Color spec
| Brand | C2 Paint |
| Name | Carbon Dust |
| SKU | C2-968 |
| Hex | #88908F |
| RGB | 136, 144, 143 |
| HSL | 173°, 3%, 55% |
| LRV | 27 |
| Undertone | true neutral (no measurable hue) |
| Family | Gray |
About C2 Paint Carbon Dust
Carbon Dust sits in the mid-range at LRV 27, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. South-facing rooms will pull it lighter and warmer, while north light cools it down.
Carbon Dust is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.
Closest matches at every US brand
13 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 gray from that brand.
Valspar
Dunn-Edwards
Benjamin Moore
Behr
Diamond Vogel
Dutch Boy
PPG / Glidden
Farrow & Ball
Magnolia Home
Clare
Kompozit
Sherwin-Williams
Backdrop
Similar C2 Paint colors
closest in the C2 Paint deckThe nearest shades to Carbon Dust within C2 Paint'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 #88908F in HSL space. Pair Carbon Dust 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.
C2 Paint Carbon Dust Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Carbon Dust 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 C2 Paint C2-968 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Valspar Equivalent of Carbon Dust
Valspar's nearest match is Barometer (M259), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.45). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 26.5 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Carbon Dust without repainting risk. See the full Barometer swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Carbon Dust
At Behr, the closest color to Carbon Dust is Gotham Gray (MQ5-29) — very close at ΔE 2.47, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 27 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Gotham Gray swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Carbon Dust
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Carbon Dust is Grayed Foundry (426-6DB) — very close at ΔE 2.52, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 29 vs 27) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Grayed Foundry swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Carbon Dust
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Carbon Dust is Hearthstone (1601) — very close at ΔE 2.64, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 27 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Hearthstone swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Carbon Dust
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Carbon Dust is Feldspar (PPG1038-5) — very close at ΔE 2.69, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 27 vs 27) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Feldspar swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Carbon Dust
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Carbon Dust is Stieglitz Silver (DET612) — very close at ΔE 2.96, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 27 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Stieglitz Silver swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Carbon Dust
At Farrow & Ball, the closest color to Carbon Dust is Plummett (NO. 272) — very close at ΔE 2.97, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 27 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Plummett swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Carbon Dust
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Carbon Dust is Smoky Day (0491) — very close at ΔE 3.11, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 28 vs 27) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Smoky Day swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Carbon Dust
At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Carbon Dust is Cozy Up (JG-138) — very close at ΔE 3.42, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 27 vs 27) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Cozy Up swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Carbon Dust
Clare has no exact twin of Carbon Dust. The nearest is Shade (PNT100-MD-14) at ΔE 4.05 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 28 vs 27). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Shade swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Carbon Dust
Kompozit has no exact twin of Carbon Dust. The nearest is Smoky Day (0491) at ΔE 4.17 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 26 vs 27). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Smoky Day swatch →
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Carbon Dust
Sherwin-Williams doesn't make a true equivalent of Carbon Dust — the nearest deck color, Moody Blue (SW 6221), is clearly different (ΔE 5.66). For an exact match, any Sherwin-Williams retailer can custom-tint C2 Paint C2-968 instead. See the full Moody Blue swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Carbon Dust
Backdrop doesn't make a true equivalent of Carbon Dust — the nearest deck color, Polly Wants (BD-PW), is clearly different (ΔE 5.68). For an exact match, any Backdrop retailer can custom-tint C2 Paint C2-968 instead. See the full Polly Wants swatch →