RAL 160-3 vs Pure White
RAL 160-3 (RAL Effect) and Pure White (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. RAL 160-3 reads as white, while Pure White reads as beige-greige — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 82 vs 84 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. ΔE 3.5 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
RAL 160-3 vs Pure White in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. RAL 160-3 and Pure White 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.
Bedroom
Bedrooms are typically lit with warmer, lower light than the rest of the house — a condition that flatters warm tones and deepens cool ones. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.
Kitchen
Kitchens often have the harshest, most revealing light in the house — under-cabinet LEDs and overhead fixtures that strip away subtlety. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.
Bathroom
Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.
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. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.
Color Details
RAL 160-3 vs Pure White Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 160-3 on one side and Pure White 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 RAL 160-3 comparisons
See how RAL 160-3 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 83 vs 82), so neither reads brighter in a room.
RAL 160-3 reflects far more light (LRV 82 vs 52), opening up a space where Purbeck Stone encloses it.
RAL 160-3 reflects far more light (LRV 82 vs 30), opening up a space where Evergreen Fog encloses it.
RAL 160-3 reflects far more light (LRV 82 vs 60), opening up a space where Agreeable Gray encloses it.
At LRV 82 vs 58, RAL 160-3 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 82 vs 27, RAL 160-3 is decisively the brighter choice.
RAL 160-3 reflects far more light (LRV 82 vs 43), opening up a space where French Gray encloses it.
At LRV 82 vs 55, RAL 160-3 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 82 vs 44, RAL 160-3 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 82 vs 66, RAL 160-3 is decisively the brighter choice.
A 7-point LRV gap (82 vs 74) makes RAL 160-3 the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 82 vs 12, RAL 160-3 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 82 vs 68, RAL 160-3 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 82 vs 12, RAL 160-3 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 82 vs 45, RAL 160-3 is decisively the brighter choice.
RAL 160-3 reflects far more light (LRV 82 vs 31), opening up a space where Pale Green encloses it.
RAL 160-3 reflects far more light (LRV 82 vs 7), opening up a space where Pine Needle encloses it.
RAL 160-3 reflects far more light (LRV 82 vs 24), opening up a space where Cement grey encloses it.
RAL 160-3 reflects far more light (LRV 82 vs 57), opening up a space where Guilford Green encloses it.
RAL 160-3 reads slightly lighter (LRV 82 vs 72), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.