Color spec
| Brand | Behr |
| Name | Maximum Gray |
| SKU | QE-62 |
| Hex | #555657 |
| RGB | 85, 86, 87 |
| HSL | 210°, 1%, 34% |
| LRV | 9 |
| Undertone | neutral with no strong undertone |
| Family | Gray |
About Behr Maximum Gray
At LRV 9, Maximum Gray 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.
Maximum Gray 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
17 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
Kompozit
Similar Behr colors
closest in the Behr deckThe nearest shades to Maximum Gray 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 #555657 in HSL space. Pair Maximum Gray 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 Maximum Gray Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Maximum Gray 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 QE-62 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Maximum Gray
Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Peppercorn (SW 7674), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.07). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 9) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Maximum Gray without repainting risk. See the full Peppercorn swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Maximum Gray
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Maximum Gray is Deep Space (2125-20) — very close at ΔE 2.1, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 9 vs 9) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Deep Space swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Maximum Gray
At Valspar, the closest color to Maximum Gray is To the Tarmac (V116-3) — very close at ΔE 2.88, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8.8 vs 9) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full To the Tarmac swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Maximum Gray
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Maximum Gray is Black Widow (PPG0997-7) — very close at ΔE 2.13, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 9) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Black Widow swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Maximum Gray
Glidden's nearest match is Black Widow (PPG0997-7), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.82). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 9) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Maximum Gray without repainting risk. See the full Black Widow swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Maximum Gray
The closest Dutch Boy equivalent of Maximum Gray is Dark and Stormy (436-7DB). At ΔE 0.73 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 9 vs 9). If Dutch Boy is your counter, order Dark and Stormy and you'll get the same color. See the full Dark and Stormy swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Maximum Gray
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Peppercorn (HGSW 1491), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.07). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 9) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Maximum Gray without repainting risk. See the full Peppercorn swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Maximum Gray
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Maximum Gray is Jet (DE6378) — very close at ΔE 2, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 9 vs 9) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Jet swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Maximum Gray
At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Maximum Gray is Conservatory (JG-158) — very close at ΔE 2.57, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 9) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Conservatory swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Maximum Gray
Farrow & Ball's nearest match is Hopper Head (NO. 305), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.87). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 9 vs 9) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Maximum Gray without repainting risk. See the full Hopper Head swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Maximum Gray
Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Maximum Gray. The nearest is Oyster Catch (0585) at ΔE 4.24 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 9 vs 9). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Oyster Catch swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Maximum Gray
Rodda's nearest match is Iron (CA207), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.53). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 9 vs 9) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Maximum Gray without repainting risk. See the full Iron swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Maximum Gray
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Maximum Gray is Muddy Waters (C2-869) — very close at ΔE 2.96, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 9) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Muddy Waters swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Maximum Gray
At Clare, the closest color to Maximum Gray is Blackest (PNT100-DP-55) — very close at ΔE 2.46, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 9) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Blackest swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Maximum Gray
Portola Paints has no exact twin of Maximum Gray. The nearest is In The Navy (IN THE NAVY) at ΔE 4.51 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 9 vs 9). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full In The Navy swatch →