Lead Gray vs Providence Blue

Both are Benjamin Moore colors. Both sit in the blue-grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. At LRV 19 vs 9, Providence Blue will read as the brighter of the two — a 10-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. They share a blue quality — useful to know if you're layering them in the same space. At ΔE 17.4, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Lead Gray vs Providence Blue in Real Spaces

4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Lead Gray and Providence Blue in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.

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. Providence Blue returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Lead GrayLead Gray living room picture

@jessicamcintyreinteriors

Providence BlueBenjamin Moore Providence Blue Living Room Fireplace

@the_woodys_place

Bathroom

Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The LRV gap is large enough that Providence Blue will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Lead Gray would.

Lead GrayLead Gray bathroom paint review

@hemingway_interiors

Providence BlueBenjamin Moore Providence Blue bathroom vanity color review

@engelvolkersatlanta

House

At full exterior scale, the difference between these two colors becomes much easier to judge than from a small chip. The LRV gap is large enough that Providence Blue will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Lead Gray would.

Lead GrayLead Gray exterior color

@zucconworks

Providence BlueProvidence Blue house exterior color

@tophergram67

Kitchen Cabinets

On cabinetry, undertone and temperature become more pronounced against countertops and hardware. The LRV gap is large enough that Providence Blue will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Lead Gray would.

Lead GrayBenjamin Moore Lead Gray kitchen cabinets

@outoflinedesigns

Providence BlueProvidence Blue kitchen cabinets photo

@stead_kitchen_design

Color Details

Lead Gray
Benjamin Moore · 2131-30
Hex#434E52
LRV9.1
BrandBenjamin Moore
Number2131-30
UndertoneBlue
TemperatureCool
BrightnessDark
Providence Blue
Benjamin Moore · 1636
Hex#66797F
LRV19.2
BrandBenjamin Moore
Number1636
UndertoneBlue
TemperatureCool
BrightnessDark

Lead Gray vs Providence Blue Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Lead Gray on one side and Providence Blue 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 Lead Gray comparisons

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

White Dove
Lead Gray
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Lead Gray
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

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

Lead Gray reads slightly lighter

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

Purbeck Stone is the lighter choice

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

Evergreen Fog reads noticeably lighter

Mizzle
Lead Gray
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle is the lighter choice

Agreeable Gray
Lead Gray
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray is the lighter choice

Denim Drift
Lead Gray
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Denim Drift reads noticeably lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Lead Gray
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn is the lighter choice

Balboa Mist
Lead Gray
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Vintage Vogue
Lead Gray
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Nearly identical in tone

Pale Green
Lead Gray
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Pale Green reads noticeably lighter

Pine Needle
Lead Gray
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Nearly identical in tone

Cement grey
Lead Gray
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Cement grey reads noticeably lighter

Black grey
Lead Gray
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Nearly identical in tone

Piazza
Lead Gray
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza is the lighter choice

Humble Yellow
Lead Gray
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow is the lighter choice

Windmill Lane
Lead Gray
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Windmill Lane reads noticeably lighter

Senses
Lead Gray
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Senses is the lighter choice

Lamp Black
Lead Gray
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Lead Gray reads slightly lighter

Washed Linen
Lead Gray
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen is the lighter choice

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

Tea with Florence reads slightly lighter

Thames Fog
Lead Gray
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Thames Fog reads noticeably lighter

Ocean Abyss
Lead Gray
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Nearly identical in tone

Classic Silver
Lead Gray
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver is the lighter choice

Teton Blue
Lead Gray
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Teton Blue reads noticeably lighter

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

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

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

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Lead Gray
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Lead Gray
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Passageway reads slightly lighter