Char Brown
2137-20 · #5A4F40 · LRV 9 — warm red-orange tone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Black Bean4
- 2Char Brown9
- 3Cavern Clay20
- 4Redend Point30
What Color Is Char Brown, Really?
Char Brown reads as a warm red-orange tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Benjamin Moore 2137-20 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Char Brown
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. Browns ground a room and pair naturally with leather, wood and warm metals.
How Lighting Changes 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.
Most complaints about Char Brown are a light mismatch. Upload a photo of your actual room and see it on your walls — then ask for the same wall in north light or evening lamps before you buy a single sample.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Benjamin Moore 2137-20 directly. If you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches, measured as ΔE2000. Under 2 is a difference you will not see on the wall.
| Brand | Closest color | ΔE | LRV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams | TungstenSW 9515 · Sherwin-Williams | 1.0 | 8 | Color page → |
| Behr | Warm PumpernickelHDC-FL15-05 · Behr | 3.6 | 8 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Roasted Sepia6006-2C · Valspar | 1.6 | 8.1 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Afternoon TeaPPG1023-7 · PPG / Glidden | 0.6 | 8 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Afternoon TeaPPG1023-7 · Glidden | 0.6 | 8 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Diode420-7DB · Dutch Boy | 2.1 | 8 | Color page → |
Similar Benjamin Moore Colors
The 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.
WCAG 2.1: AA is 4.5 : 1 for normal text, 3 : 1 for large text, AAA is 7 : 1.
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.
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