Coastal Fog → Sherwin Williams
The closest Sherwin Williams matches for Benjamin Moore Coastal Fog (AC-1), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Sherwin Williams Equivalent for Coastal Fog
If you love Benjamin Moore Coastal Fog but need a Sherwin Williams 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 Sherwin Williams, your local store does not carry Benjamin Moore, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Coastal Fog (AC-1) is a light gray with cool green-gray undertones. A light, cool gray with subtle green. Coastal and serene. To find a good Sherwin Williams match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 66.28) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Coastal Fog and every Sherwin Williams 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 results are decent but not perfect. The closest Sherwin Williams option is Modern Gray (SW 7632) with a Delta E of 4, which is a "good match" level match. Modern Gray is warmer. Coastal Fog is cooler. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Sherwin Williams Matches for Coastal Fog
Modern Gray is warmer. Coastal Fog is cooler.
| Coastal Fog | Modern Gray | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 66.28 | 62 |
| Hex | #D7D5CF | #D4D0C8 |
| Undertone | Cool Green-Gray | Light Warm Greige |
| Family | Gray | Greige |
Undertone Comparison
Coastal Fog has cool green-gray undertones. A light, cool gray with subtle green. Coastal and serene.
Modern Gray has light warm greige undertones. A light greige with gentle warm undertones. More depth than Incredible White, less color than Agreeable Gray.
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. Coastal Fog's cool green-gray quality may read differently than Modern Gray's light warm greige 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
Coastal Fog in Your Room
Cool and clean. The green is very subtle. Modern and calming.
Modern Gray in Your Room
Reads as a very light warm neutral. Enough gray to add sophistication, enough warmth to feel inviting.
LRV and Brightness
Coastal Fog has an LRV of 66.28, while Modern Gray has an LRV of 62. 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 Coastal Fog
Benjamin Moore recommends Coastal Fog for: bathroom, bedroom, living room, hallway. With an LRV of 66.28, this is a light color that is in the medium-light range, reflecting enough light to keep rooms feeling open while adding more color and depth than a white or off-white. It works well in living rooms, bedrooms, and hallways where you want warmth and character without darkness.
Modern Gray is recommended for: whole house, hallway, bedroom, living room, bathroom. 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.
Coastal Fog in Other Brands
Looking for Coastal Fog equivalents in other brands besides Sherwin Williams? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Sherwin Williams match for Coastal Fog (AC-1) is Modern Gray (SW 7632) with a Delta E of 4, which rates as a "good match" match. Modern Gray is warmer. Coastal Fog is cooler. 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. Coastal Fog is a Benjamin Moore color with cool green-gray undertones and an LRV of 66.28. Modern Gray is a Sherwin Williams color with light warm greige undertones and an LRV of 62. With a Delta E of 4, the difference is subtle and mainly visible in direct side-by-side comparison. 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 4, the difference is enough that they should not be used on adjacent walls in the same room. You can use them in separate rooms of the same house, but be aware that walking from one room to the other may reveal the difference, especially if the rooms have similar lighting. For the most consistent look, pick one brand for all connected living spaces and reserve the other brand for visually separate rooms like bathrooms or bedrooms behind closed doors.
There are several practical reasons to look for a Sherwin Williams equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Sherwin Williams. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Sherwin Williams 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.