Aloof Gray vs Cast Iron

Aloof GraySherwin-WilliamsvsCast IronSherwin-WilliamsΔE 38.7Very different colors

Aloof Gray and Cast Iron come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. These are both greys, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within grey to land. The 45-point LRV gap — 58 for Aloof Gray vs 13 for Cast Iron — means Aloof Gray will open up a space more effectively. Both share a neutral character, which means they'll respond to light and surrounding materials in similar ways. A ΔE of 38.7 puts these firmly in different territory — two distinct design choices rather than close alternatives. Below you'll find 4 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Aloof Gray vs Cast Iron in Real Spaces

4 real rooms side by side. Seeing Aloof Gray and Cast Iron in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.

Living Room

A living room wall sees more varied light than almost any other surface in the house, which makes the choice between these two more nuanced than a chip suggests. Aloof Gray reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Cast Iron.

Aloof GraySW Aloof Gray living room interior

@mccoypaintingllc_

Cast IronSW Cast Iron living room accent wall

@millhouseandco

Kitchen

Kitchens often have the harshest, most revealing light in the house — under-cabinet LEDs and overhead fixtures that strip away subtlety. Aloof Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Aloof GraySherwin Williams Aloof Gray kitchen color review

@dfhughesdesignbuild

Cast IronSw 6202 Kitchen

@hellomillerdesign

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. Aloof Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Aloof GrayAloof Gray Bathroom

@pine_n_paint

Cast IronSW Cast Iron bathroom color review

@tumbleweeddesignco

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. Aloof Gray returns significantly more light to the room — in a smaller or darker space, that difference in perceived brightness is hard to miss.

Aloof GraySW Aloof Gray exterior color review

@lillian.kirk.12

Cast IronSherwin Williams Cast Iron Exterior

@hobbsfunk

Color Details

Aloof Gray
Sherwin-Williams · 6197
Hex#C9C9C0
LRV58.0
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number6197
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessLight
Cast Iron
Sherwin-Williams · 6202
Hex#64645A
LRV12.6
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number6202
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessDark

Aloof Gray vs Cast Iron Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Aloof Gray on one side and Cast Iron 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 Aloof Gray comparisons

See how Aloof Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
Aloof Gray
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Aloof Gray
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite reads slightly lighter

Iron Ore
Aloof Gray
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

Aloof Gray is the lighter choice

Purbeck Stone
Aloof Gray
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Aloof Gray reads slightly lighter

Evergreen Fog
Aloof Gray
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Aloof Gray is the lighter choice

Mizzle
Aloof Gray
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Aloof Gray reads slightly lighter

Agreeable Gray
Aloof Gray
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Nearly identical in tone

Denim Drift
Aloof Gray
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Aloof Gray is the lighter choice

Tranquil Dawn
Aloof Gray
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Aloof Gray reads slightly lighter

Balboa Mist
Aloof Gray
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist reads slightly lighter

Vintage Vogue
Aloof Gray
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Aloof Gray is the lighter choice

Pale Green
Aloof Gray
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Aloof Gray is the lighter choice

Pine Needle
Aloof Gray
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Aloof Gray is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Aloof Gray
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Aloof Gray is the lighter choice

Black grey
Aloof Gray
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Aloof Gray is the lighter choice

Piazza
Aloof Gray
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza reads slightly lighter

Humble Yellow
Aloof Gray
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Nearly identical in tone

Windmill Lane
Aloof Gray
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Aloof Gray is the lighter choice

Senses
Aloof Gray
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Aloof Gray reads noticeably lighter

Lamp Black
Aloof Gray
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Aloof Gray is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
Aloof Gray
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Aloof Gray reads slightly lighter

Tea with Florence
Aloof Gray
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

Aloof Gray is the lighter choice

Thames Fog
Aloof Gray
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Aloof Gray is the lighter choice

Ocean Abyss
Aloof Gray
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Aloof Gray is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
Aloof Gray
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Aloof Gray reads slightly lighter

Teton Blue
Aloof Gray
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Aloof Gray is the lighter choice

RAL 110-2
Aloof Gray
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 reads noticeably lighter

RAL 110-1
Aloof Gray
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 reads noticeably lighter

Paper
Aloof Gray
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Aloof Gray
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Aloof Gray is the lighter choice