Metro Gray vs S 1500-N
Metro Gray (Benjamin Moore) and S 1500-N (NCS) come from different manufacturers. Hue-wise, Metro Gray belongs to the grey family and S 1500-N to the greige-grey family. The 6-point LRV gap — 64 for S 1500-N vs 58 for Metro Gray — means S 1500-N will open up a space more effectively. Where Metro Gray leans yellow, S 1500-N reads warm — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. ΔE 3.3 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Metro Gray vs S 1500-N in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Metro Gray and S 1500-N 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.
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. S 1500-N has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Color Details
Metro Gray vs S 1500-N Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Metro Gray on one side and S 1500-N 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 Metro Gray comparisons
See how Metro Gray 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, Metro Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Metro Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 58 vs 52), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Metro Gray reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
A 7-point LRV gap (58 vs 52) makes Metro Gray 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, Metro Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Metro Gray reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 43), opening up a space where French Gray encloses it.
Metro Gray reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 4), opening up a space where Naval encloses it.
A 3-point LRV gap (58 vs 55) makes Metro Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 58 vs 13, Metro Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 58 vs 44, Metro Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 58), opening up a space where Metro Gray encloses it.
Metro Gray reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 21), opening up a space where Artichoke encloses it.
A 7-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, Metro Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
A 10-point LRV gap (68 vs 58) makes Skimming Stone the marginally brighter of the two.
Metro Gray 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.
Metro Gray reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 25), opening up a space where Treron encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 12, Metro Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 58 vs 45, Metro Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Metro Gray reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.
Metro Gray reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.
Metro Gray 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.