Wales Gray vs Black grey

Wales GrayBenjamin MoorevsBlack greyRAL ClassicΔE 58.1Very different colors

Wales Gray (Benjamin Moore) and Black grey (RAL Classic) come from different manufacturers. Both sit in the blue-grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. The 47-point LRV gap — 54 for Wales Gray vs 6 for Black grey — means Wales Gray will open up a space more effectively. A ΔE of 58.1 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Wales Gray vs Black grey in Real Spaces

3 real rooms side by side. Seeing Wales Gray and Black grey 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. Wales Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Black grey.

Wales GrayWales Gray hallway makeover

@stephanieplus4

Black greyRAL Classic Black grey 7021 living room

@dorfstadtvilla

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. Wales Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Wales GrayBenjamin Moore Wales Gray exterior paint

@homebunch

Black greyRAL Classic Black grey 7021 house exterior

@ebbandflow_home

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. Wales Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Wales GrayBenjamin Moore Wales Gray kitchen cabinets paint

@centeredbydesign

Black greyRAL Classic 7021 kitchen cabinets paint review

@a.jak.agata

Color Details

Wales Gray
Benjamin Moore · 1585
Hex#B9C5C3
LRV53.5
BrandBenjamin Moore
Number1585
UndertoneGreen and Blue
TemperatureCool
BrightnessMedium
Black grey
RAL Classic · RAL 7021
Hex#2F3234
LRV6.5
BrandRAL Classic
NumberRAL 7021
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessDark

Wales Gray vs Black grey Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Wales Gray on one side and Black grey on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

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 Wales Gray comparisons

See how Wales Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
Wales Gray
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Wales Gray
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite reads noticeably lighter

Iron Ore
Wales Gray
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Wales Gray is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
Wales Gray
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Nearly identical in tone

Evergreen Fog
Wales Gray
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Wales Gray reads noticeably lighter

Mizzle
Wales Gray
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Nearly identical in tone

Agreeable Gray
Wales Gray
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray reads slightly lighter

Denim Drift
Wales Gray
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Wales Gray is the lighter choice

Tranquil Dawn
Wales Gray
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Nearly identical in tone

Balboa Mist
Wales Gray
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist reads slightly lighter

Vintage Vogue
Wales Gray
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Wales Gray is the lighter choice

Pale Green
Wales Gray
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Wales Gray reads noticeably lighter

Pine Needle
Wales Gray
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Wales Gray is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Wales Gray
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Wales Gray is the lighter choice

Piazza
Wales Gray
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza reads slightly lighter

Humble Yellow
Wales Gray
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow reads slightly lighter

Grey Blue
Wales Gray
Grey Blue
RAL ClassicClassic
Grey Blue
LRV 7

Wales Gray is the lighter choice

Windmill Lane
Wales Gray
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Wales Gray reads noticeably lighter

Senses
Wales Gray
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Wales Gray reads noticeably lighter

Lamp Black
Wales Gray
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Wales Gray is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
Wales Gray
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Nearly identical in tone

Tea with Florence
Wales Gray
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Wales Gray is the lighter choice

Thames Fog
Wales Gray
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Wales Gray is the lighter choice

Ocean Abyss
Wales Gray
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Wales Gray is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
Wales Gray
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Wales Gray reads slightly lighter

Teton Blue
Wales Gray
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Wales Gray reads noticeably lighter

RAL 110-2
Wales Gray
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 reads noticeably lighter

RAL 110-1
Wales Gray
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Wales Gray
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Wales Gray
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Wales Gray is the lighter choice