Gray Lake vs Iron Ore

Gray LakeBenjamin MoorevsIron OreSherwin-WilliamsΔE 63.2Very different colors

Gray Lake (Benjamin Moore) and Iron Ore (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Gray Lake belongs to the green-grey family and Iron Ore to the grey family. The 73-point LRV gap — 79 for Gray Lake vs 6 for Iron Ore — means Gray Lake will open up a space more effectively. Where Gray Lake leans green, Iron Ore reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 63.2 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Gray Lake vs Iron Ore in Real Spaces

2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Gray Lake 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.

Bedroom

Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. Gray Lake returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Gray LakeBenjamin Moore Gray Lake bedroom paint review

@freshcoat2022

Iron OreBedroom painted in Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore

@mybudgetrecipes

Bathroom

Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. Gray Lake returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Gray LakeBenjamin Moore Gray Lake bathroom decor

@kristin_egan_dewey

Iron OreGray bathroom in Iron Ore by Sherwin Williams

@mybudgetrecipes

Color Details

Gray Lake
Benjamin Moore · 2138-70
Hex#E4E8E2
LRV78.8
BrandBenjamin Moore
Number2138-70
UndertoneGreen
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessLight
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams · 7069
Hex#434341
LRV5.5
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number7069
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessDark

Gray Lake vs Iron Ore Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Gray Lake on one side and Iron Ore 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 Gray Lake comparisons

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

White Dove
Gray Lake
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove reads slightly lighter

Ammonite
Gray Lake
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Gray Lake reads slightly lighter

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

Gray Lake is the lighter choice

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

Gray Lake is the lighter choice

Mizzle
Gray Lake
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Gray Lake is the lighter choice

Agreeable Gray
Gray Lake
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Gray Lake reads noticeably lighter

Accessible Beige
Gray Lake
Accessible Beige
Sherwin-Williams
Accessible Beige
LRV 58

Gray Lake reads noticeably lighter

Denim Drift
Gray Lake
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Gray Lake is the lighter choice

Tranquil Dawn
Gray Lake
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Gray Lake reads noticeably lighter

Balboa Mist
Gray Lake
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Gray Lake reads noticeably lighter

Vintage Vogue
Gray Lake
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Gray Lake is the lighter choice

Pale Green
Gray Lake
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Gray Lake is the lighter choice

Pine Needle
Gray Lake
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Gray Lake is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Gray Lake
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Gray Lake is the lighter choice

Black grey
Gray Lake
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Gray Lake is the lighter choice

Piazza
Gray Lake
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Gray Lake reads noticeably lighter

Humble Yellow
Gray Lake
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Gray Lake reads noticeably lighter

Windmill Lane
Gray Lake
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Gray Lake is the lighter choice

Senses
Gray Lake
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Gray Lake is the lighter choice

Lamp Black
Gray Lake
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Gray Lake is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
Gray Lake
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Gray Lake reads noticeably lighter

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

Gray Lake is the lighter choice

Thames Fog
Gray Lake
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Gray Lake is the lighter choice

Ocean Abyss
Gray Lake
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Gray Lake is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
Gray Lake
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Gray Lake is the lighter choice

Teton Blue
Gray Lake
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Gray Lake is the lighter choice

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

Gray Lake reads slightly lighter

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

Nearly identical in tone

Paper
Gray Lake
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper reads slightly lighter

Passageway
Gray Lake
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Gray Lake is the lighter choice