RAL 170-1 vs Agreeable Gray
RAL 170-1 (RAL Effect) and Agreeable Gray (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. RAL 170-1 reads as blue-grey, while Agreeable Gray reads as greige-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 58 vs 60 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. ΔE 9.5 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 170-1 vs Agreeable Gray in Real Spaces
4 real rooms side by side. RAL 170-1 and Agreeable Gray 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 170-1 vs Agreeable Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 170-1 on one side and Agreeable Gray 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 170-1 comparisons
See how RAL 170-1 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 58), opening up a space where RAL 170-1 encloses it.
A 7-point LRV gap (58 vs 52) makes RAL 170-1 the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 58 vs 30, RAL 170-1 is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 58 and 58, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
RAL 170-1 reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 43, RAL 170-1 is decisively the brighter choice.
RAL 170-1 reads slightly lighter (LRV 58 vs 55), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
RAL 170-1 reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 44), opening up a space where Hardwick White encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 58, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reads slightly lighter (LRV 66 vs 58), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 58), opening up a space where RAL 170-1 encloses it.
RAL 170-1 reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reads slightly lighter (LRV 68 vs 58), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
RAL 170-1 reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
RAL 170-1 reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 45), opening up a space where Saybrook Sage encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 31, RAL 170-1 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 58 vs 7, RAL 170-1 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 58 vs 24, RAL 170-1 is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 58 vs 57), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 72 vs 58, Just Walnut is decisively the brighter choice.