RAL 860-4 vs Earl Grey
RAL 860-4 (RAL Effect) and Earl Grey (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. These are both greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within grey to land. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 33 vs 32 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. ΔE 3.2 means they're clearly different, but not dramatically so — they'd pair well in the same room. Below you'll find 5 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
RAL 860-4 vs Earl Grey in Real Spaces
5 real rooms side by side. RAL 860-4 and Earl Grey 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.
Kitchen Cabinets
Cabinet color is always seen in context — against countertops, backsplash, and hardware — which amplifies undertone differences that might disappear on a plain wall. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.
Color Details
RAL 860-4 vs Earl Grey Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 860-4 on one side and Earl Grey 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 860-4 comparisons
See how RAL 860-4 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 83 vs 33, White Dove is decisively the brighter choice.
Purbeck Stone reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 33), opening up a space where RAL 860-4 encloses it.
With LRVs of 33 and 30, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Agreeable Gray reflects far more light (LRV 60 vs 33), opening up a space where RAL 860-4 encloses it.
At LRV 58 vs 33, Accessible Beige is decisively the brighter choice.
A 6-point LRV gap (33 vs 27) makes RAL 860-4 the marginally brighter of the two.
French Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 43 vs 33), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 55 vs 33, Tranquil Dawn is decisively the brighter choice.
A 11-point LRV gap (44 vs 33) makes Hardwick White the marginally brighter of the two.
Pure White reflects far more light (LRV 84 vs 33), opening up a space where RAL 860-4 encloses it.
At LRV 66 vs 33, Balboa Mist is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 74 vs 33, Shoji White is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 33 vs 12, RAL 860-4 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 33 vs 8, RAL 860-4 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 68 vs 33, Skimming Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 33 vs 12, RAL 860-4 is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 45 vs 33, Saybrook Sage is decisively the brighter choice.
With LRVs of 33 and 31, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.