What color is Boothbay Gray?
Boothbay Gray (HC-165) is a medium blue-gray from Benjamin Moore’s Historical Colors collection, which the brand describes as a timeless blue-gray with effortless adaptability. At LRV 43.26 it is a true mid-tone: colored enough for character, light enough for many rooms.
Boothbay Gray undertones
Measured, its yellow–blue value is 0.0, no warmth at all, and its green–red value −3.2, a clear green lean. That cool, warmth-free gray is what reads as blue-gray next to wood, cream and beige. In some light the green comes through more.
Is Boothbay Gray warm or cool?
Cool. With no yellow in it, it always reads cooler than greiges and warm grays, and calmer than a saturated blue.
Boothbay Gray LRV and light
At LRV 43.26 it needs decent light on walls. On all four walls of a dim room it reads darker and grayer.
Deeper, grayer blue-gray
Clear, soft blue-gray
Bluer in the morning, grayer later
Gray by day, softer at sunset
Simulated from the manufacturer's color values. Always test a sample in your own light.
Best uses for Boothbay Gray
Kitchen cabinets and butler’s pantries
Boothbay Gray’s best use. It looks timeless on shaker doors with white counters and brass or nickel hardware.
Exteriors and front doors
It makes a classic coastal blue-gray house with white trim, and a soft front door color on white or gray homes.
Offices, bedrooms and bathroom vanities
On walls it suits rooms with good light; on a vanity it gives color without committing the whole bathroom.
Living rooms
In a bright living room it makes a calm, tailored backdrop with white trim, linen and warm wood. In a dim room use it on one wall or below a chair rail.
When to avoid Boothbay Gray
Avoid it on every wall of a dark room, where it turns heavy, and with very warm cream trim, which makes it look cold. For a much lighter version of the same calm look, Gray Owl is lighter and less blue.
Boothbay Gray pros and cons
Pros
- A timeless blue-gray for cabinets, doors and exteriors.
- Works with both brass and nickel.
- Pairs cleanly with crisp whites.
Cons
- Reads dark on all walls of dim rooms.
- The green lean can show in some light.
- Too cool for warm, cream-based schemes.
Best white trim for Boothbay Gray
Chantilly Lace, one of its coordinating colors, gives the cleanest contrast. White Wisp is a softer option. Avoid creamy whites, which make it look cold.
Boothbay Gray hex code, RGB and LRV
Benjamin Moore lists Boothbay Gray (HC-165) as hex #AAB2B0 and LRV 43.26.
Colors that go with Boothbay Gray
Benjamin Moore’s coordinating colors are Stonington Gray, White Wisp, the blush Frosted Petal and Chantilly Lace: light grays and whites for walls, with Boothbay Gray as the accent.
Boothbay Gray vs similar colors
Boothbay Gray vs Gray Owl
Gray Owl (OC-52, LRV 64.5) is much lighter and slightly warmer, 9.8 apart, a lighter-wall partner.
Boothbay Gray vs Coventry Gray
Coventry Gray (HC-169) is the closest Benjamin Moore color in our data, 3.8 apart, lighter and less green.
Boothbay Gray vs Comfort Gray
Comfort Gray (LRV 53.8) is lighter and warmer, 5.5 apart, so it reads green rather than blue.
Boothbay Gray vs Mount Saint Anne
Mount Saint Anne (1565, LRV 41.9) is a near neighbor, 2.3 apart: a shade darker and greener.
Boothbay Gray vs Solitude
Solitude (AF-545, LRV 41.6) is 4.3 apart and clearly bluer, the pick if you want a true blue-gray.
How to test Boothbay Gray
Paint a cabinet door or large board and check it beside your counters and hardware. Look at it in the evening too, when it reads deeper and grayer.
Colors similar to Boothbay Gray
The closest Sherwin-Williams color is Mineral Deposit (SW 7652), 1.6 apart, followed by Gris (SW 7659) at 3.1.
| Color | Brand | LRV | Difference (ΔE) | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Saint Anne 1565 | Benjamin Moore | 41.9 | 2.3 | — |
| Coventry Gray HC-169 | Benjamin Moore | 0.0 | 3.8 | — |
| Solitude AF-545 | Benjamin Moore | 41.6 | 4.3 | — |
| Mineral Deposit SW 7652 | Sherwin-Williams | 42.6 | 1.6 | — |
| Gris SW 7659 | Sherwin-Williams | 39.4 | 3.1 | — |
| Oyster Bay SW 6206 | Sherwin-Williams | 44.1 | 3.9 | — |
ΔE is the CIEDE2000 color difference between the two manufacturer colors: around 1 is barely visible; 2–3 is visible when the chips sit side by side.
Boothbay Gray FAQs
What are the undertones of Benjamin Moore Boothbay Gray?
A cool gray with a green lean and no yellow (yellow–blue 0.0, green–red −3.2). It reads blue-gray beside warm finishes.
Is Boothbay Gray blue or green?
It reads blue-gray in most rooms; by the numbers it has a green lean, which shows in some light.
Is Boothbay Gray warm or cool?
Cool. It has no yellow warmth at all.
What is the LRV of Boothbay Gray?
Benjamin Moore lists Boothbay Gray at LRV 43.26, a medium depth.
Is Boothbay Gray good for kitchen cabinets?
Yes, it is one of its best uses, with white counters and brass or nickel hardware.
What white trim goes with Boothbay Gray?
Chantilly Lace for clean contrast, or White Wisp for a softer look.
Is Boothbay Gray good for exteriors?
Yes. It makes a classic coastal blue-gray house with white trim and a soft front door color.
What is the Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Boothbay Gray?
Mineral Deposit (SW 7652) is the closest in our data, 1.6 apart.