Edgecomb Gray (BM HC-173) vs Classic Gray (BM OC-23)
Illustrative room. Screen colors vary; test a sample before you paint.
Quick decision
- Lighter
- Classic Gray, LRV 73.7 vs 63.1.
- Warmer
- Edgecomb Gray (Lab b* 8.2 vs 4.8). Edgecomb Gray reads greige; Classic Gray reads warm white.
- North rooms
- Classic Gray: keeps more brightness (L* 85.2 vs 80.7 in north light) and drifts less gray (chroma drop 2.9 vs 4.4).
- Trim that works
- White Blush BM 904, #F6F0E1, LRV 84.7: the Benjamin Moore white closest in hue to both.
- Closeness
- deltaE 3.9, noticeably different. At 3.9, test both: on a full wall the difference will show.
See each color
Edgecomb Gray
More comparisons with Edgecomb Gray
Classic Gray
More comparisons with Classic Gray
Edgecomb Gray (BM HC-173) is darker than Classic Gray (BM OC-23) and warmer: LRV 63.1 vs 73.7, deltaE 3.9 (noticeably different).
Side by side
| Measure | Edgecomb Gray | Classic Gray | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brand | Benjamin Moore | Benjamin Moore | |
| Color code | HC-173 | OC-23 | |
| Hex | #D9D3C4 | #E3E0D7 | |
| RGB | 217, 211, 196 | 227, 224, 215 | |
| HSL | 43°, 22%, 81% | 45°, 18%, 87% | |
| LRV (light reflectance value) | 63.1 | 73.7 | −10.6 |
| Lab L* | 84.7 | 89.2 | −4.5 |
| Lab a* | -0.5 | -0.5 | +0.0 |
| Lab b* | 8.2 | 4.8 | +3.4 |
| Undertone | Neutral | Neutral | |
| Temperature | warm | neutral | |
| Color family | Greige | Off-white |
Same paint, two kinds of light
Edgecomb Gray (BM HC-173), published as #D9D3C4
#C8C9C2
#EBDDC4
Classic Gray (BM OC-23), published as #E3E0D7
#D1D6D5
#F5EAD7
These swatches and the rooms above are a simulation, not a measurement. How the visualizer works
Which should you pick
Rules of thumb computed from the LRV and Lab values in the table above; no room test was done.
- Pick Classic Gray (BM OC-23) for a small room or a north-facing room, because it is 10.6 LRV points lighter (73.7 vs 63.1), so it bounces back more of the limited light
- Pick Classic Gray (BM OC-23) for a south-facing room, because its Lab b* is 4.8 against 8.2, so it is the cooler of the two and offsets warm direct sun
- Pick Edgecomb Gray (BM HC-173) to warm a north-facing room, because it is the warmer of the two (Lab b* 8.2), which counters cool indirect light
Closest matches to Edgecomb Gray in other brands
Closest matches to Classic Gray in other brands
Common questions
- Is Edgecomb Gray the same color as Classic Gray?
- They are noticeably different: a CIEDE2000 difference of 3.9. Most people can see the difference between Edgecomb Gray and Classic Gray side by side.
- Which is lighter, Edgecomb Gray or Classic Gray?
- Classic Gray, with an LRV of 73.7 against 63.1.
Full pages
Related comparisons
Sources: LRV and hex from Benjamin Moore technical data (verified 2026-10-02). Color differences are CIEDE2000 values computed by this site from the hex values (data snapshot 2026-10-01). Color names and codes belong to their manufacturers.