RAL 820-3 vs Steely Gray

RAL 820-3RAL EffectvsSteely GraySherwin-WilliamsΔE 1.9Subtle difference

RAL 820-3 is a RAL Effect color while Steely Gray comes from Sherwin-Williams. Hue-wise, RAL 820-3 belongs to the grey family and Steely Gray to the blue-grey family. With LRVs of 29 and 30, they'll behave almost identically in terms of how much light they reflect back into a room. With a ΔE of 1.9, the difference is subtle — you'd need them side by side to reliably tell them apart. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

RAL 820-3 vs Steely Gray in Real Spaces

1 real room side by side. RAL 820-3 and Steely 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.

Bathroom

Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The two are close enough that the choice comes down to finer qualities — undertone, texture, what the color sits next to.

RAL 820-3RAL Effect 820-3 bathroom

@visualization

Steely GraySw Steely Gray Bathroom

@turnerpainting

Color Details

RAL 820-3
RAL Effect · RAL 820-3
Hex#8D9395
LRV28.7
BrandRAL Effect
NumberRAL 820-3
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessMedium
Steely Gray
Sherwin-Williams · 7664
Hex#90979B
LRV30.4
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number7664
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessMedium

RAL 820-3 vs Steely Gray Simulated Comparison

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

See how RAL 820-3 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
RAL 820-3
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
RAL 820-3
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
RAL 820-3
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

RAL 820-3 reads noticeably lighter

Purbeck Stone
RAL 820-3
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone reads noticeably lighter

Evergreen Fog
RAL 820-3
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Nearly identical in tone

Mizzle
RAL 820-3
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle reads noticeably lighter

Agreeable Gray
RAL 820-3
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray is the lighter choice

Accessible Beige
RAL 820-3
Accessible Beige
Sherwin-Williams
Accessible Beige
LRV 58

Accessible Beige is the lighter choice

Denim Drift
RAL 820-3
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Nearly identical in tone

French Gray
RAL 820-3
French Gray
Farrow & Ball
French Gray
LRV 43

French Gray reads noticeably lighter

Naval
RAL 820-3
Naval
Sherwin-Williams
Naval
LRV 4

RAL 820-3 reads noticeably lighter

Tranquil Dawn
RAL 820-3
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn is the lighter choice

Bancha
RAL 820-3
Bancha
Farrow & Ball
Bancha
LRV 13

RAL 820-3 reads noticeably lighter

Hardwick White
RAL 820-3
Hardwick White
Farrow & Ball
Hardwick White
LRV 44

Hardwick White reads noticeably lighter

Pure White
RAL 820-3
Pure White
Sherwin-Williams
Pure White
LRV 84

Pure White is the lighter choice

Artichoke
RAL 820-3
Artichoke
Sherwin-Williams
Artichoke
LRV 21

RAL 820-3 reads slightly lighter

Balboa Mist
RAL 820-3
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Shoji White
RAL 820-3
Shoji White
Sherwin-Williams
Shoji White
LRV 74

Shoji White is the lighter choice

Snowbound
RAL 820-3
Snowbound
Sherwin-Williams
Snowbound
LRV 83

Snowbound is the lighter choice

Pewter Green
RAL 820-3
Pewter Green
Sherwin-Williams
Pewter Green
LRV 12

RAL 820-3 reads noticeably lighter

Skimming Stone
RAL 820-3
Skimming Stone
Farrow & Ball
Skimming Stone
LRV 68

Skimming Stone is the lighter choice

Dix Blue
RAL 820-3
Dix Blue
Farrow & Ball
Dix Blue
LRV 41

Dix Blue reads noticeably lighter

Calamine
RAL 820-3
Calamine
Farrow & Ball
Calamine
LRV 68

Calamine is the lighter choice

Treron
RAL 820-3
Treron
Farrow & Ball
Treron
LRV 25

RAL 820-3 reads slightly lighter

Vintage Vogue
RAL 820-3
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

RAL 820-3 reads noticeably lighter

Saybrook Sage
RAL 820-3
Saybrook Sage
Benjamin Moore
Saybrook Sage
LRV 45

Saybrook Sage reads noticeably lighter

Pale Green
RAL 820-3
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Nearly identical in tone

Pine Needle
RAL 820-3
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

RAL 820-3 reads noticeably lighter

Cement grey
RAL 820-3
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

RAL 820-3 reads slightly lighter

Guilford Green
RAL 820-3
Guilford Green
Benjamin Moore
Guilford Green
LRV 57

Guilford Green is the lighter choice