Gunmetal
1602 · #6A6F70 · LRV 17 — neutral with no strong undertone, dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs.
- 1Black Fox7
- 2Pewter Green12
- 3Gunmetal17
- 4Storm Cloud23
- 5Stardew43
What Color Is Gunmetal, Really?
Gunmetal reads as a neutral with no strong undertone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Benjamin Moore 1602 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Gunmetal
Gunmetal 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.
How Lighting Changes Gunmetal
With an LRV of 17, Gunmetal 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.
Most complaints about Gunmetal 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 1602 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 | Wall StreetSW 7665 · Sherwin-Williams | 2.9 | 15 | Color page → |
| Behr | MagnetMQ2-61 · Behr | 1.8 | 16 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Almost Charcoal4008-2B · Valspar | 0.4 | 15.9 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | In The ShadowsPPG1039-6 · PPG / Glidden | 2.3 | 15 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Slate MinePPG0996-6 · Glidden | 2.7 | 16 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Cooled Graphite436-6DB · Dutch Boy | 1.2 | 16 | Color page → |
Similar Benjamin Moore Colors
The nearest shades to Gunmetal 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 #6A6F70 in HSL space. Pair Gunmetal with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Have you painted with Gunmetal?
Rate it — one tap helps the next reader decide.
Ask a Question