James White → Sherwin Williams
The closest Sherwin Williams matches for Farrow & Ball James White (No.2010), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Sherwin Williams Equivalent for James White
If you love Farrow & Ball James White 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 Farrow & Ball, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
James White (No.2010) is a very light white with warm heritage white undertones. A warm, heritage white named for the F&B founder. Richer than All White, warmer than Strong White. The most personal white in the F&B range. To find a good Sherwin Williams match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 82) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between James White 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 Alabaster (SW 7008) with a Delta E of 3.4, which is a "good match" level match. Alabaster is similar. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Sherwin Williams Matches for James White
Alabaster is similar.
| James White | Alabaster | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 82 | 82 |
| Hex | #EAE6DE | #EDEAE0 |
| Undertone | Warm Heritage White | Warm Cream |
| Family | White | White |
Undertone Comparison
James White has warm heritage white undertones. A warm, heritage white named for the F&B founder. Richer than All White, warmer than Strong White. The most personal white in the F&B range.
Alabaster has warm cream undertones. A warm, creamy white that's one of the most popular paint colors in America. Not stark, not yellow, just comfortably warm.
These two colors share the same undertone family, which is a good sign for a cross-brand swap. The undertone similarity means they will behave similarly as lighting changes throughout the day, and they should coordinate well with the same accent colors, trim, and furnishings.
How These Colors Behave in Different Lighting
James White in Your Room
Warm and inviting. A warm white with visible cream. Reads as a rich warm white in all rooms.
Alabaster in Your Room
Looks warm and inviting in nearly every lighting condition. In very bright south-facing light, the cream undertone becomes more apparent. Under cool light, it reads as a soft neutral.
LRV and Brightness
James White has an LRV of 82, while Alabaster has an LRV of 82. 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 James White
Farrow & Ball recommends James White for: whole house, living room, bedroom, trim, kitchen. With an LRV of 82, 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.
Alabaster is recommended for: whole house, trim, cabinets, living room, bedroom. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Alabaster in the same rooms you planned for James White.
James White in Other Brands
Looking for James White equivalents in other brands besides Sherwin Williams? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Sherwin Williams match for James White (No.2010) is Alabaster (SW 7008) with a Delta E of 3.4, which rates as a "good match" match. Alabaster is similar. 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. James White is a Farrow & Ball color with warm heritage white undertones and an LRV of 82. Alabaster is a Sherwin Williams color with warm cream undertones and an LRV of 82. With a Delta E of 3.4, 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 3.4, 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.