ColorplanBenjamin Moore Imperial Gray (1571) is a mid-tone cool gray with a green undertone and an LRV of 47. Closest matches: Sherwin-Williams Silvermist (SW 7621), Farrow & Ball Light Blue (No.22) and Behr Watery (HDC-CT-26). For trim, try Ultra White (CC-10).
Room Preview
This photo shows walls only. Photos show the color in a real room's light; your own light will change it.
Suggested trim and ceiling are Benjamin Moore whites that share this color's undertone.
Color Details
| Family | Gray |
| LRV | 47.1 (mid-tone; 0 = black, 100 = pure white) |
| HEX | #B0B9B2 |
| RGB | 176, 185, 178 |
| HSL | 133°, 6%, 71% |
About Imperial Gray
Imperial Gray (1571) is a mid-tone cool gray from Benjamin Moore with a green undertone. With an LRV of 47, Imperial Gray has visible color without darkening a room much.
North-facing light makes Imperial Gray read cooler and slightly darker, while warm south-facing light softens it. It's a good fit for bedrooms, offices, accent walls and kitchen cabinets. It's very close to Iced Marble (1578); you'd mostly see the difference side by side.
How Imperial Gray changes with the light
Imperial Gray has a cool undertone. North light will push it cooler and grayer, while south and west light warm it up. If your room faces north, look at it next to a warm white trim.
North-facing rooms
Imperial Gray has a cool undertone that north light will push cooler and grayer; warm white trim helps balance it.
East-facing rooms
Imperial Gray will look warmer and brighter in the morning and cooler and grayer by afternoon; check a sample at both times.
South-facing rooms
Bright south light shows Imperial Gray close to its true color, slightly lighter and warmer.
West-facing rooms
Imperial Gray looks cool in the morning and warms up in the golden late-afternoon light.
See Imperial Gray in real homes
Photos people have shared of Imperial Gray in their own rooms. Opens Instagram or Pinterest in a new tab.
Imperial Gray equivalents in other brands
The closest color from each brand. ΔE (“delta E”) scores how different two colors look: under 2.5 is very hard to tell apart on a wall, over 5 is clearly different.
Sherwin-Williams
Nearly identical · ΔE 0.7
Also close: Quietude (ΔE 2.3)
Compare side by side →Farrow & Ball
Very close · ΔE 1.5
Also close: Blue Gray (ΔE 4.0)
Compare side by side →Similar Benjamin Moore colors
Imperial Gray questions
What undertone does Imperial Gray have?
Imperial Gray has a green undertone, so it reads as a cool color. North-facing light makes Imperial Gray read cooler and slightly darker, while warm south-facing light softens it.
Is Imperial Gray a light or dark color?
Imperial Gray has a light reflectance value (LRV) of 47.1 on a scale where 0 is black and 100 is pure white, which makes it a mid-tone color. With an LRV of 47, Imperial Gray has visible color without darkening a room much.
What is the closest match to Imperial Gray in other paint brands?
Sherwin-Williams: Silvermist SW 7621 (nearly identical, ΔE 0.7); Farrow & Ball: Light Blue No.22 (very close, ΔE 1.5); Behr: Watery HDC-CT-26 (close, ΔE 3.3). Matches are calculated with the CIEDE2000 color difference formula; always check a physical sample before buying.
What trim and ceiling color goes with Imperial Gray?
Try Ultra White (CC-10) on trim and Distant Gray (OC-68) on the ceiling. Both are Benjamin Moore whites that share Imperial Gray's undertone.
Where does Imperial Gray work best?
Imperial Gray works well in bedrooms, offices, accent walls and kitchen cabinets. With an LRV of 47, Imperial Gray has visible color without darkening a room much.
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