S 4500-N vs RAL 820-3 paint color comparison

S 4500-N vs RAL 820-3

S 4500-NNCSvsRAL 820-3RAL EffectΔE 3.8Noticeable difference

S 4500-N is a NCS color while RAL 820-3 comes from RAL Effect. Both sit in the grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. With LRVs of 27 and 29, they'll behave almost identically in terms of how much light they reflect back into a room. At ΔE 3.8, the difference is perceptible but not dramatic — the two can work harmoniously in the same space. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

S 4500-N vs RAL 820-3 in Real Spaces

2 real rooms side by side. S 4500-N and RAL 820-3 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.

Bathroom

Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. Side by side like this, the difference is easy to read — which is exactly why seeing them in a real space is more useful than comparing chips.

S 4500-NNCS S 4500-N bathroom color

@starkare.linnea

RAL 820-3RAL Effect 820-3 bathroom

@visualization

House

At full exterior scale, the difference between these two colors becomes much easier to judge than from a small chip. Side by side like this, the difference is easy to read — which is exactly why seeing them in a real space is more useful than comparing chips.

S 4500-NNCS S 4500-N exterior paint

@villaleoo2017

RAL 820-3RAL Effect 820-3 victorian house interior

@visualization

Color Details

S 4500-N
NCS · S 4500-N
LRV27.1
BrandNCS
NumberS 4500-N
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessMedium
RAL 820-3
RAL Effect · RAL 820-3
LRV28.7
BrandRAL Effect
NumberRAL 820-3
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessMedium

S 4500-N vs RAL 820-3 Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see S 4500-N on one side and RAL 820-3 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 4500-N comparisons

See how S 4500-N stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

Ammonite
S 4500-N
Ammonite
S 4500-N
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69
NCS
S 4500-N
S 4500-N · LRV 27

Ammonite reflects far more light (LRV 69 vs 27), opening up a space where S 4500-N encloses it.

White Dove
S 4500-N
White Dove
S 4500-N
NCS
S 4500-N
S 4500-N · LRV 27

At LRV 83 vs 27, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.

S 4500-N
Iron Ore
S 4500-N
Iron Ore
NCS
S 4500-N
S 4500-N · LRV 27

At LRV 27 vs 6, S 4500-N is decisively the brighter choice.

Purbeck Stone
S 4500-N
Purbeck Stone
S 4500-N
NCS
S 4500-N
S 4500-N · LRV 27

Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 27), opening up a space where S 4500-N encloses it.

S 4500-N
Evergreen Fog
S 4500-N
Evergreen Fog
NCS
S 4500-N
S 4500-N · LRV 27

Evergreen Fog reads slightly lighter (LRV 30 vs 27), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.

Mizzle
S 4500-N
Mizzle
S 4500-N
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52
NCS
S 4500-N
S 4500-N · LRV 27

At LRV 52 vs 27, Mizzle is decisively the brighter choice.

S 4500-N
Agreeable Gray
S 4500-N
Agreeable Gray
NCS
S 4500-N
S 4500-N · LRV 27

Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 27), opening up a space where S 4500-N encloses it.

S 4500-N
Accessible Beige
S 4500-N
Accessible Beige
NCS
S 4500-N
S 4500-N · LRV 27

At LRV 58 vs 27, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.

Denim Drift
S 4500-N
Denim Drift
S 4500-N
NCS
S 4500-N
S 4500-N · LRV 27

Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 27 vs 27), so neither reads brighter in a room.

French Gray
S 4500-N
French Gray
S 4500-N
NCS
S 4500-N
S 4500-N · LRV 27

French Gray reflects far more light (LRV 43 vs 27), opening up a space where S 4500-N encloses it.

S 4500-N
Naval
S 4500-N
Naval
NCS
S 4500-N
S 4500-N · LRV 27
Sherwin-Williams
Naval
LRV 4

S 4500-N reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 4), opening up a space where Naval encloses it.

