PaintColorMatcherCIE ΔE2000 & CAT16 Lab
HEX #CBCEC5 • LRV 60.92% • CIE D65 2°•
SHERWIN-WILLIAMS ARCHITECTURAL SPEC DECKCODE: SW 52
Official Sherwin-Williams Fan DeckSW 52
SPECTRAL REF. BASE • 5000K ILLUMINANT
Pearl Gray
Soft Green-Beige
PREVIEW ILLUMINANT SIMULATION (CAT16):5000K ACTIVE
HEX CODE
RGB VALUES
203, 206, 197
LRV REFLECTANCE
60.92%
HK LIGHTNESS
82.7 L*
Sherwin-Williams Official CatalogFamily: Gray & Greige • Code SW 52

Sherwin-Williams Pearl Gray (SW 52) — Color Review, LRV & Dupes

✓ SHERWIN-WILLIAMS #SW 52 COLORIST BLUF VERDICT

Sherwin-Williams Pearl Gray (SW 52) records 60.92% LRV and 82.7 L*_HK lightness (#CBCEC5, RGB 203/206/197). Its CIELAB coordinates (L*=82.31, a*=-2.65, b*=4.11, C*=4.89, h°=122.8°) place SW 52 in the Soft Green-Beige class. Top cross-brand matches for Pearl Gray (SW 52) are Behr Heath Gray (N380-2, ΔE=0.82) and Benjamin Moore Vapor Trails (1556, ΔE=1.29).

1. LRV INDEX
60.92%
Medium-Light Balanced
2. KILLAM UNDERTONE
Soft Green-Beige
Warm Bias Classification
3. CIE CHROMA (C*)
4.89
Muted Architectural
4. HUE ANGLE (h°)
122.8°
CIELAB L* 82.31 a* -2.65 b* 4.11
5. ROOM ORIENTATION
North & East Windows for SW 52 (60.92% LRV)
3000K–3500K CRI 95+ LED for SW 52 (2700K shifts to #E8C7A7)
6. WOOD FLOOR PAIRING
Quarter-Sawn Walnut & Greige Porcelain paired with Pearl Gray
Quarter-Sawn Walnut & Greige Porcelain paired with Pearl Gray
SIDE-BY-SIDE SPLIT SWATCH VERIFICATION

Closest Cross-Brand Paint Matches to Sherwin-Williams Pearl Gray (SW 52)

Sherwin-Williams Pearl Gray (SW 52, #CBCEC5) is compared against competitor swatches under ISO/CIE 11664-6 (ΔE2000) and ASTM E308.

Role / BrandPaint Color Name & CodeHEX CodeLRV %Undertone ProfileCIE ΔE 2000
SOURCE (Sherwin-Williams)Pearl Gray (SW 52)#CBCEC560.92%Soft Green-Beige0.00 (Ref)
Behr #1Heath Gray (N380-2)#C9CBC259%Soft Green-BeigeΔE 0.82 (98.3%)
Behr #2Silver Setting (PWL-89)#CACEC761%Soft Green-BeigeΔE 0.95 (98%)
Benjamin Moore #1Vapor Trails (1556)#CFD0C562.49%Soft Green-BeigeΔE 1.29 (97.3%)
Benjamin Moore #2Sleigh Bells (1480)#CBCFC961.56%Soft Green-BeigeΔE 1.41 (97%)

Best Behr Equivalents

Top 3 by CIE ΔE2000
SOURCE: Sherwin-Williams SW 52#CBCEC5 • LRV 60.92%
MATCH #1: Behr N380-2#C9CBC2 • LRV 59%
Behr Heath Gray (N380-2)
Soft Green-Beige • 98.3% Perceptual Match
ΔE2000: 0.82CAM16: 1.01

Sub-threshold ΔE=0.82 match for SW 52: Heath Gray (N380-2) delivers -1.9 LRV points deeper than Pearl Gray (SW 52) with matched C*=4.83 saturation.

SOURCE: Sherwin-Williams SW 52#CBCEC5 • LRV 60.92%
MATCH #2: Behr PWL-89#CACEC7 • LRV 61%
Behr Silver Setting (PWL-89)
Soft Green-Beige • 98% Perceptual Match
ΔE2000: 0.95CAM16: 0.92

Sub-threshold ΔE=0.95 match for SW 52: Silver Setting (PWL-89) delivers identical 61% reflectance to SW 52 with -0.89 softer C*=4 chroma.

SOURCE: Sherwin-Williams SW 52#CBCEC5 • LRV 60.92%
MATCH #3: Behr PPF-16#CBCCC4 • LRV 60%
Behr Paving Stones (PPF-16)
Soft Green-Beige • 97.5% Perceptual Match
ΔE2000: 1.19CAM16: 1.08

Cross-room ΔE=1.19 equivalent for SW 52: Paving Stones (PPF-16) delivers identical 60% reflectance to SW 52 with -0.64 softer C*=4.25 chroma.

