Coventry Gray → Valspar
The closest Valspar matches for Benjamin Moore Coventry Gray (HC-169), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Valspar Equivalent for Coventry Gray
If you love Benjamin Moore Coventry Gray but need a Valspar 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 Valspar, your local store does not carry Benjamin Moore, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Coventry Gray (HC-169) is a medium gray with cool neutral undertones. A balanced mid-tone gray with minimal undertone. One of BM's most neutral grays. Neither warm nor cool, just gray. To find a good Valspar match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 46.84) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Coventry Gray and every Valspar 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 Valspar match for Coventry Gray. Montpelier Ashlar Gray (VR082E) comes in with a Delta E of 2, which puts it in the "excellent match" range. Montpelier Ashlar Gray is the closest Valspar option at LRV 47. Very close match.
Valspar Matches for Coventry Gray
Montpelier Ashlar Gray is the closest Valspar option at LRV 47. Very close match.
| Coventry Gray | Montpelier Ashlar Gray | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 46.84 | 47 |
| Hex | #C0BEB9 | #BFBCB6 |
| Undertone | Cool Neutral | Warm Ash Gray |
| Family | Gray | Gray |
Undertone Comparison
Coventry Gray has cool neutral undertones. A balanced mid-tone gray with minimal undertone. One of BM's most neutral grays. Neither warm nor cool, just gray.
Montpelier Ashlar Gray has warm ash gray undertones. A warm gray with subtle ash undertones. From Valspar's Heritage collection. The color of hand-cut ashlar stone in historic buildings. Sophisticated and timeless.
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. Coventry Gray's cool neutral quality may read differently than Montpelier Ashlar Gray's warm ash gray 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
Coventry Gray in Your Room
Stays remarkably neutral in all lighting. One of the few grays that doesn't pull pink, green, or purple. Clean and contemporary.
Montpelier Ashlar Gray in Your Room
Warm and balanced. In bright rooms, a warm mid-tone gray. In dim rooms, cozy and grounding.
LRV and Brightness
Coventry Gray has an LRV of 46.84, while Montpelier Ashlar Gray has an LRV of 47. 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 Coventry Gray
Benjamin Moore recommends Coventry Gray for: living room, bedroom, office, hallway, bathroom. With an LRV of 46.84, this is a medium color that is in the medium range, adding real depth and presence to a room. It works best in rooms with good natural light or as an accent wall color. In smaller or darker rooms, pair it with bright white trim to keep the space from feeling closed in.
Montpelier Ashlar Gray is recommended for: living room, bedroom, hallway, office, exterior. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Montpelier Ashlar Gray in the same rooms you planned for Coventry Gray.
Coventry Gray in Other Brands
Looking for Coventry Gray equivalents in other brands besides Valspar? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Valspar match for Coventry Gray (HC-169) is Montpelier Ashlar Gray (VR082E) with a Delta E of 2, which rates as a "excellent match" match. Montpelier Ashlar Gray is the closest Valspar option at LRV 47. 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. Coventry Gray is a Benjamin Moore color with cool neutral undertones and an LRV of 46.84. Montpelier Ashlar Gray is a Valspar color with warm ash gray undertones and an LRV of 47. 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 Valspar equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Valspar. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Valspar 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.