RAL 820-5 vs Iron Ore
RAL 820-5 is a RAL Effect color while Iron Ore comes from Sherwin-Williams. Hue-wise, RAL 820-5 belongs to the blue-grey family and Iron Ore to the grey family. At LRV 9 vs 6, RAL 820-5 will read as the brighter of the two — a 4-point gap that matters most in north-facing or low-light rooms. At ΔE 9.6, the difference is perceptible but not dramatic — the two can work harmoniously in the same space. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
RAL 820-5 vs Iron Ore in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. RAL 820-5 and Iron Ore 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
Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. RAL 820-5 has the edge in reflectance, which shows as a quiet sense of added space rather than an obvious contrast.
Bedroom
Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. The brightness difference is modest but present — RAL 820-5 gives the walls a little more lift.
Kitchen
Kitchen lighting tends to be bright and directional, which sharpens contrast and makes undertone differences more apparent. The brightness difference is modest but present — RAL 820-5 gives the walls a little more lift.
Bathroom
Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. The brightness difference is modest but present — RAL 820-5 gives the walls a little more lift.
Color Details
RAL 820-5 vs Iron Ore Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 820-5 on one side and Iron Ore 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 820-5 comparisons
See how RAL 820-5 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 9), opening up a space where RAL 820-5 encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 9, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 30 vs 9, Evergreen Fog is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 60 vs 9, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 9), opening up a space where RAL 820-5 encloses it.
Denim Drift reflects far more light (LRV 27 vs 9), opening up a space where RAL 820-5 encloses it.
At LRV 43 vs 9, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 9), opening up a space where RAL 820-5 encloses it.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 9), opening up a space where RAL 820-5 encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 9, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 9), opening up a space where RAL 820-5 encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 9), opening up a space where RAL 820-5 encloses it.
With LRVs of 12 and 9, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
With LRVs of 9 and 8, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 9), opening up a space where RAL 820-5 encloses it.
With LRVs of 12 and 9, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 9), opening up a space where RAL 820-5 encloses it.
At LRV 31 vs 9, Pale Green is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 9 vs 7), so neither reads brighter in a room.