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Brands · answered by Fini

Is there a cheaper alternative to Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray?

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Quick answer

Yes — Crown's Light Grey is a near-perfect match at ΔE 0.7, effectively indistinguishable from Stonington Gray for a fraction of the price. Dulux Slow Living is also very close at ΔE 2.1.

Stonington Gray is a lovely balanced grey, but Benjamin Moore commands a premium price in the UK and the tins aren't always easy to get hold of. The good news is you can match it almost exactly for less.

The standout here is Crown Light Grey (LRV 52.6) at ΔE 0.7 from the original. That's well under 1, which means the difference is imperceptible to the human eye — put them side by side on a wall and you genuinely couldn't tell which is which. Crown is widely stocked, sensibly priced and their trade emulsion lays off beautifully, so this is the one I'd reach for.

If you'd rather a Dulux tin, Slow Living (LRV 52.6) comes in at ΔE 2.1 — still very close, comfortably under the 2.5 threshold where a match reads as the same colour in normal light. You'll find it easily and Dulux Heritage or the standard Diamond Matt range will do the job nicely.

There's also COAT Sunday Soul (LRV 55.3) at ΔE 3.3. That's a touch further off — slightly lighter and not a dead match — but if you're already drawn to COAT for their low-VOC formulation and the convenience of ordering peel-and-stick samples, it's in the same family and worth a look. Just know it'll read marginally brighter than the original.

The usual caveat applies: grey is a chameleon and any of these will shift with your light. In a north-facing room they'll lean cooler and can pick up a blue-grey edge; in warm afternoon light they'll soften. So whichever you pick, get a sample pot up on the wall — paint two coats on lining paper or board and move it around the room across the day before you commit. A ΔE of 0.7 on a chart means nothing if you've not seen it in your own light.

My money's on Crown Light Grey — it's the closest match and you'll save a packet.

Colours from the answer

LRV 59.36
Benjamin Moore
Stonington Gray
LRV 52.6
Dulux
Slow Living
LRV 52.6
Crown
Light Grey
LRV 55.3
COAT
Sunday Soul

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