We polled members of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory to come up with our list of the best gray exterior paints out there. You're done! And if you're thinking of painting your house white, we've got you covered, too: check out 10 Best White Exterior Paints.
Swatch photographs by Katie Newburn for Gardenista.
Above: Top row, L to R: Benjamin Moore Sag Harbor Gray; ICI Grey Hearth; Dunn-Edwards Vulcan; Benjamin Moore Graphite; Benjamin Moore Bear Creek. Bottom row, L to R: Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain; Benjamin Moore Gravel Grey; Sherwin-Williams Peppercorn; Farrow & Ball Down Pipe; and Benjamin Moore Graystone.
Above: LA-based SIMO Design painted this home in Dunn-Edwards Vulcan, a cool blue-gray and the bluest of the shades in our top ten.
Above: Los Angeles designers Nickey Kehoe Inc. had this house painted in Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain, a dark gray with a rich brown undertone. The shade is also a favorite of SF Bay Area-based Geremia Design and Klopf Architecture. Photograph by Amy Neunsinger.
Above: Chatham, NY-based architect James Dixon chose Benjamin Moore's Sag Harbor Gray for this Hudson Valley farmhouse. The light green-gray is part of Benjamin Moore's historic colors series.
Above: SF Bay Area-based Ana Williamson Architect used Benjamin Moore Graphite on the siding of this modern home; the color is a true dark gray with just a hint of blue. On the trim, Williamson used Benjamin Moore Gunmetal and had the stucco integrally colored to match Benjamin Moore Timber Wolf.
Above: SF Bay Area-based interior designer Kriste Michelini chose Benjamin Moore Bear Creek as her favorite gray. Bear Creek is also rich in brown tones; lighter than Iron Mountain but darker than Grey Hearth. Photograph via Pinterest.
Above: Both LA-based DISC Interiors and SF-based Nicole Hollis chose Farrow & Ball Down Pipe as their favorite exterior gray. The popular color is a complex mix with hints of blue-green. Photograph via Farrow & Ball.
Above: NYC-based architect Alex Scott Porter has used Benjamin Moore Gravel Gray on several house exteriors, including the Maine island home shown here. Gravel Gray is the darkest of the shades we've recommended.
Above: LA-based Kevin Oreck Architect painted this new home in ICI Grey Hearth.
Above: Interior designer Laura Clayton Baker of LA-based The Uplifters Inc. used Sherwin Williams Peppercorn on this Washington, D.C. home. Peppercorn is the truest gray of those listed here, and pairs well with Clayton Baker's other picks on this exterior: The trim is Sherwin-Williams' Pure White and Tricorn Black, and the door is Benjamin Moore Vermilion in a high gloss finish.
Above: SF-based Klopf Architecture has used Benjamin Moore Graystone on several home exteriors; it's a flattering shade in all kinds of light.
Don't miss our designer-approved outdoor paint picks in white, gray, and black. Here, Architects' White Exterior Paint Picks.