Color spec
| Brand | Benjamin Moore |
| Name | Merlot Red |
| SKU | 2006-10 |
| Hex | #9D3D2D |
| RGB | 157, 61, 45 |
| HSL | 9°, 55%, 40% |
| LRV | 12 |
| Undertone | warm red tone |
| Family | Brown |
About Benjamin Moore Merlot Red
With an LRV of 12, Merlot Red is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Its red 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. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Merlot Red works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Browns ground a room and pair naturally with leather, wood and warm metals.
Closest matches by brand
10 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 brown from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Magnolia Home
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Kompozit
Similar Benjamin Moore colors
closest in the Benjamin Moore deckThe nearest shades to Merlot Red 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 #9D3D2D in HSL space. Pair Merlot Red 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 Merlot Red Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Merlot Red 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 2006-10 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Merlot Red
Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Chinese Red (SW 57), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.77). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 12) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Merlot Red without repainting risk. See the full Chinese Red swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Merlot Red
Behr has no exact twin of Merlot Red. The nearest is Fire Cracker (PPU2-16) at ΔE 3.6 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 12). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Fire Cracker swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Merlot Red
Valspar's nearest match is Cinnamon Sunset (V008-3), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.91). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11.2 vs 12) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Merlot Red without repainting risk. See the full Cinnamon Sunset swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Merlot Red
PPG / Glidden has no exact twin of Merlot Red. The nearest is Burning Bush (PPG1057-7) at ΔE 4.78 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 12). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Burning Bush swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Merlot Red
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Merlot Red is Terra Orange (308-7DB) — very close at ΔE 3.42, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 12) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Terra Orange swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Merlot Red
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Merlot Red is Ruby Red Slippers (HGSW 1072) — very close at ΔE 2.89, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 12) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Ruby Red Slippers swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Merlot Red
Magnolia Home has no exact twin of Merlot Red. The nearest is Brave And Bold (JG-32) at ΔE 4.06 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 10 vs 12). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Brave And Bold swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Merlot Red
Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Merlot Red. The nearest is Queen's Coat (H009) at ΔE 4.93 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 12). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Queen's Coat swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Merlot Red
At Kompozit, the closest color to Merlot Red is Dark Marmalade (1040) — very close at ΔE 3.28, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 12) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Dark Marmalade swatch →