Tranquil Dawn
S 4500-N
Tranquil Dawn
S 4500-N
NCS
S 4500-N
S 4500-N · LRV 27

At LRV 55 vs 27, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.

Bancha
S 4500-N
Bancha
S 4500-N
Farrow & Ball
Bancha
LRV 13
NCS
S 4500-N
S 4500-N · LRV 27

At LRV 27 vs 13, S 4500-N is decisively the brighter choice.

Hardwick White
S 4500-N
Hardwick White
S 4500-N
NCS
S 4500-N
S 4500-N · LRV 27

At LRV 44 vs 27, Hardwick White is decisively the brighter choice.

S 4500-N
Pure White
S 4500-N
Pure White
NCS
S 4500-N
S 4500-N · LRV 27

Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 27), opening up a space where S 4500-N encloses it.

S 4500-N
Artichoke
S 4500-N
Artichoke
NCS
S 4500-N
S 4500-N · LRV 27
Sherwin-Williams
Artichoke
LRV 21

S 4500-N reads slightly lighter (LRV 27 vs 21), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.

Balboa Mist
S 4500-N
Balboa Mist
S 4500-N
NCS
S 4500-N
S 4500-N · LRV 27

At LRV 66 vs 27, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.

S 4500-N
Shoji White
S 4500-N
Shoji White
NCS
S 4500-N
S 4500-N · LRV 27

At LRV 74 vs 27, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.

S 4500-N
Snowbound
S 4500-N
Snowbound
NCS
S 4500-N
S 4500-N · LRV 27
Sherwin-Williams
Snowbound
LRV 83

At LRV 83 vs 27, Snowbound is decisively the brighter choice.

Pigeon
S 4500-N
Pigeon
S 4500-N
Farrow & Ball
Pigeon
LRV 51
NCS
S 4500-N
S 4500-N · LRV 27

Pigeon reflects far more light (LRV 51 vs 27), opening up a space where S 4500-N encloses it.

S 4500-N
Pewter Green
S 4500-N
Pewter Green
NCS
S 4500-N
S 4500-N · LRV 27

At LRV 27 vs 12, S 4500-N is decisively the brighter choice.

Duck Green
S 4500-N
Duck Green
S 4500-N
NCS
S 4500-N
S 4500-N · LRV 27

At LRV 27 vs 8, S 4500-N is decisively the brighter choice.

Skimming Stone
S 4500-N
Skimming Stone
S 4500-N
NCS
S 4500-N
S 4500-N · LRV 27

At LRV 68 vs 27, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.

Dix Blue
S 4500-N
Dix Blue
S 4500-N
Farrow & Ball
Dix Blue
LRV 41
NCS
S 4500-N
S 4500-N · LRV 27

Dix Blue reflects far more light (LRV 41 vs 27), opening up a space where S 4500-N encloses it.

Hicks' Blue
S 4500-N
Hicks' Blue
S 4500-N
NCS
S 4500-N
S 4500-N · LRV 27

Hicks' Blue vs S 4500-N

Slaked Lime Deep
S 4500-N
Slaked Lime Deep
S 4500-N
NCS
S 4500-N
S 4500-N · LRV 27

Slaked Lime Deep vs S 4500-N

Vintage Vogue
S 4500-N
Vintage Vogue
S 4500-N
NCS
S 4500-N
S 4500-N · LRV 27

At LRV 27 vs 12, S 4500-N is decisively the brighter choice.

Livid
S 4500-N
Livid
S 4500-N
NCS
S 4500-N
S 4500-N · LRV 27

Livid vs S 4500-N

Saybrook Sage
S 4500-N
Saybrook Sage
S 4500-N
NCS
S 4500-N
S 4500-N · LRV 27

At LRV 45 vs 27, Saybrook Sage is decisively the brighter choice.

S 4500-N
Pale Green
S 4500-N
Pale Green
NCS
S 4500-N
S 4500-N · LRV 27
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Pale Green reads slightly lighter (LRV 31 vs 27), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.