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Smoke Gray 2120-40
On-screen approximation from the published RGB value. Order a physical sample before you decide.
Undertone: Subtle blue undertone
In CIELAB, Smoke Gray sits at L* 51.3, a* -0.7, b* -4.6. Its hue angle is 261° and its chroma is 4.6, so it leans blue only slightly — the undertone mostly shows next to whiter or grayer colors. It classifies as cool. Among Benjamin Moore colors with a similar LRV (±5), it is warmer (more yellow) than 17%.
LRV 21.1: dark
Light Reflectance Value runs from 0 (absolute black) to 100 (perfect white). At 21.1, Smoke Gray is lighter than 22% of Benjamin Moore colors. Absorbs most light. Good for accent walls, cabinets, doors and exteriors; needs good lighting indoors.
Closest Sherwin-Williams match to Smoke Gray
Ranked by CIEDE2000 color difference (ΔE) computed from published RGB values. Below 2 is hard to tell apart on the wall; above 4 is a different color.
| Color | Code | ΔE2000 | How close | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Downing Slate | SW 2819 | 1.70 | Very close | |
| Before the Storm | SW 9564 | 2.66 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Serious Gray | SW 6256 | 3.40 | Close — difference visible side by side |
Closest Behr match to Smoke Gray
Ranked by CIEDE2000 color difference (ΔE) computed from published RGB values. Below 2 is hard to tell apart on the wall; above 4 is a different color. Behr does not publish LRV, so Behr values here are estimates.
| Color | Code | ΔE2000 | How close | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Liquid Mercury | N510-5 | 0.68 | Practically identical | |
| Deep Shale | PPF-38 | 1.33 | Very close | |
| Charcoal Blue | N490-5 | 2.57 | Close — difference visible side by side |
Similar Benjamin Moore colors
| Color | Code | ΔE2000 | How close | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver Streak | 2119-40 | 0.55 | Practically identical | |
| Eclipse | 2132-40 | 1.36 | Very close | |
| Wolf Gray | 2127-40 | 1.90 | Very close | |
| Black Pepper | 2130-40 | 2.22 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Charcoal Linen | 2133-40 | 2.32 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Steel Wool | 2121-20 | 2.73 | Close — difference visible side by side |
Lighter and darker versions
Colors from Benjamin Moore with nearly the same hue and saturation, one step lighter or darker.
- Wetherburn's Blue CW-580 · lighter, LRV 23.6
- Lampblack CW-695 · lighter, LRV 23.2
- Apollo Blue CW-645 · lighter, LRV 23.7
- Stillwater 1650 · darker, LRV 19.1
- Philipsburg Blue HC-159 · darker, LRV 19.1
- Gray Gardens CSP-55 · darker, LRV 18.7
Colors that go with Smoke Gray
Color-theory pairings — the nearest Benjamin Moore color to each rotated hue, keeping the same lightness and saturation:
- Barnwood CSP-115 · complementary (180°)
- Wolf Gray 2127-40 · analogous (−30°)
- Sea Life 2118-40 · analogous (+30°)
- Gray Mountain 1462 · triadic (120°)
- Porch Swing CSP-750 · triadic (240°)
Smoke Gray vs popular colors
- Amherst Gray (Benjamin Moore HC-167, ΔE 7.6) is darker (LRV 18.8 vs 21.1), more yellow/warm.
- Gauntlet Gray (Sherwin-Williams SW 7019, ΔE 8.1) is darker (LRV 17.4 vs 21.1), more yellow/warm, more red/pink.
- Aegean Teal (Benjamin Moore 2136-40, ΔE 9.9) is lighter (LRV 25.1 vs 21.1), more green, more saturated.