Cotton Grey → Farrow & Ball
The closest Farrow & Ball matches for Behr Cotton Grey (PPU18-22), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Farrow & Ball Equivalent for Cotton Grey
If you love Behr Cotton Grey but need a Farrow & Ball alternative, you are not alone. This is one of the most common cross-brand paint matching searches, whether you are working with a painter who prefers Farrow & Ball, your local store does not carry Behr, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Cotton Grey (PPU18-22) is a very light white with cool cotton white undertones. A cool, clean white-gray. Like unbleached cotton. Lighter than Smoky White, cooler than Painter's White. To find a good Farrow & Ball match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 80) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Cotton Grey and every Farrow & Ball color using the CIE2000 Delta E formula, which measures how different two colors look to the human eye. A Delta E under 2 means most people cannot tell the colors apart. Between 2 and 4, you might notice a difference in certain lighting. Above 5, the difference is clearly visible side by side.
The good news: there is a strong Farrow & Ball match for Cotton Grey. Slipper Satin (No.2004) comes in with a Delta E of 2, which puts it in the "excellent match" range. Slipper Satin is the closest F&B option. Very close match.
Farrow & Ball Matches for Cotton Grey
Slipper Satin is the closest F&B option. Very close match.
| Cotton Grey | Slipper Satin | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 80 | 80 |
| Hex | #E8E6E2 | #E9E4DA |
| Undertone | Cool Cotton White | Warm Satin Cream |
| Family | White | White |
Undertone Comparison
Cotton Grey has cool cotton white undertones. A cool, clean white-gray. Like unbleached cotton. Lighter than Smoky White, cooler than Painter's White.
Slipper Satin has warm satin cream undertones. A warm, creamy white with a silky quality. Between Wimborne White and Pointing in warmth.
The undertone difference is worth paying attention to. While they are close in overall appearance, the different undertones mean they may diverge in certain lighting. Cotton Grey's cool cotton white quality may read differently than Slipper Satin's warm satin cream character, especially in rooms with strong directional light or colored accents that could pull out one undertone more than the other. Test a sample in your specific room before committing.
How These Colors Behave in Different Lighting
Cotton Grey in Your Room
Clean and cool. Functions as a bright cool white in most rooms.
Slipper Satin in Your Room
Warm and refined. A sophisticated warm off-white.
LRV and Brightness
Cotton Grey has an LRV of 80, while Slipper Satin has an LRV of 80. These two colors reflect a very similar amount of light, so you should not notice a significant difference in room brightness when switching between them. The room will feel approximately the same in terms of light and space, which makes this a smoother transition.
Best Rooms for Cotton Grey
Behr recommends Cotton Grey for: trim, ceilings, cabinets, whole house, bathroom. With an LRV of 80, this is a very light color that reflects a lot of light and works well in any room, including smaller spaces where you want to maintain a bright, open feel. It is light enough for whole-house use without making rooms feel washed out or sterile.
Slipper Satin is recommended for: whole house, living room, bedroom, kitchen, trim. The recommended applications differ slightly between brands, but the color's properties should work in the same rooms regardless of which brand you choose. Trust the LRV and undertone data more than the specific room suggestions, and always test in your actual space.
Cotton Grey in Other Brands
Looking for Cotton Grey equivalents in other brands besides Farrow & Ball? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Farrow & Ball match for Cotton Grey (PPU18-22) is Slipper Satin (No.2004) with a Delta E of 2, which rates as a "excellent match" match. Slipper Satin is the closest F&B option. Very close match. Delta E measures perceptual color distance on a scale where under 2 means nearly identical, 2 to 4 means close with subtle differences, and over 5 means clearly noticeable.
No, they are not identical. Cotton Grey is a Behr color with cool cotton white undertones and an LRV of 80. Slipper Satin is a Farrow & Ball color with warm satin cream undertones and an LRV of 80. With a Delta E of 2, these are extremely close and most people will not spot the difference on a wall. Paint formulations differ between brands, so even colors with similar values can look slightly different due to pigment concentration, binders, and finish.
With a Delta E of 2, these colors are close enough to use in separate rooms of the same house without a jarring difference. However, avoid painting them on adjacent walls in the same room, as even subtle differences become apparent at a hard edge where two paints meet. For the smoothest result, use one brand consistently within each connected space and reserve the other brand for rooms that are visually separated.
There are several practical reasons to look for a Farrow & Ball equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Farrow & Ball. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Farrow & Ball work, matching within the same brand gives you the best consistency for seamless results.
Match calculations use Delta E (CIE2000) computed from Lab color space conversion. Color data sourced from manufacturer specifications. Last reviewed: March 22, 2026.