Imperial Gray vs Exhale
Imperial Gray (Benjamin Moore) and Exhale (Jotun) come from different manufacturers. Both sit in the green-grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 47 vs 49 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. Where Imperial Gray leans green, Exhale reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 2.5 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Imperial Gray vs Exhale in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Imperial Gray and Exhale 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.
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. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.
Kitchen
Kitchens often have the harshest, most revealing light in the house — under-cabinet LEDs and overhead fixtures that strip away subtlety. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.
Color Details
Imperial Gray vs Exhale Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Imperial Gray on one side and Exhale 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 Imperial Gray comparisons
See how Imperial Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 69 vs 47, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 47), opening up a space where Imperial Gray encloses it.
Imperial Gray reflects far more light (LRV 47 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
A 5-point LRV gap (52 vs 47) makes Purbeck Stone the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 47 vs 30, Imperial Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Mizzle reads slightly lighter (LRV 52 vs 47), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 60 vs 47, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reads slightly lighter (LRV 58 vs 47), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Imperial Gray reflects far more light (LRV 47 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
A 4-point LRV gap (47 vs 43) makes Imperial Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 47 vs 4, Imperial Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reads slightly lighter (LRV 55 vs 47), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Imperial Gray reflects far more light (LRV 47 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
Imperial Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 47 vs 44), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 84 vs 47, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 47 vs 21, Imperial Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 47), opening up a space where Imperial Gray encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 47), opening up a space where Imperial Gray encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 47), opening up a space where Imperial Gray encloses it.
A 4-point LRV gap (51 vs 47) makes Pigeon the marginally brighter of the two.
Imperial Gray reflects far more light (LRV 47 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Imperial Gray reflects far more light (LRV 47 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 47), opening up a space where Imperial Gray encloses it.
A 6-point LRV gap (47 vs 41) makes Imperial Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Imperial Gray reflects far more light (LRV 47 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
With LRVs of 47 and 45, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 47 vs 31, Imperial Gray is decisively the brighter choice.