Color spec
| Brand | Dunn-Edwards |
| Name | Formal Gray |
| SKU | DE6382 |
| Hex | #97969A |
| RGB | 151, 150, 154 |
| HSL | 255°, 2%, 60% |
| LRV | 29 |
| Undertone | neutral with no strong undertone |
| Family | Gray |
About Dunn-Edwards Formal Gray
Formal Gray sits in the mid-range at LRV 29, 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.
Formal Gray 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 by brand
15 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 gray from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Magnolia Home
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Clare
Kompozit
Similar Dunn-Edwards colors
closest in the Dunn-Edwards deckThe nearest shades to Formal Gray within Dunn-Edwards'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 #97969A in HSL space. Pair Formal Gray 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.
Dunn-Edwards Formal Gray Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Formal Gray 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 Dunn-Edwards DE6382 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Formal Gray
Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Formal Gray. The nearest is African Gray (SW 9162) at ΔE 4.02 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 31 vs 29). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full African Gray swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Formal Gray
Behr has no exact twin of Formal Gray. The nearest is Shark Fin (PPU24-19) at ΔE 3.86 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 31 vs 29). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Shark Fin swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Formal Gray
Benjamin Moore has no exact twin of Formal Gray. The nearest is Sweatshirt Gray (2126-40) at ΔE 4.09 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 32 vs 29). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Sweatshirt Gray swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Formal Gray
Valspar has no exact twin of Formal Gray. The nearest is Stone Mason Gray (4008-1C) at ΔE 4.47 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 30.9 vs 29). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Stone Mason Gray swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Formal Gray
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Formal Gray is Playing Possum (PPG0997-5) — very close at ΔE 3.31, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 31 vs 29) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Playing Possum swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Formal Gray
Glidden has no exact twin of Formal Gray. The nearest is Playing Possum (PPG0997-5) at ΔE 3.86 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 31 vs 29). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Playing Possum swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Formal Gray
Dutch Boy has no exact twin of Formal Gray. The nearest is Over The Moon (434-4DB) at ΔE 4.21 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 30 vs 29). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Over The Moon swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Formal Gray
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Formal Gray. The nearest is Flannel Grey (HGSW 1464) at ΔE 4.02 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 31 vs 29). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Flannel Grey swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Formal Gray
Magnolia Home has no exact twin of Formal Gray. The nearest is Times Past (JG-94) at ΔE 4.81 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 31 vs 29). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Times Past swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Formal Gray
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Formal Gray is Sparrow (0554) — very close at ΔE 2.89, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 32 vs 29) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Sparrow swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Formal Gray
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Formal Gray is Sparrow (0554) — very close at ΔE 2.7, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 32 vs 29) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Sparrow swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Formal Gray
Rodda has no exact twin of Formal Gray. The nearest is December Sky (R094) at ΔE 4.87 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 32 vs 29). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full December Sky swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Formal Gray
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Formal Gray is Zydeco (C2-986) — very close at ΔE 2.65, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 31 vs 29) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Zydeco swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Formal Gray
At Kompozit, the closest color to Formal Gray is Sparrow (0554) — very close at ΔE 2.7, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 30 vs 29) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Sparrow swatch →