Painter's White → Sherwin Williams
The closest Sherwin Williams matches for Behr Painter's White (PPU18-08), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Sherwin Williams Equivalent for Painter's White
If you love Behr Painter's White 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.
Painter's White (PPU18-08) is a very light white with warm cream undertones. A bright, warm white with just a touch of cream. Behr's versatile go-to white for trim and whole-house applications. To find a good Sherwin Williams match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 88) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Painter's White 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 good news: there is a strong Sherwin Williams match for Painter's White. Pure White (SW 7005) comes in with a Delta E of 2.5, which puts it in the "excellent match" range. Pure White is very close. Both are clean, slightly warm whites.
Sherwin Williams Matches for Painter's White
Pure White is very close. Both are clean, slightly warm whites.
| Painter's White | Pure White | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 88 | 84 |
| Hex | #F1EFE9 | #EDECE6 |
| Undertone | Warm Cream | Warm Cream |
| Family | White | White |
Undertone Comparison
Painter's White has warm cream undertones. A bright, warm white with just a touch of cream. Behr's versatile go-to white for trim and whole-house applications.
Pure White has warm cream undertones. A warm white that's slightly creamier than Extra White but not as warm as Alabaster. The Goldilocks of SW whites.
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
Painter's White in Your Room
Clean and bright in most rooms. The cream warmth is barely perceptible but keeps it from feeling stark.
Pure White in Your Room
Reads as a clean, slightly warm white in most conditions. Less creamy than Alabaster, more warm than Extra White. Very versatile.
LRV and Brightness
Painter's White has an LRV of 88, while Pure White has an LRV of 84. These two colors reflect a very similar amount of light, so you should not notice a significant difference in room brightness when switching between them. The room will feel approximately the same in terms of light and space, which makes this a smoother transition.
Best Rooms for Painter's White
Behr recommends Painter's White for: trim, ceilings, whole house, cabinets, bathroom. With an LRV of 88, 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.
Pure White is recommended for: trim, ceilings, cabinets, whole house, bathroom. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Pure White in the same rooms you planned for Painter's White.
Painter's White in Other Brands
Looking for Painter's White equivalents in other brands besides Sherwin Williams? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Sherwin Williams match for Painter's White (PPU18-08) is Pure White (SW 7005) with a Delta E of 2.5, which rates as a "excellent match" match. Pure White is very close. Both are clean, slightly warm whites. 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. Painter's White is a Behr color with warm cream undertones and an LRV of 88. Pure White is a Sherwin Williams color with warm cream undertones and an LRV of 84. With a Delta E of 2.5, 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 2.5, these colors are close enough to use in separate rooms of the same house without a jarring difference. However, avoid painting them on adjacent walls in the same room, as even subtle differences become apparent at a hard edge where two paints meet. For the smoothest result, use one brand consistently within each connected space and reserve the other brand for rooms that are visually separated.
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.