Color spec
| Brand | Behr |
| Name | Dark Secret |
| SKU | PPU26-23A |
| Hex | #45484A |
| RGB | 69, 72, 74 |
| HSL | 204°, 3%, 28% |
| LRV | 6 |
| Undertone | neutral with no strong undertone |
| Family | Gray |
About Behr Dark Secret
At LRV 6, Dark Secret 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. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Dark Secret earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.
Closest matches by brand
19 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 gray from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Clare
Portola Paints
Backdrop
Rust-Oleum
Kompozit
Similar Behr colors
closest in the Behr deckThe nearest shades to Dark Secret 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 #45484A in HSL space. Pair Dark Secret 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 Dark Secret Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Dark Secret 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 PPU26-23A directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Dark Secret
Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Cyberspace (SW 7076), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.8). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Dark Secret without repainting risk. See the full Cyberspace swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Dark Secret
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Midnight Oil (1631), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.19). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 8 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Dark Secret without repainting risk. See the full Midnight Oil swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Dark Secret
The closest Valspar equivalent of Dark Secret is Muskeg Grey (4005-2C). At ΔE 0.59 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 6.5 vs 6). If Valspar is your counter, order Muskeg Grey and you'll get the same color. See the full Muskeg Grey swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Dark Secret
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Dark Secret is Onyx (PPG1011-7) — very close at ΔE 2.58, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Onyx swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Dark Secret
At Glidden, the closest color to Dark Secret is Black Forest (PPG1012-7) — very close at ΔE 2.62, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 6) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Black Forest swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Dark Secret
Dutch Boy's nearest match is Anchored Blue (434-7DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.8). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Dark Secret without repainting risk. See the full Anchored Blue swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Dark Secret
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is No Limits (HGSW 1461), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.8). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Dark Secret without repainting risk. See the full No Limits swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Dark Secret
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Salem Black (DE6343), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.25). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Dark Secret without repainting risk. See the full Salem Black swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Dark Secret
Magnolia Home has no exact twin of Dark Secret. The nearest is Fine Black (JG-144) at ΔE 3.51 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Fine Black swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Dark Secret
The closest Farrow & Ball equivalent of Dark Secret is Off-Black (NO. 57). At ΔE 0.64 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6). If Farrow & Ball is your counter, order Off-Black and you'll get the same color. See the full Off-Black swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Dark Secret
Diamond Vogel's nearest match is Black Licorice (0529), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.52). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Dark Secret without repainting risk. See the full Black Licorice swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Dark Secret
Hirshfield's's nearest match is Midnight Magic (0508), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.55). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 9 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Dark Secret without repainting risk. See the full Midnight Magic swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Dark Secret
Rodda has no exact twin of Dark Secret. The nearest is Meraki (R108) at ΔE 4.93 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Meraki swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Dark Secret
C2 Paint's nearest match is Stout (C2-965), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.98). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Dark Secret without repainting risk. See the full Stout swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Dark Secret
At Clare, the closest color to Dark Secret is Blackish (PNT100-DP-54) — very close at ΔE 3.08, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Blackish swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Dark Secret
Portola Paints's nearest match is Black Sky (BLACK SKY), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.62). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Dark Secret without repainting risk. See the full Black Sky swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Dark Secret
Backdrop has no exact twin of Dark Secret. The nearest is After Hours (BD-AH) at ΔE 4.91 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full After Hours swatch →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Dark Secret
Rust-Oleum has no exact twin of Dark Secret. The nearest is Charcoal (285144) at ΔE 4.56 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 4 vs 6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Charcoal swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Dark Secret
Kompozit's nearest match is Midnight Magic (0508), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.55). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Dark Secret without repainting risk. See the full Midnight Magic swatch →