Color spec
| Brand | Behr |
| Name | Dark Secret |
| SKU | PPU26-23A |
| Hex | #45484A |
| RGB | 69, 72, 74 |
| HSL | 204°, 3%, 28% |
| LRV | 6 |
| Undertone | true neutral (no measurable hue) |
| 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 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 gray from that brand.
Valspar
Farrow & Ball
Benjamin Moore
Dunn-Edwards
Diamond Vogel
Kompozit
Sherwin-Williams
Dutch Boy
C2 Paint
Magnolia Home
PPG / Glidden
Clare
Backdrop
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.
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →