RAL 860-5 vs Special Gray
RAL 860-5 is a RAL Effect color while Special Gray comes from Sherwin-Williams. Both sit in the grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. With LRVs of 20 and 19, they'll behave almost identically in terms of how much light they reflect back into a room. At ΔE 3.7, the difference is perceptible but not dramatic — the two can work harmoniously in the same space. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
RAL 860-5 vs Special Gray in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. RAL 860-5 and Special 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.
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. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.
Color Details
RAL 860-5 vs Special Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see RAL 860-5 on one side and Special 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 860-5 comparisons
See how RAL 860-5 stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
