Color spec
| Brand | Behr |
| Name | Circus Red |
| SKU | M140-6 |
| Hex | #8B2B4E |
| RGB | 139, 43, 78 |
| HSL | 338°, 53%, 36% |
| LRV | 8 |
| Undertone | warm magenta tone |
| Family | Red |
About Behr Circus Red
At LRV 8, Circus Red is about as dark as paint gets — it reads near-black on a wall and reveals its character only in direct daylight or under warm bulbs. Its magenta 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. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Circus Red earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Reds bring energy and appetite, classic in dining rooms and front doors.
Closest matches by brand
10 brands within ΔE 5The closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Only colors within ΔE 5 (close enough to substitute on a wall) are shown — brands with no real match are left off. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all red from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Hirshfield's
Kompozit
Similar Behr colors
closest in the Behr deckThe nearest shades to Circus Red 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 #8B2B4E in HSL space. Pair Circus Red 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 Circus Red Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Circus Red 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 M140-6 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Circus Red
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Circus Red is Forward Fuchsia (SW 6842) — very close at ΔE 3.22, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 9 vs 8) and carries a warm magenta undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Forward Fuchsia swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Circus Red
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Circus Red is Crushed Velvet (2076-10) — very close at ΔE 2.65, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Crushed Velvet swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Circus Red
Valspar has no exact twin of Circus Red. The nearest is Thrill Ride (P040) at ΔE 4.58 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7.4 vs 8). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Thrill Ride swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Circus Red
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Circus Red is Forward Fuchsia (101-7DB) — very close at ΔE 3.22, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 9 vs 8) and carries a warm magenta undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Forward Fuchsia swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Circus Red
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Circus Red. The nearest is Framboise (HGSW 1021) at ΔE 4.67 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Framboise swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Circus Red
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Circus Red is Scarlet Apple (DEA146) — very close at ΔE 3.08, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Scarlet Apple swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Circus Red
Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Circus Red. The nearest is Berry Patch (1152) at ΔE 4.99 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 11 vs 8). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Berry Patch swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Circus Red
Kompozit has no exact twin of Circus Red. The nearest is Berry Patch (1152) at ΔE 4.99 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 9 vs 8). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Berry Patch swatch →