Stonington Gray → Sherwin Williams
The closest Sherwin Williams matches for Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray (HC-170), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Sherwin Williams Equivalent for Stonington Gray
If you love Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray 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 Benjamin Moore, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Stonington Gray (HC-170) is a medium gray with cool blue-gray undertones. A true, cool gray with subtle blue undertones. Reads as a clean, modern gray without warmth. One of BM's most popular cool grays. To find a good Sherwin Williams match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 59.43) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Stonington Gray 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 Repose Gray (SW 7015) with a Delta E of 4.8, which is a "good match" level match. Repose Gray is warmer and more purple. Stonington Gray is cooler and bluer. Both are popular light grays but with opposite temperature leans. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Sherwin Williams Matches for Stonington Gray
Repose Gray is warmer and more purple. Stonington Gray is cooler and bluer. Both are popular light grays but with opposite temperature leans.
| Stonington Gray | Repose Gray | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 59.43 | 58 |
| Hex | #CBCBC6 | #CCC7C1 |
| Undertone | Cool Blue-Gray | Warm Purple-Gray |
| Family | Gray | Gray |
Undertone Comparison
Stonington Gray has cool blue-gray undertones. A true, cool gray with subtle blue undertones. Reads as a clean, modern gray without warmth. One of BM's most popular cool grays.
Repose Gray has warm purple-gray undertones. A warm light gray with subtle purple-taupe undertones. Reads as a true gray in most conditions but avoids feeling cold or stark.
The undertone difference is worth paying attention to. While they are close in overall appearance, the different undertones mean they may diverge in certain lighting. Stonington Gray's cool blue-gray quality may read differently than Repose Gray's warm purple-gray character, especially in rooms with strong directional light or colored accents that could pull out one undertone more than the other. Test a sample in your specific room before committing.
How These Colors Behave in Different Lighting
Stonington Gray in Your Room
The blue undertone is most apparent in rooms with lots of natural light. In warm artificial light, it reads as a balanced neutral gray. In north-facing rooms, it can feel distinctly cool.
Repose Gray in Your Room
The purple undertone is most visible in bright, cool light. In warm or dim light, it reads as a clean warm gray. Pairs well with both warm and cool accents.
LRV and Brightness
Stonington Gray has an LRV of 59.43, while Repose Gray has an LRV of 58. 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 Stonington Gray
Benjamin Moore recommends Stonington Gray for: living room, bedroom, bathroom, office, hallway. With an LRV of 59.43, this is a medium color that is in the medium-light range, reflecting enough light to keep rooms feeling open while adding more color and depth than a white or off-white. It works well in living rooms, bedrooms, and hallways where you want warmth and character without darkness.
Repose Gray is recommended for: living room, bedroom, hallway, bathroom, whole house. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Repose Gray in the same rooms you planned for Stonington Gray.
Stonington Gray in Other Brands
Looking for Stonington Gray equivalents in other brands besides Sherwin Williams? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Sherwin Williams match for Stonington Gray (HC-170) is Repose Gray (SW 7015) with a Delta E of 4.8, which rates as a "good match" match. Repose Gray is warmer and more purple. Stonington Gray is cooler and bluer. Both are popular light grays but with opposite temperature leans. 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. Stonington Gray is a Benjamin Moore color with cool blue-gray undertones and an LRV of 59.43. Repose Gray is a Sherwin Williams color with warm purple-gray undertones and an LRV of 58. With a Delta E of 4.8, you will likely notice a difference, especially in bright or direct lighting. 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 4.8, 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.