Color spec
| Brand | Benjamin Moore |
| Name | Thunder |
| SKU | AF-685 |
| Hex | #BDB8AD |
| RGB | 189, 184, 173 |
| HSL | 41°, 11%, 71% |
| LRV | 48 |
| Undertone | warm red-orange tone |
| Family | Neutral |
About Benjamin Moore Thunder
Thunder sits in the mid-range at LRV 48, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. 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. South-facing rooms will pull it lighter and warmer, while north light cools it down.
Thunder is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Greige-leaning neutrals like this are the safe whole-home choice when you want warmth without committing to a color.
Closest matches by brand
18 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
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Clare
Portola Paints
Annie Sloan
Kompozit
Similar Benjamin Moore colors
closest in the Benjamin Moore deckThe nearest shades to Thunder 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 #BDB8AD in HSL space. Pair Thunder 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 Thunder Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Thunder 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 AF-685 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Thunder
The closest Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Thunder is Mindful Gray (SW 7016). At ΔE 0.53 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 48 vs 48). If Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Mindful Gray and you'll get the same color. See the full Mindful Gray swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Thunder
The closest Behr equivalent of Thunder is Glasgow Fog (HDC-NT-06G). At ΔE 0.47 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 48 vs 48). If Behr is your counter, order Glasgow Fog and you'll get the same color. See the full Glasgow Fog swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Thunder
Valspar's nearest match is Frappe (6003-1B), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.08). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 47.1 vs 48) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Thunder without repainting risk. See the full Frappe swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Thunder
PPG / Glidden's nearest match is Ghost Writer (PPG1007-3), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.31). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 47 vs 48) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Thunder without repainting risk. See the full Ghost Writer swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Thunder
The closest Glidden equivalent of Thunder is Ghost Writer (PPG1007-3). At ΔE 0.53 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 48 vs 48). If Glidden is your counter, order Ghost Writer and you'll get the same color. See the full Ghost Writer swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Thunder
Dutch Boy's nearest match is Comfortable Gray (443-2DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.98). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 47 vs 48) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Thunder without repainting risk. See the full Comfortable Gray swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Thunder
The closest HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Thunder is Mindful Gray (HGSW 3476). At ΔE 0.53 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 48 vs 48). If HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Mindful Gray and you'll get the same color. See the full Mindful Gray swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Thunder
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Stoneware Clay (DEGR16), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.05). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 48 vs 48) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Thunder without repainting risk. See the full Stoneware Clay swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Thunder
The closest Magnolia Home equivalent of Thunder is Sunday Stroll (JG-19). At ΔE 0.56 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 48 vs 48). If Magnolia Home is your counter, order Sunday Stroll and you'll get the same color. See the full Sunday Stroll swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Thunder
Farrow & Ball's nearest match is Purbeck Stone (NO. 275), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.39). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 50 vs 48) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Thunder without repainting risk. See the full Purbeck Stone swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Thunder
Diamond Vogel's nearest match is Light Lichen (0211), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.16). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 49 vs 48) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Thunder without repainting risk. See the full Light Lichen swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Thunder
Hirshfield's's nearest match is Light Lichen (0211), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.96). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 48 vs 48) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Thunder without repainting risk. See the full Light Lichen swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Thunder
The closest Rodda equivalent of Thunder is Chiseled Shale (R044). At ΔE 0.58 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 49 vs 48). If Rodda is your counter, order Chiseled Shale and you'll get the same color. See the full Chiseled Shale swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Thunder
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Thunder is Filament (C2-798) — very close at ΔE 2.6, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 49 vs 48) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Filament swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Thunder
Clare has no exact twin of Thunder. The nearest is Greige (PNT100-LT-13) at ΔE 4.21 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 49 vs 48). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Greige swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Thunder
The closest Portola Paints equivalent of Thunder is Piano Room (PIANO ROOM). At ΔE 0.79 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 47 vs 48). If Portola Paints is your counter, order Piano Room and you'll get the same color. See the full Piano Room swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Thunder
Kompozit's nearest match is Light Lichen (0211), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.96). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 47 vs 48) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Thunder without repainting risk. See the full Light Lichen swatch →