Lead Gray vs Windmill Lane

Lead GrayBenjamin MoorevsWindmill LaneLittle GreeneΔE 32.5Very different colors

Lead Gray (Benjamin Moore) and Windmill Lane (Little Greene) come from different manufacturers. Lead Gray reads as blue-grey, while Windmill Lane reads as green-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. The 22-point LRV gap — 31 for Windmill Lane vs 9 for Lead Gray — means Windmill Lane will open up a space more effectively. Where Lead Gray leans blue, Windmill Lane reads green — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 32.5 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Lead Gray vs Windmill Lane in Real Spaces

4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Lead Gray and Windmill Lane 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

A living room wall sees more varied light than almost any other surface in the house, which makes the choice between these two more nuanced than a chip suggests. Windmill Lane reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Lead Gray.

Lead GrayLead Gray living room picture

@jessicamcintyreinteriors

Windmill LaneWindmill Lane victorian living room

@our_big_renovation

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. Windmill Lane 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 bathroom paint review

@hemingway_interiors

Windmill LaneWindmill Lane bathroom vanity

@sarnova_interiors

Front Door

On a front door, the color is both the first and last thing you see — a context where even a modest tonal difference reads clearly. Windmill Lane reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Lead Gray.

Lead GrayBenjamin Moore Lead Gray front door color

@featherednestdesign_5

Windmill LaneWindmill Lane front door inspo

@decorinteriorsni

Kitchen Cabinets

Cabinet color is always seen in context — against countertops, backsplash, and hardware — which amplifies undertone differences that might disappear on a plain wall. Windmill Lane returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Lead GrayBenjamin Moore Lead Gray kitchen cabinets

@outoflinedesigns

Windmill LaneLittle Greene Windmill Lane kitchen cabinets paint review

@kevinrobinsspraying

Color Details

Lead Gray
Benjamin Moore · 2131-30
Hex#434E52
LRV9.1
BrandBenjamin Moore
Number2131-30
UndertoneBlue
TemperatureCool
BrightnessDark
Windmill Lane
Little Greene · 296
Hex#8E9B8A
LRV31.0
BrandLittle Greene
Number296
UndertoneGreen
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessMedium

Lead Gray vs Windmill Lane Simulated Comparison

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

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

Obsidian Green
Lead Gray
Obsidian Green
Little Greene
Obsidian Green
LRV 1

Lead Gray reads slightly lighter

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