Imperial Yellow vs Viking Yellow
Both from Benjamin Moore's palette. These are both beige-yellows, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within beige-yellow to land. Viking Yellow (LRV 63) reflects noticeably more light than Imperial Yellow (LRV 58), a difference of 5 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Imperial Yellow runs red while Viking Yellow is decidedly yellow, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 15.1, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
Imperial Yellow vs Viking Yellow Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Imperial Yellow on one side and Viking Yellow 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 Yellow comparisons
See how Imperial Yellow stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 58, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Ammonite reads slightly lighter (LRV 69 vs 58), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 58 vs 6, Imperial Yellow is decisively the brighter choice.
Imperial Yellow reads slightly lighter (LRV 58 vs 52), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Imperial Yellow reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
A 6-point LRV gap (58 vs 52) makes Imperial Yellow the marginally brighter of the two.
With LRVs of 60 and 58, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 58 vs 58), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 58 vs 27, Imperial Yellow is decisively the brighter choice.
Imperial Yellow reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 43), opening up a space where French Gray encloses it.
Imperial Yellow reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 4), opening up a space where Naval encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 58 vs 55), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 58 vs 13, Imperial Yellow is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 58 vs 44, Imperial Yellow is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 58), opening up a space where Imperial Yellow encloses it.
Imperial Yellow reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 21), opening up a space where Artichoke encloses it.
A 8-point LRV gap (66 vs 58) makes Balboa Mist the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 74 vs 58, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 83 vs 58, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 58 vs 12, Imperial Yellow is decisively the brighter choice.
A 10-point LRV gap (68 vs 58) makes Skimming Stone the marginally brighter of the two.
Imperial Yellow reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 41), opening up a space where Dix Blue encloses it.
Calamine reads slightly lighter (LRV 68 vs 58), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Imperial Yellow reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 25), opening up a space where Treron encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 12, Imperial Yellow is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 58 vs 45, Imperial Yellow is decisively the brighter choice.
Imperial Yellow reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.
Imperial Yellow reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.
Imperial Yellow reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 24), opening up a space where Cement grey encloses it.
With LRVs of 58 and 57, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.