Shaker Gray vs Software
Where Shaker Gray belongs to Benjamin Moore's range, Software is a Sherwin-Williams color. These are both greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within grey to land. Shaker Gray (LRV 26) reflects noticeably more light than Software (LRV 23), a difference of 3 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Shaker Gray runs blue while Software is decidedly neutral, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. At ΔE 2.0, these are close — the kind of difference that matters when choosing between them, but doesn't read strongly in a finished room. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Shaker Gray vs Software in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Shaker Gray and Software 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.
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. Shaker Gray reads slightly lighter here — a subtle but real difference in how open the space feels.
Color Details
Shaker Gray vs Software Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Shaker Gray on one side and Software 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 Shaker Gray comparisons
See how Shaker Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
