Pure White vs Extra White
Two of Sherwin-Williams' best-known clean whites sit next to each other in its numbering: SW 7005 and SW 7006. Extra White is the brighter and cooler of the pair; Pure White is the softer one.
The short answer
Sherwin-Williams gives Pure White SW 7005 an LRV of 83.957 and Extra White SW 7006 an LRV of 85.861. Kylie M Interiors: 'Pure White is WARMER than Extra White, although neither is exceptionally warm.'
Love Remodeled sums up the difference side by side: 'one looks cooler and one looks warmer, but otherwise, they appear to be similar depths and brightness.'
Undertone and light
Love Remodeled says Pure White has 'a touch of gray in it,' while Extra White carries 'a soft bluish undertone. This hint of blue puts Extra White firmly in the cool category of paints.'
North light is where they part ways. Kylie M Interiors: 'In north-facing light, Extra White can look a bit ICY COLD... Pure White won't add much warmth, but it's definitely a softer, less stark approach.' Heathered Nest makes the same observation, that in northern light Extra White 'can look too cool – even icy.'
Walls, trim and cabinets
Kylie M Interiors: 'Extra White and Pure White often compete for the same spot regarding cabinets and trims. Pure White wins for walls and exteriors.'
Love Remodeled, comparing the two directly: 'If you want a cool, fresh white paint color, Extra White is the pick here. But, if you want a white paint color that is more versatile and can work with almost any other paint color, Pure White is the better choice.' She adds that 'in a room with warm colors, I would also go with Pure White over Extra White.'
None of the reviewers we read recommend pairing the two. Love Remodeled suggests that if your trim is Extra White and you want white walls, you use Extra White on the walls as well.
In the rooms we have photographed
We have Pure White in 13 real rooms and Extra White in 6, each credited to the studio that painted it.
In real rooms
Credited & tagged
Pure White
Extra White
Questions
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Color roundups
- The best white paint colors, in real rooms
The best white paint colors from Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams and Farrow & Ball, shown in real credited rooms, with LRV, undertone and where each fails.
Comparisons
- White Dove vs Swiss Coffee
White Dove (LRV 83.16) vs Swiss Coffee (LRV 81.91): which is warmer, which is brighter, and which designers reach for, with both shown in real rooms.
- White Dove vs Chantilly Lace
White Dove (LRV 83.16) vs Chantilly Lace (LRV 90.04): Benjamin Moore's soft warm white against its cleanest white, compared by designers and shown in real rooms.
- Chantilly Lace vs Pure White
Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace (LRV 90.04) vs Sherwin-Williams Pure White (LRV 84): crisp vs softly warm, compared by designers and shown in real rooms.