Best Benjamin Moore Equivalents

Top 3 by CIE ΔE2000
SOURCE: Sherwin-Williams SW 52#CBCEC5 • LRV 60.92%
MATCH #1: Benjamin Moore 1556#CFD0C5 • LRV 62.49%
Benjamin Moore Vapor Trails (1556)
Soft Green-Beige • 97.3% Perceptual Match
ΔE2000: 1.29CAM16: 1.32

Cross-room ΔE=1.29 equivalent for SW 52: Vapor Trails (1556) delivers +1.6 LRV points lighter than Pearl Gray (SW 52) with +0.92 higher C*=5.81 chroma.

SOURCE: Sherwin-Williams SW 52#CBCEC5 • LRV 60.92%
MATCH #2: Benjamin Moore 1480#CBCFC9 • LRV 61.56%
Benjamin Moore Sleigh Bells (1480)
Soft Green-Beige • 97% Perceptual Match
ΔE2000: 1.41CAM16: 1.36

Cross-room ΔE=1.41 equivalent for SW 52: Sleigh Bells (1480) delivers identical 61.56% reflectance to SW 52 with -1.38 softer C*=3.51 chroma.

SOURCE: Sherwin-Williams SW 52#CBCEC5 • LRV 60.92%
MATCH #3: Benjamin Moore HC-180#CCD0CA • LRV 62.23%
Benjamin Moore Cliffside Gray (HC-180)
Soft Green-Beige • 96.9% Perceptual Match
ΔE2000: 1.47CAM16: 1.48

Cross-room ΔE=1.47 equivalent for SW 52: Cliffside Gray (HC-180) delivers +1.3 LRV points lighter than Pearl Gray (SW 52) with -1.38 softer C*=3.51 chroma.

OU-LUO CHROMATIC HARMONY ENGINE

5-Role Room Palette for Sherwin-Williams Pearl Gray (SW 52)

Coordinated ceiling, trim, wall, sightline, and accent pairings for Pearl Gray (#CBCEC5, LRV 60.92%).

LRV 92.71%
Ceiling for SW 52
High Reflective White
SW 7757
Sheen: Flat / Matte
LRV 82.53%
Trim for SW 52
Ceiling Bright White
SW 7007
Sheen: Semi-Gloss / Satin
LRV 60.92%
Pearl Gray (SW 52) Wall
Pearl Gray
SW 52
Sheen: Eggshell / Matte
LRV 82.35%
Adjoining Room (SW 52)
Alabaster
SW 7008
Sheen: Eggshell
LRV 86.76%
Accent / Millwork (SW 52)
White Flour
SW 7102
Sheen: Satin / Pearl
Ideal Exposure
North & East Windows for SW 52 (60.92% LRV)

Pearl Gray (SW 52, b*=4.11) counteracts cool northern sky cast without shifting dingy.

Wood Floor Pairing
Hardwood & Tile Match

Quarter-Sawn Walnut & Greige Porcelain paired with Pearl Gray

Evening LED Spec
Recommended Kelvin

3000K–3500K CRI 95+ LED for SW 52 (2700K shifts to #E8C7A7)

IN-BRAND VALUE & HUE LADDER

Lighter, Deeper & Crisper Sherwin-Williams Alternatives to SW 52

Need Pearl Gray (SW 52, LRV 60.92%) brighter or deeper? Adjacent Sherwin-Williams fan-deck steps around #CBCEC5:

Lighter than SW 52 (+LRV)Filmy Green (SW 6190)
LRV 64.35% • Soft Green-Beige
#D1D3C7
ΔE 1.77
Deeper than SW 52 (-LRV)
Tinsmith (SW 7657)
LRV 57.17% • Soft Green-Beige
#C5C8C4
ΔE 2.76
Warmer than SW 52 (+b*)Filmy Green (SW 6190)
LRV 64.35% • Soft Green-Beige
#D1D3C7
ΔE 1.77
Cooler than SW 52 (-b*)
Tinsmith (SW 7657)
LRV 57.17% • Soft Green-Beige
#C5C8C4
ΔE 2.76
Architectural Estimator & Procurement

Paint Gallon Calculator & Contractor Mixing Schedule

✓ Standard 350 sq.ft./Gallon Coverage

Calculate exact gallon volume for Sherwin-Williams Pearl Gray (SW 52) accounting for standard North American door (21 sq.ft.) and window (15 sq.ft.) deductions.

