San Carlos Tan vs Pure White
Where San Carlos Tan belongs to Benjamin Moore's range, Pure White is a Sherwin-Williams color. San Carlos Tan reads as beige, while Pure White reads as beige-greige — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Pure White (LRV 84) reflects noticeably more light than San Carlos Tan (LRV 42), a difference of 42 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. San Carlos Tan runs red while Pure White is decidedly warm, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 29.7, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below, 5 simulated room previews show how each color reads at scale — real-room photos will be added as they become available.
Color Details
San Carlos Tan vs Pure White Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see San Carlos Tan on one side and Pure White 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 San Carlos Tan comparisons
See how San Carlos Tan stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 42), opening up a space where San Carlos Tan encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 42, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
San Carlos Tan reflects far more light (LRV 42 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
A 10-point LRV gap (52 vs 42) makes Purbeck Stone the marginally brighter of the two.
A 11-point LRV gap (42 vs 30) makes San Carlos Tan the marginally brighter of the two.
Mizzle reads slightly lighter (LRV 52 vs 42), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 60 vs 42, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 42), opening up a space where San Carlos Tan encloses it.
San Carlos Tan reflects far more light (LRV 42 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 43 vs 42), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 42 vs 4, San Carlos Tan is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 42), opening up a space where San Carlos Tan encloses it.
San Carlos Tan reflects far more light (LRV 42 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
With LRVs of 44 and 42, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 42 vs 21, San Carlos Tan is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 42), opening up a space where San Carlos Tan encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 42), opening up a space where San Carlos Tan encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 42), opening up a space where San Carlos Tan encloses it.
San Carlos Tan reflects far more light (LRV 42 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 42), opening up a space where San Carlos Tan encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 42 vs 41), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 68 vs 42, Calamine is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 42 vs 25, San Carlos Tan is decisively the brighter choice.
San Carlos Tan reflects far more light (LRV 42 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Saybrook Sage reads slightly lighter (LRV 45 vs 42), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
A 11-point LRV gap (42 vs 31) makes San Carlos Tan the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 42 vs 7, San Carlos Tan is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 42 vs 24, San Carlos Tan is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 57 vs 42, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 72 vs 42, Just Walnut is decisively the brighter choice.