Color spec
| Brand | Behr |
| Name | Intellectual |
| SKU | PPU18-19 |
| Hex | #605C5A |
| RGB | 96, 92, 90 |
| HSL | 20°, 3%, 36% |
| LRV | 11 |
| Undertone | neutral with no strong undertone |
| Family | Gray |
About Behr Intellectual
With an LRV of 11, Intellectual is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Intellectual works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.
Closest matches by brand
14 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
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Kompozit
Similar Behr colors
closest in the Behr deckThe nearest shades to Intellectual 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 #605C5A in HSL space. Pair Intellectual 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 Intellectual Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Intellectual 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 PPU18-19 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Intellectual
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Intellectual is Ironclad (SW 9570) — very close at ΔE 2.85, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 11) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Ironclad swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Intellectual
PPG / Glidden's nearest match is Stone's Throw (PPG1008-7), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.19). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 11) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Intellectual without repainting risk. See the full Stone's Throw swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Intellectual
At Glidden, the closest color to Intellectual is Summer Shadow (PPG0996-7) — very close at ΔE 2.33, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 11) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Summer Shadow swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Intellectual
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Intellectual is Ashen (447-6DB) — very close at ΔE 2.67, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 11) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Ashen swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Intellectual
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Intellectual is Sea Otter (HGSW 2441) — very close at ΔE 3.1, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 11) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Sea Otter swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Intellectual
The closest Dunn-Edwards equivalent of Intellectual is Tobacco Incense (DEBN79). At ΔE 0.71 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 11). If Dunn-Edwards is your counter, order Tobacco Incense and you'll get the same color. See the full Tobacco Incense swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Intellectual
At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Intellectual is Rocking Horse (JG-121) — very close at ΔE 3.4, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 11) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Rocking Horse swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Intellectual
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Intellectual. The nearest is Beetle Black (NO. G16) at ΔE 4.59 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 11). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Beetle Black swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Intellectual
Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Intellectual. The nearest is Gargoyle (0550) at ΔE 3.62 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 11). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Gargoyle swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Intellectual
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Intellectual is Zen Retreat (0535) — very close at ΔE 3.48, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 13 vs 11) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Zen Retreat swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Intellectual
At Rodda, the closest color to Intellectual is Violaceous (R106) — very close at ΔE 2.45, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 11) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Violaceous swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Intellectual
C2 Paint's nearest match is Jabberwocky (C2-885), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.06). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 11) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Intellectual without repainting risk. See the full Jabberwocky swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Intellectual
At Kompozit, the closest color to Intellectual is Zen Retreat (0535) — very close at ΔE 3.48, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 11) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Zen Retreat swatch →