James Hardie Arctic White: Color Matches, LRV, & Undertones

Are you looking for the closest paint color match for a James Hardie Arctic White? Or maybe you wonder about its undertones, popularity, and overall appearance. Either way, I’ve got you covered.

Arctic White is one of James Hardie’s most popular siding colors. You’ll find it on a wide range of exterior home styles, including Modern Farmhouse, traditional, transitional, and more. That said, popularity doesn’t always make a color the best for YOUR home. In fact, as one of North America’s top paint color experts, I don’t think Arctic White is the best choice for many homes. Don’t worry, you’ll get the details shortly (you KNOW I love to hear myself talk).

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Now, if you’re thinking about using James Hardie’s Arctic White for your home’s exterior, you’ll find the following info on LRV and undertones to be helpful. And don’t let my skepticism about this color sway you – if YOU love it, that’s what matters. I just present the facts, fun, fantasy, farts, and fiction – do with it what you will!

On the other hand, you might be here for a paint color match for Arctic White. There are two situations where you might do this…

You love Arctic White on other homes, but aren’t using their siding products. Instead, you want to color-match it into Benjamin Moore, Behr’s, or Sherwin Williams’ closest shade.
You’re using James Hardie Arctic White siding and need to paint other areas of your home the same color.

BUT FIRST, or headfirst, you do you; we need to chat.

THERE’S NO PERFECT COLOR MATCH TO ARCTIC WHITE

FUN FACT: Unless you’re using James Hardie products, you won’t get an exact match. If it’s not Hardie technology, coating type, exact sheen, etc, it’s not the same color.

Could a color match be close? Yes.
With the variation in sheen and texture between finishes, can close be good enough? Sometimes, yes. Other times, not at all.
The way a color appears can change from surface to surface based on the texture, sheen, lighting, etc. This is another reason why so-called ‘color matching’ is such an imperfect art form.

THE 2 WAYS TO GET A PAINT COLOR MATCH FOR ARCTIC WHITE

TAKE A SAMPLE OF ARCTIC WHITE TO YOUR STORE: Another way to get as close as possible is to see how your paint store does with a computerized color match. Take a sample of Arctic White to Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams and see who gets closest. Remember, it’s different technology – no matter what they tell you, there won’t be a 100% match.
THE SUGGESTED COLORS: You’ll find a short list of colors below to sample and compare with Arctic White. Why is there more than 1 color? Why isn’t there the BEST color match?

Because NO paint color will be exactly the same, you should explore a range of ‘super similar’ shades. See which one blends most seamlessly in your home’s natural lighting.

I recommend doing both #1 and #2 (above) – sample a range of colors AND see how BM and SW do with their matches – choose the one that matches best.

Take note of this next home. This is what happens when you pair white trim with James Hardie Arctic White…

Notice how the window trim and corner boards compare to the Arctic White board-and-batten and shakes – you’ve got to get closer than this.

You can get samples of Arctic White and the full product at HOME DEPOT.

Now, without further ado, let’s see if Arctic White is the hue for you…

JAMES HARDIE ARCTIC WHITE: LRV, UNDERTONES, & BEST COLOR MATCHES

First, if you’re thinking about using Arctic White, I’m glad you’re here. While it can be beautiful on many lake homes, cottages, or traditional exteriors, it’s not the type of white that suits the average home (keep reading to find out why).

WHY IS ARCTIC WHITE SO POPULAR?

White exteriors became popular on a large scale about 8-10 years ago thanks to the Modern Farmhouse trend. Along with white siding, we saw a lot of…

Black windows and roofs
Wood details
Farmhouse lighting

Combined, they can be beautiful, but they can also date a home if it’s not an actual farmhouse. If you don’t care about trends, amazeballs – you do you! If you do, the details above matter.

Exterior trends have since shifted to warmer, softer palettes. Yet Arctic White is still hanging on for dear life. WHY?

This is definitely not Arctic White – it’s a similar depth, but opposite, as it’s warmer. This type of exterior color is far more popular, but isn’t available in Hardie’s basic line.

If you’re using James Hardie’s Statement Collection colors (and want to stay on budget), Arctic White is your only white (ish) choice. This means it’s popular by default – you don’t have another choice in this price point. It’s not popular because it’s versatile or timeless.

Again, that’s not to say it’s not the best choice for YOUR home, but I bet if you had other options, you’d choose a different shade.

Why? Well, let’s consider its temperature.

IS ARCTIC WHITE A WARM OR COOL WHITE?

