Lead Gray vs Obsidian Green

Lead GrayBenjamin MoorevsObsidian GreenLittle GreeneΔE 23.0Distinct difference

Lead Gray is a Benjamin Moore color while Obsidian Green comes from Little Greene. Lead Gray reads as blue-grey, while Obsidian Green reads as green — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. At LRV 9 vs 1, Lead Gray will read as the brighter of the two — a 8-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. The tonal difference — Lead Gray's blue character against Obsidian Green's green — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 23.0, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Lead Gray vs Obsidian Green in Real Spaces

5 real rooms side by side. Seeing Lead Gray and Obsidian Green 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. Lead Gray has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.

Lead GrayLead Gray living room picture

@jessicamcintyreinteriors

Obsidian GreenLittle Greene Obsidian Green 216 living room

@elaine_athome

Bathroom

Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The brightness difference is modest but present — Lead Gray gives the walls a little more lift.

Lead GrayLead Gray bathroom paint review

@hemingway_interiors

Obsidian GreenLittle Greene Obsidian Green 216 bathroom

@houseobsessed

House

At full exterior scale, the difference between these two colors becomes much easier to judge than from a small chip. The brightness difference is modest but present — Lead Gray gives the walls a little more lift.

Lead GrayLead Gray exterior color

@zucconworks

Obsidian GreenLittle Greene Obsidian Green 216 door

@townshomerefurbishment

Front Door

Front doors are seen in isolation against the rest of the facade, which makes them a high-stakes surface where even subtle differences matter. Lead Gray has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.

Lead GrayBenjamin Moore Lead Gray front door color

@featherednestdesign_5

Obsidian GreenLittle Greene Obsidian Green front door paint

@wellergreenlimited

Kitchen Cabinets

On cabinetry, undertone and temperature become more pronounced against countertops and hardware. The brightness difference is modest but present — Lead Gray gives the walls a little more lift.

Lead GrayBenjamin Moore Lead Gray kitchen cabinets

@outoflinedesigns

Obsidian GreenLittle Greene Obsidian Green 216 kitchen cabinets

@nwspecialistcoatings

Color Details

Lead Gray
Benjamin Moore · 2131-30
Hex#434E52
LRV9.1
BrandBenjamin Moore
Number2131-30
UndertoneBlue
TemperatureCool
BrightnessDark
Obsidian Green
Little Greene · 216
Hex#132019
LRV1.2
BrandLittle Greene
Number216
UndertoneGreen
TemperatureCool
BrightnessDark

Lead Gray vs Obsidian Green Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Lead Gray on one side and Obsidian Green 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