Summit Gray vs Zircon
Both from Sherwin-Williams's palette. Both sit in the grey family, which is useful context if you're narrowing within a single hue direction. Zircon (LRV 59) reflects noticeably more light than Summit Gray (LRV 30), a difference of 29 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Both lean neutral, so they'll behave similarly in mixed or changing light conditions. With a ΔE of 19.6, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Summit Gray vs Zircon in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Seeing Summit Gray and Zircon 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
In a living room, color works across both daylight and evening light — the same wall can read very differently at noon and at 8pm. The LRV gap is large enough that Zircon will make the room feel meaningfully brighter than Summit Gray would.
Bedroom
The context that matters most in a bedroom is how a color reads under a bedside lamp at night, not under noon daylight. Zircon reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Summit Gray.
Color Details
Summit Gray vs Zircon Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Summit Gray on one side and Zircon 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 Summit Gray comparisons
See how Summit Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 30), opening up a space where Summit Gray encloses it.
At LRV 69 vs 30, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
Summit Gray reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 30, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 30 vs 30), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 30), opening up a space where Summit Gray encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 30, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 30), opening up a space where Summit Gray encloses it.
With LRVs of 30 and 27, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
At LRV 43 vs 30, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 30 vs 4, Summit Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 30), opening up a space where Summit Gray encloses it.
Summit Gray reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 30), opening up a space where Summit Gray encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 30, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
A 8-point LRV gap (30 vs 21) makes Summit Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 30), opening up a space where Summit Gray encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 30), opening up a space where Summit Gray encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 30), opening up a space where Summit Gray encloses it.
Summit Gray reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 30), opening up a space where Summit Gray encloses it.
A 11-point LRV gap (41 vs 30) makes Dix Blue the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 68 vs 30, Calamine is decisively the brighter choice.
A 5-point LRV gap (30 vs 25) makes Summit Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Summit Gray reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 30), opening up a space where Summit Gray encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 31 vs 30), so neither reads brighter in a room.
At LRV 30 vs 7, Summit Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
A 5-point LRV gap (30 vs 24) makes Summit Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 57 vs 30, Guilford Green is decisively the brighter choice.