S 3005-G20Y vs RAL 850-3

S 3005-G20YNCSvsRAL 850-3RAL EffectΔE 2.7Subtle difference

Where S 3005-G20Y belongs to NCS's range, RAL 850-3 is a RAL Effect color. These are both greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within grey to land. They have nearly identical light reflectance values (40 vs 38), so they'll read as similarly Medium in most lighting conditions. At ΔE 2.7, 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 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

S 3005-G20Y vs RAL 850-3 in Real Spaces

2 real rooms side by side. S 3005-G20Y and RAL 850-3 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.

Living Room

In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The two are close enough that the choice comes down to finer qualities — undertone, texture, what the color sits next to.

S 3005-G20YS 3005-G20Y living room accent wall

@n.andrachans

RAL 850-3RAL Effect 850-3 living room

@visualization

Bedroom

The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. At this scale the difference is subtle — you'd need them side by side, as shown here, to reliably tell them apart.

S 3005-G20YNCS S 3005-G20Y bedroom inspo

@emmaathouseofgrey

RAL 850-3RAL Effect 850-3 bedroom

@visualization

Color Details

S 3005-G20Y
NCS · S 3005-G20Y
Hex#a7aca5
LRV40.4
BrandNCS
NumberS 3005-G20Y
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessMedium
RAL 850-3
RAL Effect · RAL 850-3
Hex#A6A6A0
LRV37.9
BrandRAL Effect
NumberRAL 850-3
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessMedium

S 3005-G20Y vs RAL 850-3 Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see S 3005-G20Y on one side and RAL 850-3 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 S 3005-G20Y comparisons

See how S 3005-G20Y stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
S 3005-G20Y
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
S 3005-G20Y
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
S 3005-G20Y
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

S 3005-G20Y is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
S 3005-G20Y
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone reads slightly lighter

Evergreen Fog
S 3005-G20Y
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

S 3005-G20Y reads slightly lighter

Mizzle
S 3005-G20Y
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle reads slightly lighter

Agreeable Gray
S 3005-G20Y
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray reads noticeably lighter

Accessible Beige
S 3005-G20Y
Accessible Beige
Sherwin-Williams
Accessible Beige
LRV 58

Accessible Beige reads noticeably lighter

Denim Drift
S 3005-G20Y
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

S 3005-G20Y reads noticeably lighter

French Gray
S 3005-G20Y
French Gray
Farrow & Ball
French Gray
LRV 43

Nearly identical in tone

Naval
S 3005-G20Y
Naval
Sherwin-Williams
Naval
LRV 4

S 3005-G20Y is the lighter choice

Tranquil Dawn
S 3005-G20Y
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn reads noticeably lighter

Bancha
S 3005-G20Y
Bancha
Farrow & Ball
Bancha
LRV 13

S 3005-G20Y is the lighter choice

Hardwick White
S 3005-G20Y
Hardwick White
Farrow & Ball
Hardwick White
LRV 44

Hardwick White reads slightly lighter

Pure White
S 3005-G20Y
Pure White
Sherwin-Williams
Pure White
LRV 84

Pure White is the lighter choice

Artichoke
S 3005-G20Y
Artichoke
Sherwin-Williams
Artichoke
LRV 21

S 3005-G20Y reads noticeably lighter

Balboa Mist
S 3005-G20Y
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Shoji White
S 3005-G20Y
Shoji White
Sherwin-Williams
Shoji White
LRV 74

Shoji White is the lighter choice

Snowbound
S 3005-G20Y
Snowbound
Sherwin-Williams
Snowbound
LRV 83

Snowbound is the lighter choice

Pewter Green
S 3005-G20Y
Pewter Green
Sherwin-Williams
Pewter Green
LRV 12

S 3005-G20Y is the lighter choice

Skimming Stone
S 3005-G20Y
Skimming Stone
Farrow & Ball
Skimming Stone
LRV 68

Skimming Stone is the lighter choice

Dix Blue
S 3005-G20Y
Dix Blue
Farrow & Ball
Dix Blue
LRV 41

Nearly identical in tone

Calamine
S 3005-G20Y
Calamine
Farrow & Ball
Calamine
LRV 68

Calamine is the lighter choice

Treron
S 3005-G20Y
Treron
Farrow & Ball
Treron
LRV 25

S 3005-G20Y reads noticeably lighter

Vintage Vogue
S 3005-G20Y
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

S 3005-G20Y is the lighter choice

Saybrook Sage
S 3005-G20Y
Saybrook Sage
Benjamin Moore
Saybrook Sage
LRV 45

Saybrook Sage reads slightly lighter

Pale Green
S 3005-G20Y
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

S 3005-G20Y reads slightly lighter

Pine Needle
S 3005-G20Y
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

S 3005-G20Y is the lighter choice

Cement grey
S 3005-G20Y
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

S 3005-G20Y reads noticeably lighter

Guilford Green
S 3005-G20Y
Guilford Green
Benjamin Moore
Guilford Green
LRV 57

Guilford Green reads noticeably lighter

S 3005-G20Y vs RAL 850-3 Paint Color Comparison