Smoke Gray vs Iron Ore
Smoke Gray is a Benjamin Moore color while Iron Ore comes from Sherwin-Williams. Hue-wise, Smoke Gray belongs to the blue-grey family and Iron Ore to the grey family. At LRV 21 vs 6, Smoke Gray will read as the brighter of the two — a 16-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. The tonal difference — Smoke Gray's blue character against Iron Ore's neutral — becomes most visible against white trim or in morning light. At ΔE 23.7, these are genuinely distinct colors — a strong contrast if used together, or a meaningful choice between two different directions. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Smoke Gray vs Iron Ore in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Smoke 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.
Bathroom
Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The LRV gap is large enough that Smoke Gray will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Iron Ore would.
Kitchen Cabinets
On cabinetry, undertone and temperature become more pronounced against countertops and hardware. The LRV gap is large enough that Smoke Gray will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Iron Ore would.
Color Details
Smoke Gray vs Iron Ore Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Smoke 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 Smoke Gray comparisons
See how Smoke Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 21), opening up a space where Smoke Gray encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 21, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 52 vs 21, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
A 9-point LRV gap (30 vs 21) makes Evergreen Fog the marginally brighter of the two.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 21), opening up a space where Smoke Gray encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 21, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 21), opening up a space where Smoke Gray encloses it.
Denim Drift reads slightly lighter (LRV 27 vs 21), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 43 vs 21, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 21 vs 4, Smoke Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 21), opening up a space where Smoke Gray encloses it.
Smoke Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 21 vs 13), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 21), opening up a space where Smoke Gray encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 21, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 21 vs 21), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 21), opening up a space where Smoke Gray encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 21), opening up a space where Smoke Gray encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 21), opening up a space where Smoke Gray encloses it.
Smoke Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 21 vs 12), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 21), opening up a space where Smoke Gray encloses it.
At LRV 41 vs 21, Dix Blue is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 21, Calamine is decisively the brighter choice.
A 4-point LRV gap (25 vs 21) makes Treron the marginally brighter of the two.
Smoke Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 21 vs 12), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 21), opening up a space where Smoke Gray encloses it.
A 10-point LRV gap (31 vs 21) makes Pale Green the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 21 vs 7, Smoke Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
A 3-point LRV gap (24 vs 21) makes Cement grey the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 57 vs 21, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 72 vs 21, Just Walnut is decisively the brighter choice.