What color is Gray Owl?
Gray Owl (OC-52) is a light, soft gray from Benjamin Moore's Off-White Collection with a gentle green-gray cast. It is one of the cooler popular neutrals: clean and calm, without the beige warmth of a greige.
Gray Owl undertones
Gray Owl measures −1.8 on the green–red axis, a clear lean toward green, and +3.8 on the yellow–blue axis, a small warmth. Together that reads as a gray with a soft green-gray (sometimes called "sage-gray") undertone. In cool north light it can look slightly blue-gray; in warm light the green shows a little more.
Gray Owl LRV and light
Gray Owl has an LRV of 64.51, a light color that still shows as gray against white trim.
Cool blue-gray
Soft gray with a hint of green
Fresh morning gray, cooler later
Gray by day, softly warm at sunset
Simulated from the manufacturer's color values. Always test a sample in your own light.
Gray Owl decor ideas
Gray Owl suits clean, light decor: white or light oak furniture, black or chrome metals, white marble and linen. Its cool cast pairs especially well with navy, charcoal and deep green accents, and it makes white kitchens and bathrooms look crisp. For a warmer room, bring in natural wood, rattan and warm brass to balance the cool gray.
Where to be careful: with very warm, yellow or orange woods, Gray Owl's cool side becomes more noticeable. If your home is mostly warm finishes, a greige such as Balboa Mist is usually easier.
When to avoid Gray Owl
Avoid Gray Owl in rooms with strong warm woods or creamy whites, where its slight green-blue lean (a* –1.8) can look cold. In a dark, north-facing room it can look gray-blue. For a warmer light gray, Agreeable Gray (SW 7029) is easier.
Gray Owl hex code, RGB and LRV
Benjamin Moore lists Gray Owl (OC-52) as hex #D3D4CC, RGB 211, 212, 204 and LRV 64.51.
Colors that go with Gray Owl
Benjamin Moore's coordinating colors for Gray Owl:
Super White makes crisp trim; Silver Satin is a lighter neutral for adjoining rooms; Hale Navy and Kendall Charcoal are the classic deep accents for doors, islands, cabinets and exterior shutters.
Gray Owl vs greige colors
Gray Owl is cooler than popular greiges like Pale Oak, which has similar lightness but more warmth and no green. If your home has warm wood floors and you want a gray that won't look cold, a greige is often easier; if your finishes are white, black and chrome, Gray Owl's cool cast looks crisp. Our undertones guide explains how to tell which suits your room, and the greige paint colors page shows the warmer alternatives side by side.
Colors similar to Gray Owl
Silverpointe and Moorstone are Gray Owl's closest Sherwin-Williams neighbors, and Sea Salt is a greener alternative (ΔE 2.0). In Benjamin Moore, Balboa Mist is the nearest we measured, warmer and less green.
| Color | Brand | LRV | Difference (ΔE) | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balboa Mist OC-27 | Benjamin Moore | 65.5 | 2.5 | Review |
| Pale Oak OC-20 | Benjamin Moore | 68.6 | 2.9 | Review |
| Horizon OC-53 | Benjamin Moore | 72.8 | 3.1 | — |
| Silverpointe SW 7653 | Sherwin-Williams | 63.9 | 0.7 | — |
| Moorstone SW 9630 | Sherwin-Williams | 63.3 | 1.0 | — |
| Lattice SW 7654 | Sherwin-Williams | 61.2 | 1.5 | — |
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.
Gray Owl FAQs
What color is Benjamin Moore Gray Owl?
Gray Owl (OC-52) is a light, soft gray with a gentle green-gray undertone and an LRV of 64.51.
Is Gray Owl warm or cool?
Cool-leaning: a clear green lean (green–red −1.8) with only a small warmth (yellow–blue +3.8). It can look blue-gray in north light.
What is the LRV of Gray Owl?
64.51, according to Benjamin Moore.
What is the hex code for Gray Owl?
#D3D4CC, which is RGB 211, 212, 204.
What decor goes with Gray Owl?
White and light oak furniture, black or chrome metals, marble and linen, with navy, charcoal or deep green accents.
Is it Gray Owl or Grey Owl?
Benjamin Moore spells it Gray Owl, code OC-52.
What is the Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Gray Owl?
The closest Sherwin-Williams colors we measured are Silverpointe (ΔE 0.7) and Moorstone (ΔE 1.0).
Is Gray Owl good for cabinets?
Yes, as a soft, light gray with white counters and nickel or black hardware.