It’s neither. That’s right, James Hardie Arctic White isn’t a warm or cool white…because it’s not white. I’ve compared it to my pasty white Ginger legs and my buttcheeks, and it doesn’t even compare. Don’t worry, we’ll get into more of that shortly…Arctic White, that is, not the other glaringly white things (they’re on my ‘other’ blog – wink wink).

SWEET MOTHER OF MILKSHAKES, am I really saying that Arctic White isn’t really that white? Yes. Yes, I am.

But first, back to temperature. While Arctic White’s bones suggest the most passive warmth, it’s so minor that it most often looks like a pretty darn white shade of white, if not a cool one.

Can Arctic White look a bit grayish?

In some shaded areas, or homes with north-facing exposure – yes, it can seem a bit grayish and colder than Tim’s ex-girlfriend’s frigid heart. However, aside from those types of exteriors, it tends to look more or less white. That said, compared to a warmer, softer white, or a brighter, truer white, yes, it absolutely looks like a grayish, cool shade of white.

Why?

To answer that, let’s consider its LRV (Light Reflectance Value) and potential undertones.

THE LRV & UNDERTONES OF ARCTIC WHITE

Contrary to its name, Arctic White isn’t white. Its LRV is approximately 74. On the other hand, the average, popular white paint color has an LRV of 85 – that’s a big difference. On its own, it can ‘look like white’, but compare it to a real white, and you’ll definitely see that shift.

LRV & Paint Colors: A Homeowner’s Guide

As a non-white paint color, Arctic White can pick up an undertone. And what might that undertone be?

In the right (or wrong, depending on how you look at it) environment, Arctic White can appear with gray undertones. One ringing endorsement (of which I give it very few) is that it rarely flashes traditional gray undertones of blue, green, or purple.

No matter your home’s exposure, don’t expect warm, homey miracles when using Arctic White. Don’t expect any homie miracles either.

While it would surprise me if Arctic White is STILL the most popular siding color, apparently it’s near the top of the list.

Why would I be surprised?

Exterior paint color trends have shifted – I see it regularly in my Online Paint Color Consulting work. Fewer people want white exteriors. Instead, they’re leaning into softer, warmer whites, along with gentle off-white, light depth, and warm neutrals for their exterior palettes.

For example, when choosing Arctic White, many are hoping for this general look…

But that’s not what they get. Compare a sample of this popular white shown above to your sample of Arctic White and see why I get my knickers in a knot over it.

Given paint color trends, I’m kind of surprised James Hardie hasn’t released a new set of colors addressing this huge shift.

However, if you have Arctic White and it suits your home to a T (as it can) and you need a ‘close as possible’ match, I’ve got what you need.

WHAT PAINT COLORS ARE A COLOR MATCH TO JAMES HARDIE ARCTIC WHITE

Compared to Benjamin Moore’s, Behr’s, and Sherwin-Williams’ most popular white paint colors, we’re not looking at the usual popular whites like Pure White and Alabaster.

Here’s a gorgeous coastal exterior painted Sherwin Williams Pure White, which is less gray than Arctic White…

Here’s Pure White compared to Arctic White. Notice how Pure White appears whiter and warmer…

Instead, we’re looking at an off-white gray, as that’s what Arctic White is…an off-white gray.

SHERWIN WILLIAMS COLOR MATCH TO ARCTIC WHITE

Sherwin Williams Ice Cube. As Ice Cube once said, ‘…you gotta check yo’self before you wreck ‘yo’self’ or somethin’ like that. If you’re an Ice Cube fan, you know what I mean.

Guaranteed, these 2 will look different on your home’s exterior compared to my interior lighting – this is just for a general look at things.

But it rings true: would I paint my home Sherwin Williams Ice Cube? Helllllllls no. Too cold, too gray. But if my home is already painted Arctic White and I need a similar color, Ice Cube could be as close as I get. Again, not exact – nothing is exact except James Hardie product. Do I wish it were a touch darker and a weeee wink warmer? Yup. You might ask the paint store to try it 25% darker.

Compare a sample of Sherwin Williams Ice Cube to Arctic Gray.
Sherwin Williams Fleur de Sel is another one to compare
I also measured Reserved White, but it has a bit too much warmth
ALSO, remember to take a sample of Arctic White to the store (not the paper sample, but an actual Hardie sample) and see how they do with a color match

BENJAMIN MOORE’S COLOR MATCH TO JAMES HARDIE ARCTIC WHITE

When it comes to Benny Moore, I’ve got 2 options for you to sample and compare…

Compare a sample of Paper White and Horizon to Arctic Gray to see which is your best fit.
Remember to take a sample of Arctic White to the store (not the paper sample, but an actual Hardie sample) and see how they do with a color match

Remember, this is how these colors look in MY lighting (interior, for the sake of this example). Sampling and comparing these 2 on your home’s exterior is vital.

