Color spec
| Brand | Benjamin Moore |
| Name | Char Brown |
| SKU | 2137-20 |
| Hex | #5A4F40 |
| RGB | 90, 79, 64 |
| HSL | 35°, 17%, 30% |
| LRV | 9 |
| Undertone | warm red-orange tone |
| Family | Neutral |
About Benjamin Moore Char Brown
At LRV 9, Char Brown 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. Its orange 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. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Char Brown earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Greige-leaning neutrals like this are the safe whole-home choice when you want warmth without committing to a color.
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 neutral from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Portola Paints
Kompozit
Similar Benjamin Moore colors
closest in the Benjamin Moore deckThe nearest shades to Char Brown within Benjamin Moore'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 #5A4F40 in HSL space. Pair Char Brown 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.
Benjamin Moore Char Brown Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Char Brown 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 Benjamin Moore 2137-20 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Char Brown
Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Tungsten (SW 9515), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 9) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Char Brown without repainting risk. See the full Tungsten swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Char Brown
Behr has no exact twin of Char Brown. The nearest is Warm Pumpernickel (HDC-FL15-05) at ΔE 3.65 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 9). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Warm Pumpernickel swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Char Brown
Valspar's nearest match is Roasted Sepia (6006-2C), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.61). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8.1 vs 9) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Char Brown without repainting risk. See the full Roasted Sepia swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Char Brown
The closest PPG / Glidden equivalent of Char Brown is Afternoon Tea (PPG1023-7). At ΔE 0.59 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 9). If PPG / Glidden is your counter, order Afternoon Tea and you'll get the same color. See the full Afternoon Tea swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Char Brown
The closest Glidden equivalent of Char Brown is Afternoon Tea (PPG1023-7). At ΔE 0.59 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 9). If Glidden is your counter, order Afternoon Tea and you'll get the same color. See the full Afternoon Tea swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Char Brown
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Char Brown is Diode (420-7DB) — very close at ΔE 2.15, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 9) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Diode swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Char Brown
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Subterranean (HGSW 3221), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.99). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 9 vs 9) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Char Brown without repainting risk. See the full Subterranean swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Char Brown
Dunn-Edwards has no exact twin of Char Brown. The nearest is Black Walnut (DE6063) at ΔE 4.58 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 9). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Black Walnut swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Char Brown
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Char Brown is Deep Shadow (0445) — very close at ΔE 2.31, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 9) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Deep Shadow swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Char Brown
The closest Hirshfield's equivalent of Char Brown is Brown Suede (0221). At ΔE 0.91 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 9). If Hirshfield's is your counter, order Brown Suede and you'll get the same color. See the full Brown Suede swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Char Brown
Rodda has no exact twin of Char Brown. The nearest is Leather (CA066) at ΔE 4.58 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 9). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Leather swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Char Brown
Portola Paints has no exact twin of Char Brown. The nearest is Ponderosa (PONDEROSA) at ΔE 4.87 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 9). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Ponderosa swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Char Brown
The closest Kompozit equivalent of Char Brown is Brown Suede (0221). At ΔE 0.91 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 9). If Kompozit is your counter, order Brown Suede and you'll get the same color. See the full Brown Suede swatch →