Escape Gray vs Rare Gray

Escape Gray and Rare Gray come from the same Sherwin-Williams collection. Both sit in the grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. The 3-point LRV gap — 41 for Escape Gray vs 38 for Rare Gray — means Escape 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 2.4 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 3 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

Escape Gray vs Rare Gray in Real Spaces

3 real rooms side by side. Escape Gray and Rare 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.

Kitchen

Kitchens often have the harshest, most revealing light in the house — under-cabinet LEDs and overhead fixtures that strip away subtlety. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.

Escape GrayEscape Gray Kitchen

@mybudgetrecipes

Rare GraySw Rare Gray Kitchen

@kaitmaloney

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. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.

Escape GraySherwin Williams SW 6185 painted cabinets paint review

@our_farmhouse_family

Rare GraySw 6199 Bathroom Vanity

@remodelingtm

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. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.

Escape GrayEscape Gray House

@mybudgetrecipes

Rare GrayRare Gray Exterior

@mainhouseoncenter

Color Details

Escape Gray
Sherwin-Williams · 6185
Hex#ABAC9F
LRV40.7
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number6185
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessMedium
Rare Gray
Sherwin-Williams · 6199
Hex#A6A69B
LRV37.8
BrandSherwin-Williams
Number6199
Undertone
TemperatureNeutral
BrightnessMedium

Escape Gray vs Rare Gray Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Escape Gray on one side and Rare 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 Escape Gray comparisons

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

White Dove
Escape Gray
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
Escape Gray
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

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

Escape Gray is the lighter choice

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

Purbeck Stone reads slightly lighter

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

Escape Gray reads slightly lighter

Mizzle
Escape Gray
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle reads slightly lighter

Agreeable Gray
Escape Gray
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray reads noticeably lighter

Denim Drift
Escape Gray
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Escape Gray reads noticeably lighter

Tranquil Dawn
Escape Gray
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn reads noticeably lighter

Balboa Mist
Escape Gray
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist reads noticeably lighter

Vintage Vogue
Escape Gray
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

Escape Gray is the lighter choice

Pale Green
Escape Gray
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Escape Gray reads slightly lighter

Pine Needle
Escape Gray
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

Escape Gray is the lighter choice

Cement grey
Escape Gray
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Escape Gray reads noticeably lighter

Black grey
Escape Gray
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

Escape Gray is the lighter choice

Piazza
Escape Gray
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza reads noticeably lighter

Humble Yellow
Escape Gray
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow reads noticeably lighter

Windmill Lane
Escape Gray
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Escape Gray reads slightly lighter

Senses
Escape Gray
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Nearly identical in tone

Lamp Black
Escape Gray
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

Escape Gray is the lighter choice

Washed Linen
Escape Gray
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen reads noticeably lighter

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

Escape Gray reads noticeably lighter

Thames Fog
Escape Gray
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Escape Gray reads noticeably lighter

Ocean Abyss
Escape Gray
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

Escape Gray is the lighter choice

Classic Silver
Escape Gray
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver reads slightly lighter

Teton Blue
Escape Gray
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Escape Gray reads slightly lighter

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

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

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

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
Escape Gray
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
Escape Gray
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

Escape Gray is the lighter choice