Powell Buff vs Pure White
Where Powell Buff belongs to Benjamin Moore's range, Pure White is a Sherwin-Williams color. Powell Buff reads as beige, while Pure White reads as beige-greige — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Pure White (LRV 84) reflects noticeably more light than Powell Buff (LRV 59), a difference of 25 points that becomes especially apparent in rooms with limited natural light. Powell Buff runs red while Pure White is decidedly warm, which means they'll respond very differently to warm vs cool light sources. With a ΔE of 20.7, the contrast is hard to miss. These aren't variations on a theme — they're two different answers to the same question. Below you'll find 1 real-room photo comparison where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Powell Buff vs Pure White in Real Spaces
1 real room side by side. Seeing Powell Buff and Pure White in actual rooms makes the difference concrete; browse the spaces below to get a feel for how each color lives on a wall.
Kitchen
In a kitchen, colors are seen under bright task lighting that amplifies undertones — what reads neutral elsewhere can show its hand here. Pure White reflects noticeably more light off the walls, making the space read more open than Powell Buff.
Color Details
Powell Buff vs Pure White Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Powell Buff on one side and Pure White on the other.
Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.
More Powell Buff comparisons
See how Powell Buff stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
A 9-point LRV gap (69 vs 59) makes Ammonite the marginally brighter of the two.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 59), opening up a space where Powell Buff encloses it.
Powell Buff reflects far more light (LRV 59 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
A 8-point LRV gap (59 vs 52) makes Powell Buff the marginally brighter of the two.
At LRV 59 vs 30, Powell Buff is decisively the brighter choice.
Powell Buff reads slightly lighter (LRV 59 vs 52), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 60 vs 59), so neither reads brighter in a room.
With LRVs of 59 and 58, the two reflect almost the same amount of light.
Powell Buff reflects far more light (LRV 59 vs 27), opening up a space where Denim Drift encloses it.
At LRV 59 vs 43, Powell Buff is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 59 vs 4, Powell Buff is decisively the brighter choice.
Powell Buff reads slightly lighter (LRV 59 vs 55), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Powell Buff reflects far more light (LRV 59 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
Powell Buff reflects far more light (LRV 59 vs 44), opening up a space where Hardwick White encloses it.
At LRV 59 vs 21, Powell Buff is decisively the brighter choice.
Balboa Mist reads slightly lighter (LRV 66 vs 59), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 59), opening up a space where Powell Buff encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 59), opening up a space where Powell Buff encloses it.
A 9-point LRV gap (59 vs 51) makes Powell Buff the marginally brighter of the two.
Powell Buff reflects far more light (LRV 59 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Powell Buff reflects far more light (LRV 59 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reads slightly lighter (LRV 68 vs 59), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 59 vs 41, Powell Buff is decisively the brighter choice.
Powell Buff reflects far more light (LRV 59 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Powell Buff reflects far more light (LRV 59 vs 45), opening up a space where Saybrook Sage encloses it.
At LRV 59 vs 31, Powell Buff is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 59 vs 7, Powell Buff is decisively the brighter choice.