Pure White → Farrow & Ball
The closest Farrow & Ball matches for Sherwin Williams Pure White (SW 7005), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Farrow & Ball Equivalent for Pure White
If you love Sherwin Williams Pure White 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 Sherwin Williams, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Pure White (SW 7005) is a very light white with warm cream undertones. A warm white that's slightly creamier than Extra White but not as warm as Alabaster. The Goldilocks of SW whites. To find a good Farrow & Ball match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 84) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Pure White 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 results are decent but not perfect. The closest Farrow & Ball option is Strong White (No.2001) with a Delta E of 3.6, which is a "good match" level match. Strong White is the closest F&B option. Both are clean whites with just enough warmth to avoid feeling clinical. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Farrow & Ball Matches for Pure White
Strong White is the closest F&B option. Both are clean whites with just enough warmth to avoid feeling clinical.
| Pure White | Strong White | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 84 | 82 |
| Hex | #EDECE6 | #EAE6DE |
| Undertone | Warm Cream | Warm Cream |
| Family | White | White |
Undertone Comparison
Pure White has warm cream undertones. A warm white that's slightly creamier than Extra White but not as warm as Alabaster. The Goldilocks of SW whites.
Strong White has warm cream undertones. A warm, creamy white with depth. More color than a pure white but still reads as white. The warmth comes from subtle cream undertones.
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
Pure White in Your Room
Reads as a clean, slightly warm white in most conditions. Less creamy than Alabaster, more warm than Extra White. Very versatile.
Strong White in Your Room
Warm and inviting. Reads as a rich, warm white rather than stark. The F&B pigmentation gives it remarkable depth for a white.
LRV and Brightness
Pure White has an LRV of 84, while Strong White 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 Pure White
Sherwin Williams recommends Pure White for: trim, ceilings, cabinets, whole house, bathroom. With an LRV of 84, 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.
Strong White is recommended for: whole house, trim, living room, bedroom, kitchen. 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.
Pure White in Other Brands
Looking for Pure White equivalents in other brands besides Farrow & Ball? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Farrow & Ball match for Pure White (SW 7005) is Strong White (No.2001) with a Delta E of 3.6, which rates as a "good match" match. Strong White is the closest F&B option. Both are clean whites with just enough warmth to avoid feeling clinical. 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. Pure White is a Sherwin Williams color with warm cream undertones and an LRV of 84. Strong White is a Farrow & Ball color with warm cream undertones and an LRV of 82. With a Delta E of 3.6, 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 3.6, 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 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.