Cotton Grey → Sherwin Williams
The closest Sherwin Williams matches for Behr Cotton Grey (PPU18-22), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Sherwin Williams Equivalent for Cotton Grey
If you love Behr Cotton Grey but need a Sherwin Williams alternative, you are not alone. This is one of the most common cross-brand paint matching searches, whether you are working with a painter who prefers Sherwin Williams, your local store does not carry Behr, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Cotton Grey (PPU18-22) is a very light white with cool cotton white undertones. A cool, clean white-gray. Like unbleached cotton. Lighter than Smoky White, cooler than Painter's White. To find a good Sherwin Williams match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 80) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Cotton Grey and every Sherwin Williams color using the CIE2000 Delta E formula, which measures how different two colors look to the human eye. A Delta E under 2 means most people cannot tell the colors apart. Between 2 and 4, you might notice a difference in certain lighting. Above 5, the difference is clearly visible side by side.
The results are decent but not perfect. The closest Sherwin Williams option is Argos (SW 7065) with a Delta E of 4, which is a "good match" level match. Argos is grayer. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Sherwin Williams Matches for Cotton Grey
Argos is grayer.
| Cotton Grey | Argos | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 80 | 54 |
| Hex | #E8E6E2 | #C8C6C2 |
| Undertone | Cool Cotton White | Cool Neutral Gray |
| Family | White | Gray |
Undertone Comparison
Cotton Grey has cool cotton white undertones. A cool, clean white-gray. Like unbleached cotton. Lighter than Smoky White, cooler than Painter's White.
Argos has cool neutral gray undertones. A cool, clean light gray. Named for the ancient Greek city. One of SW's most reliably neutral grays. It just looks like gray, period.
These two colors share the same undertone family, which is a good sign for a cross-brand swap. The undertone similarity means they will behave similarly as lighting changes throughout the day, and they should coordinate well with the same accent colors, trim, and furnishings.
How These Colors Behave in Different Lighting
Cotton Grey in Your Room
Clean and cool. Functions as a bright cool white in most rooms.
Argos in Your Room
Neutral in all conditions. Does not pull warm, cool, pink, green, or purple. Under warm light it stays gray. Under cool light it stays gray. The most boring answer is sometimes the right one.
LRV and Brightness
Cotton Grey has an LRV of 80, while Argos has an LRV of 54. That means Cotton Grey reflects noticeably more light. In the same room, Cotton Grey will make the space feel brighter and more open than Argos. If you are switching to the Sherwin Williams option, expect the room to feel slightly more intimate and cozy.
Best Rooms for Cotton Grey
Behr recommends Cotton Grey for: trim, ceilings, cabinets, whole house, bathroom. With an LRV of 80, this is a very light color that reflects a lot of light and works well in any room, including smaller spaces where you want to maintain a bright, open feel. It is light enough for whole-house use without making rooms feel washed out or sterile.
Argos is recommended for: bathroom, bedroom, hallway, office, living room. The recommended applications differ slightly between brands, but the color's properties should work in the same rooms regardless of which brand you choose. Trust the LRV and undertone data more than the specific room suggestions, and always test in your actual space.
Cotton Grey in Other Brands
Looking for Cotton Grey equivalents in other brands besides Sherwin Williams? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Sherwin Williams match for Cotton Grey (PPU18-22) is Argos (SW 7065) with a Delta E of 4, which rates as a "good match" match. Argos is grayer. Delta E measures perceptual color distance on a scale where under 2 means nearly identical, 2 to 4 means close with subtle differences, and over 5 means clearly noticeable.
No, they are not identical. Cotton Grey is a Behr color with cool cotton white undertones and an LRV of 80. Argos is a Sherwin Williams color with cool neutral gray undertones and an LRV of 54. With a Delta E of 4, the difference is subtle and mainly visible in direct side-by-side comparison. Paint formulations differ between brands, so even colors with similar values can look slightly different due to pigment concentration, binders, and finish.
With a Delta E of 4, the difference is enough that they should not be used on adjacent walls in the same room. You can use them in separate rooms of the same house, but be aware that walking from one room to the other may reveal the difference, especially if the rooms have similar lighting. For the most consistent look, pick one brand for all connected living spaces and reserve the other brand for visually separate rooms like bathrooms or bedrooms behind closed doors.
There are several practical reasons to look for a Sherwin Williams equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Sherwin Williams. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Sherwin Williams work, matching within the same brand gives you the best consistency for seamless results.
Match calculations use Delta E (CIE2000) computed from Lab color space conversion. Color data sourced from manufacturer specifications. Last reviewed: March 22, 2026.