Net Paintable Area: 360 sq.ft.
REAL-TIME ESTIMATOR RESULT
2.1 Gallons Calculated
Buy 3 Gallons (for ~360 sq.ft.)
Field Contractor SpecificationCSI MASTERFORMAT 09 91 23
Manufacturer & Code:
Sherwin-Williams #SW 52
Color Reference Name:
Pearl Gray
Recommended Sheen:
Eggshell (Walls) / Semi-Gloss (Trim)
LRV / Undertone:
60.92% • Soft Green-Beige
Sherwin-Williams #SW 52 • #CBCEC5 • LRV 60.92%

Spectrophotometric & CAT16 Illumination Analysis: Sherwin-Williams Pearl Gray (SW 52)

Code SW 52 (Pearl Gray) reflects 60.92% of incident D65 light. Measured in CAM16-UCS uniform space, Sherwin-Williams Pearl Gray (SW 52) registers J'=84.5, a'=-3.28, and b'=3.27 with HSL (80°, 8%, 79%) and Helmholtz-Kohlrausch perceived value 82.7 L*_HK. Because SW 52 carries a*=-2.65 red-green and b*=4.11 yellow-blue balance at chroma C*=4.89, Pearl Gray projects a warm soft green-beige character across drywall and millwork.

Thermal lighting shifts Sherwin-Williams SW 52 predictably. Under 5000K noon daylight, Pearl Gray (SW 52) holds its native #D2CDBD swatch; at 4000K cool office LED, SW 52 adapts to #D9CBB4; at 3500K halogen, Pearl Gray transitions to #DECAAF; at 3000K residential LED, SW 52 warms to #E4C8AA; and under 2700K evening bulbs, Pearl Gray (SW 52) settles at #E8C7A7.

When cross-matching Sherwin-Williams Pearl Gray (SW 52, #CBCEC5), Behr Heath Gray (N380-2, #C9CBC2, LRV 59%) scores ΔE2000=0.82 and CAM16=1.01, followed by Silver Setting (PWL-89, ΔE=0.95). In Benjamin Moore, Vapor Trails (1556, #CFD0C5, LRV 62.49%) achieves ΔE2000=1.29 ahead of Sleigh Bells (1480, ΔE=1.41). Coordinate SW 52 with High Reflective White (SW 7757) ceilings, Ceiling Bright White (SW 7007) trim, Alabaster (SW 7008) hallways, and White Flour (SW 7102) accents.

TECHNICAL COLOR BRIEF

Frequently Asked Questions About Sherwin-Williams Pearl Gray (SW 52)

Spectrophotometric answers for homeowners, interior designers, and painting contractors specifying Sherwin-Williams Pearl Gray.

SPEC 01LRV 60.92% & H-K 82.7

What is the LRV of Sherwin-Williams Pearl Gray (SW 52)?

Sherwin-Williams Pearl Gray (SW 52) records an official Light Reflectance Value of 60.92% (#CBCEC5) and a Helmholtz-Kohlrausch perceived lightness of 82.7 L*_HK.

At 60.92% reflectance, Pearl Gray (SW 52) is a mid-tone Sherwin-Williams shade with enough pigment depth (L*=82.31) to hold its #CBCEC5 color in bright sun.

CIE ΔE2000 VerifiedSW 52
SPEC 02CIELAB L*82.31 a*-2.65 b*4.11

What undertones does Sherwin-Williams Pearl Gray (SW 52) have?

CIELAB telemetry (L*=82.31, a*=-2.65, b*=4.11) classifies Sherwin-Williams Pearl Gray (SW 52) as a Warm Soft Green-Beige with C*=4.89 chroma and h°=122.8° hue.

Pair Pearl Gray (SW 52) with North & East Windows for SW 52 (60.92% LRV) and Quarter-Sawn Walnut & Greige Porcelain paired with Pearl Gray. Under 2700K evening bulbs, SW 52 shifts from #CBCEC5 toward #E8C7A7.

CIE ΔE2000 VerifiedSW 52
SPEC 03SW 52 CROSS-BRAND DUPES

What is the closest cross-brand paint match to Sherwin-Williams Pearl Gray (SW 52)?

Closest verified equivalents to Sherwin-Williams Pearl Gray (SW 52, #CBCEC5) are Behr Heath Gray (N380-2, #C9CBC2) at ΔE2000=0.82 and Benjamin Moore Vapor Trails (1556, #CFD0C5) at ΔE2000=1.29.

Both N380-2 and 1556 matches are verified against Pearl Gray (SW 52) in CIE ΔE2000 and CAM16-UCS space.

CIE ΔE2000 VerifiedSW 52
SPEC 04SW 52 TRIM & CEILING

What white trim and ceiling colors go best with Sherwin-Williams Pearl Gray (SW 52)?

Alongside Sherwin-Williams Pearl Gray (SW 52, LRV 60.92%), our Ou-Luo harmony engine specifies Sherwin-Williams Ceiling Bright White (SW 7007, #E9EBE7, LRV 82.53%) in Semi-Gloss or Satin.

Pairing Ceiling Bright White (SW 7007) with Pearl Gray (SW 52) frames door casings and baseboards cleanly.

CIE ΔE2000 VerifiedSW 52