Steeple Gray vs Steely Gray
Steeple Gray (PPG) and Steely Gray (Sherwin-Williams) come from different manufacturers. Steeple Gray reads as grey, while Steely Gray reads as blue-grey — two distinct hue families, not close cousins. Their light reflectance values are nearly the same — 30 vs 30 — so neither will read significantly brighter or darker than the other. A ΔE of 1.0 puts them in subtle territory — distinguishable in direct comparison, less so from across a room. Below you'll find 2 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.
Steeple Gray vs Steely Gray in Real Spaces
2 real rooms side by side. Steeple Gray and Steely Gray are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.
Living Room
A living room wall sees more varied light than almost any other surface in the house, which makes the choice between these two more nuanced than a chip suggests. At this scale the difference is subtle — you'd need them side by side, as shown here, to reliably tell them apart.
Bathroom
Small bathrooms intensify color. A shade that seems quiet in a larger room can feel immersive when you're surrounded by it on four walls. In photos like these you're seeing the difference at its most direct. In a finished room, the distinction is there but not dramatic.
Color Details
Steeple Gray vs Steely Gray Simulated Comparison
5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see Steeple Gray on one side and Steely Gray 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 Steeple Gray comparisons
See how Steeple Gray stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.
At LRV 69 vs 30, Ammonite is decisively the brighter choice.
White Dove reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 30), opening up a space where Steeple Gray encloses it.
Steeple Gray reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 6), opening up a space where Iron Ore encloses it.
At LRV 52 vs 30, Purbeck Stone is decisively the brighter choice.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 30 vs 30), so neither reads brighter in a room.
Mizzle reflects far more light (LRV 52 vs 30), opening up a space where Steeple Gray encloses it.
At LRV 60 vs 30, Agreeable Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Accessible Beige reflects far more light (LRV 58 vs 30), opening up a space where Steeple Gray encloses it.
Steeple Gray reads slightly lighter (LRV 30 vs 27), a gap that shows most in low-lit rooms.
At LRV 43 vs 30, French Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
At LRV 30 vs 4, Steeple Gray is decisively the brighter choice.
Tranquil Dawn reflects far more light (LRV 55 vs 30), opening up a space where Steeple Gray encloses it.
Steeple Gray reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 13), opening up a space where Bancha encloses it.
Hardwick White reflects far more light (LRV 44 vs 30), opening up a space where Steeple Gray encloses it.
At LRV 84 vs 30, Pure White is decisively the brighter choice.
A 9-point LRV gap (30 vs 21) makes Steeple Gray the marginally brighter of the two.
Balboa Mist reflects far more light (LRV 66 vs 30), opening up a space where Steeple Gray encloses it.
Shoji White reflects far more light (LRV 74 vs 30), opening up a space where Steeple Gray encloses it.
Snowbound reflects far more light (LRV 83 vs 30), opening up a space where Steeple Gray encloses it.
At LRV 51 vs 30, Pigeon is decisively the brighter choice.
Steeple Gray reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 12), opening up a space where Pewter Green encloses it.
Steeple Gray reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 8), opening up a space where Duck Green encloses it.
Skimming Stone reflects far more light (LRV 68 vs 30), opening up a space where Steeple Gray encloses it.
A 11-point LRV gap (41 vs 30) makes Dix Blue the marginally brighter of the two.
Steeple Gray reflects far more light (LRV 30 vs 12), opening up a space where Vintage Vogue encloses it.
Saybrook Sage reflects far more light (LRV 45 vs 30), opening up a space where Steeple Gray encloses it.
Their light reflectance is nearly identical (LRV 31 vs 30), so neither reads brighter in a room.