Color spec
| Brand | Behr |
| Name | Thistle |
| SKU | QE-45 |
| Hex | #879283 |
| RGB | 135, 146, 131 |
| HSL | 104°, 6%, 54% |
| LRV | 27 |
| Undertone | cool green tone |
| Family | Gray |
About Behr Thistle
Thistle sits in the mid-range at LRV 27, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Its green 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. South-facing rooms will pull it lighter and warmer, while north light cools it down.
Thistle is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.
Closest matches by brand
15 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
C2 Paint
Rust-Oleum
Kompozit
Similar Behr colors
closest in the Behr deckThe nearest shades to Thistle 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 #879283 in HSL space. Pair Thistle 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 Thistle Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Thistle 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-45 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Thistle
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Thistle is Secret Path (CSP-800) — very close at ΔE 3.12, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 28 vs 27) and carries a cool green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Secret Path swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Thistle
The closest Valspar equivalent of Thistle is Silver Eucalyptus (V098-4). At ΔE 0.82 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool green undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 27.6 vs 27). If Valspar is your counter, order Silver Eucalyptus and you'll get the same color. See the full Silver Eucalyptus swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Thistle
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Thistle is Gray Heron (PPG1033-5) — very close at ΔE 2.91, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 28 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Gray Heron swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Thistle
At Glidden, the closest color to Thistle is Gray Heron (PPG1033-5) — very close at ΔE 3.3, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 28 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Gray Heron swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Thistle
Dutch Boy has no exact twin of Thistle. The nearest is Cattails (427-5DB) at ΔE 4.6 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 25 vs 27). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Cattails swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Thistle
Dunn-Edwards has no exact twin of Thistle. The nearest is Stone Creek (DE6278) at ΔE 4.09 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 26 vs 27). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Stone Creek swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Thistle
At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Thistle is Silverado Sage (JG-07) — very close at ΔE 3.18, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 27 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Silverado Sage swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Thistle
Farrow & Ball's nearest match is Card Room Green (NO. 79), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.56). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 26 vs 27) and carries a cool green undertone, so it substitutes for Thistle without repainting risk. See the full Card Room Green swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Thistle
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Thistle is Dowager (0442) — very close at ΔE 3.22, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 27 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Dowager swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Thistle
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Thistle is Dowager (0442) — very close at ΔE 2.98, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 27 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Dowager swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Thistle
C2 Paint's nearest match is Pond Ripple (BD82), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.49). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 26 vs 27) and carries a cool green undertone, so it substitutes for Thistle without repainting risk. See the full Pond Ripple swatch →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Thistle
At Rust-Oleum, the closest color to Thistle is Country Gray (285141) — very close at ΔE 3.43, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 29 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Country Gray swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Thistle
At Kompozit, the closest color to Thistle is Dowager (0442) — very close at ΔE 2.98, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 25 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Dowager swatch →