmill Lane
Gentle Gray
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Gentle Gray is the lighter choice

Senses
Gentle Gray
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Gentle Gray reads noticeably lighter

Lamp Black
Gentle Gray
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Gentle Gray is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
Gentle Gray
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Nearly identical in tone

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

Gentle Gray is the lighter choice

Thames Fog
Gentle Gray
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Gentle Gray is the lighter choice

Ocean Abyss
Gentle Gray
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Gentle Gray is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
Gentle Gray
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Gentle Gray reads slightly lighter

Teton Blue
Gentle Gray
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Gentle Gray is the lighter choice

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

RAL 110-2 reads noticeably lighter

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

RAL 110-1 reads noticeably lighter

Paper
Gentle Gray
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Gentle Gray
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Gentle Gray is the lighter choice