Color spec
| Brand | Behr |
| Name | Authentic Brown |
| SKU | MQ2-05A |
| Hex | #6B5446 |
| RGB | 107, 84, 70 |
| HSL | 23°, 21%, 35% |
| LRV | 10 |
| Undertone | red-orange / warm |
| Family | Brown |
About Behr Authentic Brown
With an LRV of 10, Authentic Brown is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Its orange undertone is the part to watch: it gets picked up by whatever sits next to it, so test it against your trim, floor and the room's main light before committing. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Authentic Brown works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Browns ground a room and pair naturally with leather, wood and warm metals.
Closest matches at every US brand
13 brands · top 5 each5 closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all brown from that brand.
Valspar
Dunn-Edwards
Sherwin-Williams
PPG / Glidden
Diamond Vogel
Benjamin Moore
C2 Paint
Kompozit
Dutch Boy
Backdrop
Magnolia Home
Clare
Farrow & Ball
Similar Behr colors
closest in the Behr deckThe nearest shades to Authentic Brown within Behr's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #6B5446 in HSL space. Pair Authentic Brown with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Accessibility (WCAG contrast)
WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.
Behr Authentic Brown Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Authentic Brown from a different paint counter? Below is the single closest color in each major US deck and how close it really is. Remember that any paint store can also custom-tint Behr MQ2-05A directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Valspar Equivalent of Authentic Brown
Valspar's nearest match is Rue Bourbon (8004-9F), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 10) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Authentic Brown without repainting risk. See the full Rue Bourbon swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Authentic Brown
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Wild Mustang (DEA161), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.8). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 10) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Authentic Brown without repainting risk. See the full Wild Mustang swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Authentic Brown
PPG / Glidden's nearest match is Caramelized Walnut (PPG1074-6), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.94). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 10) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Authentic Brown without repainting risk. See the full Caramelized Walnut swatch →
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Authentic Brown
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Authentic Brown is Rookwood Medium Brown (SW 2807) — very close at ΔE 2.13, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 10) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Rookwood Medium Brown swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Authentic Brown
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Authentic Brown is Hideaway (0137) — very close at ΔE 2.41, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 10) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Hideaway swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Authentic Brown
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Authentic Brown is Brunette (C2-597) — very close at ΔE 2.87, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 10) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Brunette swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Authentic Brown
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Authentic Brown is Cup o' Java (1246) — very close at ΔE 3, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 10) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Cup o' Java swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Authentic Brown
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Authentic Brown is Deeply Brown (406-6DB) — very close at ΔE 3.19, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 10) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Deeply Brown swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Authentic Brown
Kompozit has no exact twin of Authentic Brown. The nearest is Coffee Shop (0151) at ΔE 4.48 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 10). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Coffee Shop swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Authentic Brown
Backdrop doesn't make a true equivalent of Authentic Brown — the nearest deck color, Buenos Aires (BD-BA), is clearly different (ΔE 5.92). For an exact match, any Backdrop retailer can custom-tint Behr MQ2-05A instead. See the full Buenos Aires swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Authentic Brown
Magnolia Home doesn't make a true equivalent of Authentic Brown — the nearest deck color, Mosswood (JG-168), is clearly different (ΔE 8.05). For an exact match, any Magnolia Home retailer can custom-tint Behr MQ2-05A instead. See the full Mosswood swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Authentic Brown
Farrow & Ball doesn't make a true equivalent of Authentic Brown — the nearest deck color, Reduced Green (NO. 313), is clearly different (ΔE 11.15). For an exact match, any Farrow & Ball retailer can custom-tint Behr MQ2-05A instead. See the full Reduced Green swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Authentic Brown
Clare doesn't make a true equivalent of Authentic Brown — the nearest deck color, Vintage (PNT100-DP-67), is clearly different (ΔE 11.15). For an exact match, any Clare retailer can custom-tint Behr MQ2-05A instead. See the full Vintage swatch →