Color spec
| Brand | Dunn-Edwards |
| Name | Red Ink |
| SKU | DEA151 |
| Hex | #AC3235 |
| RGB | 172, 50, 53 |
| HSL | 359°, 55%, 44% |
| LRV | 11 |
| Undertone | warm red tone |
| Family | Red |
About Dunn-Edwards Red Ink
With an LRV of 11, Red Ink 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.
Red Ink works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Reds bring energy and appetite, classic in dining rooms and front doors.
Closest matches by brand
16 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 red 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
C2 Paint
Annie Sloan
Backdrop
Rust-Oleum
Kompozit
Similar Dunn-Edwards colors
closest in the Dunn-Edwards deckThe nearest shades to Red Ink 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 #AC3235 in HSL space. Pair Red Ink 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 Red Ink Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Red Ink 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 DEA151 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Red Ink
Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Positive Red (SW 6871), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.1). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 11) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Red Ink without repainting risk. See the full Positive Red swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Red Ink
Behr's nearest match is Indiscreet (UL110-6), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.03). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 11) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Red Ink without repainting risk. See the full Indiscreet swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Red Ink
The closest Benjamin Moore equivalent of Red Ink is Hot Tamale (CSP-1155). At ΔE 0.79 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red undertone and runs slightly lighter (LRV 13 vs 11). If Benjamin Moore is your counter, order Hot Tamale and you'll get the same color. See the full Hot Tamale swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Red Ink
Valspar's nearest match is Planet Fever (V006-3), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.15). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11.1 vs 11) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Red Ink without repainting risk. See the full Planet Fever swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Red Ink
PPG / Glidden's nearest match is Red Gumball (PPG1187-7), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.89). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 11) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Red Ink without repainting risk. See the full Red Gumball swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Red Ink
Glidden's nearest match is Crimson Red (31YR 10/591), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 11) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Red Ink without repainting risk. See the full Crimson Red swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Red Ink
Dutch Boy's nearest match is Sugared Maple (104-7DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.22). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 11) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Red Ink without repainting risk. See the full Sugared Maple swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Red Ink
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Red Ink is Red Tanager (HGSW 1062) — very close at ΔE 2.01, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 11) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Red Tanager swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Red Ink
At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Red Ink is Brave And Bold (JG-32) — very close at ΔE 3.03, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 11) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Brave And Bold swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Red Ink
Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Red Ink. The nearest is Siren (1117) at ΔE 3.53 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 11). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Siren swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Red Ink
Hirshfield's's nearest match is Unmatched Beauty (1110), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.15). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 13 vs 11) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Red Ink without repainting risk. See the full Unmatched Beauty swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Red Ink
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Red Ink is Tango (C2-566) — very close at ΔE 2.82, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 11) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Tango swatch →
Annie Sloan Equivalent of Red Ink
Annie Sloan has no exact twin of Red Ink. The nearest is Emperors Silk (EMPERORS SILK) at ΔE 4.85 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 13 vs 11). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Emperors Silk swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Red Ink
Backdrop's nearest match is Bahaus (BD-BH), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.19). It runs slightly darker (LRV 8 vs 11) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Red Ink without repainting risk. See the full Bahaus swatch →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Red Ink
Rust-Oleum has no exact twin of Red Ink. The nearest is Farmhouse Red (329211) at ΔE 4.65 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 13 vs 11). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Farmhouse Red swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Red Ink
Kompozit's nearest match is Unmatched Beauty (1110), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.15). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 11) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Red Ink without repainting risk. See the full Unmatched Beauty swatch →