Tidal Salt → Benjamin Moore
The closest Benjamin Moore matches for Sherwin Williams Tidal Salt (SW 9162), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Benjamin Moore Equivalent for Tidal Salt
If you love Sherwin Williams Tidal Salt 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 Sherwin Williams, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Tidal Salt (SW 9162) is a light blue with soft blue-green undertones. A very light blue-green gray. Coastal and airy. To find a good Benjamin Moore match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 66) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Tidal Salt 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 Gray Cashmere (2138-60) with a Delta E of 3.8, which is a "good match" level match. Gray Cashmere is slightly more saturated. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Benjamin Moore Matches for Tidal Salt
Gray Cashmere is slightly more saturated.
| Tidal Salt | Gray Cashmere | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 66 | 60.59 |
| Hex | #D2D9D6 | #CAD3CC |
| Undertone | Soft Blue-Green | Soft Green-Blue |
| Family | Blue | Green |
Undertone Comparison
Tidal Salt has soft blue-green undertones. A very light blue-green gray. Coastal and airy.
Gray Cashmere has soft green-blue undertones. A light green-blue gray. Softer and more muted than Palladian Blue. Serene and spa-like.
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. Tidal Salt's soft blue-green quality may read differently than Gray Cashmere's soft green-blue 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
Tidal Salt in Your Room
Shifts between blue and green. Very light and calming.
Gray Cashmere in Your Room
Shifts between green and blue depending on light. Always calming. More green in warm light, more blue in cool light.
LRV and Brightness
Tidal Salt has an LRV of 66, while Gray Cashmere has an LRV of 60.59. That means Tidal Salt reflects noticeably more light. In the same room, Tidal Salt will make the space feel brighter and more open than Gray Cashmere. If you are switching to the Benjamin Moore option, expect the room to feel slightly more intimate and cozy.
Best Rooms for Tidal Salt
Sherwin Williams recommends Tidal Salt for: bathroom, bedroom, nursery, hallway. With an LRV of 66, 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.
Gray Cashmere is recommended for: bathroom, bedroom, nursery, laundry room, sunroom. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Gray Cashmere in the same rooms you planned for Tidal Salt.
Tidal Salt in Other Brands
Looking for Tidal Salt equivalents in other brands besides Benjamin Moore? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Benjamin Moore match for Tidal Salt (SW 9162) is Gray Cashmere (2138-60) with a Delta E of 3.8, which rates as a "good match" match. Gray Cashmere is slightly more saturated. 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. Tidal Salt is a Sherwin Williams color with soft blue-green undertones and an LRV of 66. Gray Cashmere is a Benjamin Moore color with soft green-blue undertones and an LRV of 60.59. With a Delta E of 3.8, 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 3.8, 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.