Oxford Gray vs Iron Ore
Where Oxford Gray belongs to Benjamin Moore's range, Iron Ore is a Sherwin-Williams color. Hue-wise, Oxford Gray belongs to the blue-grey family and Iron Ore to the grey family. Oxford Gray (LRV 29) reflects noticeably more light than Iron Ore (LRV 6), a difference of 23 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Oxford Gray runs blue while Iron Ore is decidedly neutral, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 32.9, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Oxford Gray vs Iron Ore in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Oxford Gray and Iron Ore in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Oxford Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
Bathroom
Bathrooms are one of the few spaces where you're genuinely enclosed by the paint color, which makes the choice between these two more consequential. Oxford Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
Mudroom
Mudrooms are seen in passing, often under whatever light comes through the door — a context that favors colors with some depth. Oxford Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets are constantly compared against adjacent materials, which means subtle differences between these two become much more visible. Oxford Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
Color Details
Oxford Gray vs Iron Ore Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Oxford Gray on one side and Iron Ore 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 Oxford Gray comparisons
See how Oxford Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 29, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Ammonite reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 29), opening up a space where Oxford Gray encloses it.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 29), opening up a space where Oxford Gray encloses it.
With LRVs of 30 and 29, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 52 vs 29, Mizzle is decisively the brighter choice.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 29), opening up a space where Oxford Gray encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 29, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 29 vs 27), so neither reads brighter in a room.
French Gray reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 29), opening up a space where Oxford Gray encloses it.
Oxford Gray reflects far more light (LRV 29 vs 4), opening up a space where Naval encloses it.
At LRV 55 vs 29, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 29 vs 13, Oxford Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 44 vs 29, Hardwick White is decisively the brighter choice.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 29), opening up a space where Oxford Gray encloses it.
Oxford Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 29 vs 21), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 66 vs 29, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 29, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 83 vs 29, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 29 vs 12, Oxford Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 29, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Dix Blue reflects far more light (LRV 41 vs 29), opening up a space where Oxford Gray encloses it.
Calamine reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 29), opening up a space where Oxford Gray encloses it.
Oxford Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 29 vs 25), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 29 vs 12, Oxford Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 45 vs 29, Saybrook Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 31 and 29, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Oxford Gray reflects far more light (LRV 29 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.
Oxford Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 29 vs 24), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Guilford Green reflects far more light (LRV 57 vs 29), opening up a space where Oxford Gray encloses it.
Just Walnut reflects far more light (LRV 72 vs 29), opening up a space where Oxford Gray encloses it.