Puritan Gray vs Iron Ore
Puritan Gray (Benjamin Moore) and Iron Ore (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Both sit in the grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. The 29-point LRV gap — 34 for Puritan Gray vs 6 for Iron Ore — means Puritan Gray will open up a space more effectively. Where Puritan Gray leans green, Iron Ore reads neutral — a distinction that shifts noticeably depending on the light source and surrounding finishes. A ΔE of 36.5 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.
Puritan Gray vs Iron Ore in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Puritan 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.
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. Puritan Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Iron Ore.
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. Puritan Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
House
A full exterior is the most demanding test for a paint color — scale and outdoor light both amplify differences that seem small on a swatch. Puritan 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
Cabinet color is always seen in context — against countertops, backsplash, and hardware — which amplifies undertone differences that might disappear on a plain wall. Puritan Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.
Color Details
Puritan Gray vs Iron Ore Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Puritan 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 Puritan Gray comparisons
See how Puritan Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
Ammonite reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 34), opening up a space where Puritan Gray encloses it.
At LRV 83 vs 34, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 34), opening up a space where Puritan Gray encloses it.
Puritan Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 34 vs 30), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 52 vs 34, Mizzle is decisively the brighter choice.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 34), opening up a space where Puritan Gray encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 34, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
A 7-point LRV gap (34 vs 27) makes Puritan Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
French Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 43 vs 34), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Puritan Gray reflects far more light (LRV 34 vs 4), opening up a space where Naval encloses it.
At LRV 55 vs 34, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 34 vs 13, Puritan Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
A 9-point LRV gap (44 vs 34) makes Hardwick White the marginally brighter of the two.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 34), opening up a space where Puritan Gray encloses it.
Puritan Gray reflects far more light (LRV 34 vs 21), opening up a space where Artichoke encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 34, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 34, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 83 vs 34, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.
Pigeon reflects far more light (LRV 51 vs 34), opening up a space where Puritan Gray encloses it.
At LRV 34 vs 12, Puritan Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 34 vs 8, Puritan Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 34, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Dix Blue reads slightly lighter (LRV 41 vs 34), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 34 vs 12, Puritan Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
A 11-point LRV gap (45 vs 34) makes Saybrook Sage the marginally brighter of the two.
Puritan Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 34 vs 31), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Puritan Gray reflects far more light (LRV 34 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.