Grab each sample and watch how their appearance and undertones settle on YOUR home, with its unique exposure and surrounding finishes. See which one blends the most seamlessly with Arctic Gray in your home’s environment.

THE CLOSEST BEHR PAINT COLOR MATCH TO ARCTIC WHITE

While Behr isn’t as in demand as BM and SW, it has a cult-like following in some circles (drink the Kool-aid, it’s goooood).

I’d look at a sample of Behr Silver Feather to see how it flows

Behr’s Best White Paint Colors

KYLIE’S EXPERIENCE WITH ARCTIC WHITE

Does Arctic White look good on some homes? Absolutely! We chose it for my sister-in-law’s home, and I’ve also used it with Online Paint Color clients – it can be a beautiful choice for some homes. It’s about knowing what you’re dealing with, and you’re not dealing with a soft, warm, inviting white – you’re dealing with gray that APPEARS white in many conditions.

However, if budget allows, I’d pay to have Hardie siding painted a more inviting, mainstream, softer off-white. It can have a similar LRV to Arctic White, but a more flexible, gentler warmth.

James Hardie Siding Color Matches to Benjamin Moore & Sherwin Williams

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Beyond color-matching, these are the most common questions I get asked on my YouTube, Instagram, and blog.

WHAT TRIM COLOR GOES WITH ARCTIC WHITE SIDING?

There’s no quick and easy answer, as it’s not just about your siding color, but a combination of your siding, roof, window color, and any brick or stonework. In general, you might look at…

Black paint colors if you have black windows and want a dramatic look. Even then, many still paint their window/door/garage trim the same as Arctic White and paint only the fascia/gables/etc black.
While some opt for softer blacks or super dark shades like Sherwin Williams Iron Ore, Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron, or Cheating Heart, most lean into cleaner shades of black.
Matching the trim to the siding is the most popular choice, by far.

WHAT FRONT DOOR COLORS GO WITH ARCTIC WHITE SIDING?

Again, a lot comes down to your window color, roof, brick, and stonework – you’re not just coordinating with Arctic White; you’re coordinating an entire exterior palette. To get you started, check out…

DARK GRAY-BLUES: Darker gray-blue paint colors can be gorgeous with Arctic White’s cooler appearance – more so on front doors than shutters.

MODERATE BLUE-GREEN BLENDS: When it comes to front door paint colors, many of my clients fall for more moderate blue-green-gray blend paint colors, as well as green-grays.

DARKER GREENS & BLUES: Consider a dark green (not too warm) or a darker shade of blue.

BLACK PAINT COLORS: This includes clean blacks like Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black or soft blacks like Sherwin Williams Iron Ore. Check out this blog post for my favorite black paint colors.

COLORS I SUGGEST AVOIDING: Arctic White doesn’t do well with cream paint colors, beiges and tans, or browns.

WHAT ROOF COLORS GO WITH JAMES HARDIE ARCTIC WHITE?

There are so many roof brands and colors. Here are a few mainstream brands and their best coordinating roof colors…

GAF Timberline Charcoal is a pretty typical black/dark charcoal asphalt roof. Most other brands offer similar looks, including CertainTeed Landmark Cinder Black. This is a common choice when the windows are black.
I also love the slightly softer look of CertainTeed Landmark Moire Black. Pewter is another moderately dark look. This roof also looks good with black windows.
Some love the lighter, soft gray look of GAF Oyster Gray and Birchwood along with CertainTeed Georgetown Gray. Black windows can be a bit harsh with these roofs.

JAMES HARDIE ARCTIC WHITE: A SUMMARY

Tends to be grayer/cooler than the average manufacturer’s white window color
Is a cool gray hue with an LRV of approx. 74
Based on my measurements and eyeballs, your best bet is Benjamin Moore Horizon when it comes to a reasonably close color match.
While the exterior Modern Farmhouse trend introduced a lot of Arctic White with black windows and wood details, trends have shifted. So, unless your home happens to BE a real modern farmhouse (or you don’t care at all about trends – good on ya), you might want to revisit some key choices.
Arctic White’s popularity is, in part, due to the fact that it’s the only color in this Statement Collection/Colorplus range from James Hardie.
To find the best paint color match, get the recommended paint color samples AND take a sample of Arctic White into your Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams stores. See which store does the best color match, and whether it’s better than the paint samples.

The Best White Exterior Paint Color

White Exterior Trim Colors