Pewter Tankard → Benjamin Moore
The closest Benjamin Moore matches for Sherwin Williams Pewter Tankard (SW 0023), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Benjamin Moore Equivalent for Pewter Tankard
If you love Sherwin Williams Pewter Tankard but need a Benjamin Moore 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 Benjamin Moore, your local store does not carry Sherwin Williams, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Pewter Tankard (SW 0023) is a medium-dark gray with warm pewter undertones. A warm medium gray with earthy undertones. More depth than Mindful Gray, with a pewter-like quality that feels natural and grounding. To find a good Benjamin Moore match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 39) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Pewter Tankard and every Benjamin Moore 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 Benjamin Moore match for Pewter Tankard. Smoke Embers (1466) comes in with a Delta E of 2.8, which puts it in the "excellent match" range. Smoke Embers is a close match. Both are warm, pewter-toned medium grays. Nearly interchangeable.
Benjamin Moore Matches for Pewter Tankard
Smoke Embers is a close match. Both are warm, pewter-toned medium grays. Nearly interchangeable.
| Pewter Tankard | Smoke Embers | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 39 | 37.54 |
| Hex | #B2ACA4 | #B1ACA4 |
| Undertone | Warm Pewter | Warm Gray-Beige |
| Family | Gray | Gray |
Undertone Comparison
Pewter Tankard has warm pewter undertones. A warm medium gray with earthy undertones. More depth than Mindful Gray, with a pewter-like quality that feels natural and grounding.
Smoke Embers has warm gray-beige undertones. A medium warm gray with beige undertones. Darker and more substantial than Edgecomb Gray. A sophisticated mid-tone neutral.
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
Pewter Tankard in Your Room
Reads as a warm, substantial gray in most rooms. The earthy warmth prevents it from feeling cold. Works beautifully with natural materials and warm metals.
Smoke Embers in Your Room
Reads as a warm, grounding medium gray in most conditions. The beige warmth prevents it from feeling cold. Good depth for accent walls or whole rooms with bright trim.
LRV and Brightness
Pewter Tankard has an LRV of 39, while Smoke Embers has an LRV of 37.54. 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 Pewter Tankard
Sherwin Williams recommends Pewter Tankard for: living room, bedroom, dining room, office, accent wall. With an LRV of 39, this is a medium-dark color that is in the medium range, adding real depth and presence to a room. It works best in rooms with good natural light or as an accent wall color. In smaller or darker rooms, pair it with bright white trim to keep the space from feeling closed in.
Smoke Embers is recommended for: living room, bedroom, office, dining room, accent wall. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Smoke Embers in the same rooms you planned for Pewter Tankard.
Pewter Tankard in Other Brands
Looking for Pewter Tankard equivalents in other brands besides Benjamin Moore? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Benjamin Moore match for Pewter Tankard (SW 0023) is Smoke Embers (1466) with a Delta E of 2.8, which rates as a "excellent match" match. Smoke Embers is a close match. Both are warm, pewter-toned medium grays. Nearly interchangeable. 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. Pewter Tankard is a Sherwin Williams color with warm pewter undertones and an LRV of 39. Smoke Embers is a Benjamin Moore color with warm gray-beige undertones and an LRV of 37.54. With a Delta E of 2.8, 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 2.8, 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 Benjamin Moore equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Benjamin Moore. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Benjamin Moore 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.