Benjamin Moore Merlot Red#9D3D2D · LRV 12
Merlot Red reads as a red / warm — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover the spec, what Benjamin Moore 2006-10 actually looks like under different light, and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Color spec
| Brand | Benjamin Moore |
| Name | Merlot Red |
| SKU | 2006-10 |
| Hex | #9D3D2D |
| RGB | 157, 61, 45 |
| HSL | 9°, 55%, 40% |
| LRV | 12 |
| Undertone | red / warm |
| 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.
Kompozit alternative
The closest hex in the Kompozit deck, ranked by ΔE2000 (perceptual color difference). ΔE under 2 is indistinguishable to most eyes; under 5 is a very close visual match.
Closest matches at every US brand
9 brands · top 5 each5 closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all brown from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Valspar
Behr
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
PPG / Glidden
Backdrop
Farrow & Ball
Clare
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.