Pale Powder → Benjamin Moore
The closest Benjamin Moore matches for Farrow & Ball Pale Powder (No.204), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Benjamin Moore Equivalent for Pale Powder
If you love Farrow & Ball Pale Powder but need a Benjamin Moore 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 Benjamin Moore, your local store does not carry Farrow & Ball, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Pale Powder (No.204) is a light blue with pale blue-gray undertones. An ultra-light, powdery blue-gray. One of F&B's most popular bathroom colors. So light it barely registers as blue, yet it adds a cool, fresh quality that pure white cannot. To find a good Benjamin Moore match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 68) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Pale Powder and every Benjamin Moore 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 Benjamin Moore option is Distant Gray (OC-68) with a Delta E of 4, which is a "good match" level match. Distant Gray is more neutral. Pale Powder has more blue. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Benjamin Moore Matches for Pale Powder
Distant Gray is more neutral. Pale Powder has more blue.
| Pale Powder | Distant Gray | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 68 | 76.31 |
| Hex | #D5DDDB | #E4E2DC |
| Undertone | Pale Blue-Gray | Cool Light Gray |
| Family | Blue | Gray |
Undertone Comparison
Pale Powder has pale blue-gray undertones. An ultra-light, powdery blue-gray. One of F&B's most popular bathroom colors. So light it barely registers as blue, yet it adds a cool, fresh quality that pure white cannot.
Distant Gray has cool light gray undertones. An ultra-light cool gray. Almost white with gray depth. Modern and clean.
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. Pale Powder's pale blue-gray quality may read differently than Distant Gray's cool light 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
Pale Powder in Your Room
The blue is barely there. In most rooms, reads as a cool, fresh off-white. In bright natural light, the blue whisper shows. Always calming.
Distant Gray in Your Room
In bright rooms, nearly white. In dim rooms, the gray adds soft depth.
LRV and Brightness
Pale Powder has an LRV of 68, while Distant Gray has an LRV of 76.31. That means Distant Gray reflects more light. If you switch from Pale Powder to Distant Gray, the room should feel slightly brighter and more open.
Best Rooms for Pale Powder
Farrow & Ball recommends Pale Powder for: bathroom, bedroom, nursery, hallway, laundry room. With an LRV of 68, 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.
Distant Gray is recommended for: whole house, hallway, bathroom, bedroom, living room. 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.
Pale Powder in Other Brands
Looking for Pale Powder equivalents in other brands besides Benjamin Moore? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Benjamin Moore match for Pale Powder (No.204) is Distant Gray (OC-68) with a Delta E of 4, which rates as a "good match" match. Distant Gray is more neutral. Pale Powder has more blue. 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. Pale Powder is a Farrow & Ball color with pale blue-gray undertones and an LRV of 68. Distant Gray is a Benjamin Moore color with cool light gray undertones and an LRV of 76.31. 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 Benjamin Moore equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Benjamin Moore. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Benjamin Moore 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.