Pelican Gray → Benjamin Moore
The closest Benjamin Moore matches for Valspar Pelican Gray (VR084E), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Benjamin Moore Equivalent for Pelican Gray
If you love Valspar Pelican Gray 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 Valspar, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Pelican Gray (VR084E) is a medium gray with warm light gray undertones. A warm, light gray with subtle beige warmth. Named for the coastal bird. Light and airy with just enough warmth to feel inviting rather than cold. To find a good Benjamin Moore match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 56) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Pelican Gray 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 results are decent but not perfect. The closest Benjamin Moore option is Barren Plain (2111-60) with a Delta E of 4, which is a "good match" level match. Barren Plain is cooler. Pelican Gray is warmer. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Benjamin Moore Matches for Pelican Gray
Barren Plain is cooler. Pelican Gray is warmer.
| Pelican Gray | Barren Plain | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 56 | 55.32 |
| Hex | #CAC8C3 | #CDC9C1 |
| Undertone | Warm Light Gray | Warm Green-Gray |
| Family | Gray | Gray |
Undertone Comparison
Pelican Gray has warm light gray undertones. A warm, light gray with subtle beige warmth. Named for the coastal bird. Light and airy with just enough warmth to feel inviting rather than cold.
Barren Plain has warm green-gray undertones. A light gray with subtle warm green undertones. Clean and contemporary.
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. Pelican Gray's warm light gray quality may read differently than Barren Plain's warm green-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
Pelican Gray in Your Room
Warm and clean. Reads as a warm light gray in most rooms. The beige prevents it from feeling sterile.
Barren Plain in Your Room
The green is mild. In most rooms, reads as a clean, slightly warm light gray.
LRV and Brightness
Pelican Gray has an LRV of 56, while Barren Plain has an LRV of 55.32. 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 Pelican Gray
Valspar recommends Pelican Gray for: bathroom, bedroom, hallway, living room, office. With an LRV of 56, 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.
Barren Plain is recommended for: living room, bedroom, bathroom, hallway. 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.
Pelican Gray in Other Brands
Looking for Pelican Gray equivalents in other brands besides Benjamin Moore? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Benjamin Moore match for Pelican Gray (VR084E) is Barren Plain (2111-60) with a Delta E of 4, which rates as a "good match" match. Barren Plain is cooler. Pelican Gray is warmer. 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. Pelican Gray is a Valspar color with warm light gray undertones and an LRV of 56. Barren Plain is a Benjamin Moore color with warm green-gray undertones and an LRV of 55.32. 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 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.