CP

Dunn-Edwards Tortoise ShellDET656 · #3F352A · LRV 5

Tortoise Shell reads as a warm red-orange tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover the color's details, what Dunn-Edwards DET656 actually looks like under different light, and the closest matches at competing US brands.

DUNN-EDWARDS TORTOISE SHELL
RGB 63, 53, 42LRV 5

Color spec

BrandDunn-Edwards
NameTortoise Shell
SKUDET656
Hex#3F352A
RGB63, 53, 42
HSL31°, 20%, 21%
LRV5
Undertonewarm red-orange tone
FamilyBlack
See Dunn-Edwards Tortoise Shell on your own walls — upload a room photo.SEE IT IN YOUR ROOM →

About Dunn-Edwards Tortoise Shell

At LRV 5, Tortoise Shell is about as dark as paint gets — it reads near-black on a wall and reveals its character only in direct daylight or under warm bulbs. 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. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.

Tortoise Shell earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Near-blacks like this are best as contrast — doors, trim, cabinets, window frames.

Closest matches by brand

7 brands within ΔE 5

The 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 black from that brand.

Sherwin-Williams

1,947 colors in deck · best ΔE 0.56
All black at Sherwin-Williams →
SW 2926 · #3F352B · ΔE 0.56 · LRV 4

Behr

5,644 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.49
All black at Behr →
780B-7 · #413632 · ΔE 4.49 · LRV 4

Benjamin Moore

3,934 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.66
All black at Benjamin Moore →
2114-10 · #433731 · ΔE 3.66 · LRV 5

Valspar

2,858 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.06
All black at Valspar →
6010-2 · #473A31 · ΔE 3.06 · LRV 4.6
6011-1 · #3A3530 · ΔE 3.85 · LRV 3.7
4002-2C · #433631 · ΔE 4.53 · LRV 4

Magnolia Home

160 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.08
All black at Magnolia Home →
JG-150 · #3F3632 · ΔE 4.08 · LRV 4

Hirshfield's

1,469 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.63
All black at Hirshfield's →
0144 · #473933 · ΔE 4.63 · LRV 6

Kompozit

1,321 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.63
All black at Kompozit →
0144 · #473933 · ΔE 4.63 · LRV 5

Similar Dunn-Edwards colors

closest in the Dunn-Edwards deck

The nearest shades to Tortoise Shell within Dunn-Edwards's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.

DEA002 · LRV 4
DESS50 · LRV 5
DEBN13 · LRV 5
DE6350 · LRV 5
DEBN22 · LRV 5
DEBN44 · LRV 6

Coordinated palette

Generated by hue-rotating #3F352A in HSL space. Pair Tortoise Shell with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.

COMPLEMENTARY
#3F352A + #2A343F
TRIADIC
#3F352A · #2A3F35 · #352A3F
ANALOGOUS
#3F2B2A · #3F352A · #3E3F2A

Accessibility (WCAG contrast)

Sample text on white
11.97:1AAA
Sample text on black
1.75:1fail

WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.

Dunn-Edwards Tortoise Shell Equivalents at Other Brands

Matching Tortoise Shell 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 DET656 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.

Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Tortoise Shell

The closest Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Tortoise Shell is Iron Gate (SW 2926). 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 4 vs 5). If Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Iron Gate and you'll get the same color. See the full Iron Gate swatch →

Behr Equivalent of Tortoise Shell

Behr has no exact twin of Tortoise Shell. The nearest is Bison Brown (780B-7) at ΔE 4.49 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 4 vs 5). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Bison Brown swatch →

Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Tortoise Shell

Benjamin Moore has no exact twin of Tortoise Shell. The nearest is Bittersweet Chocolate (2114-10) at ΔE 3.66 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 5). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Bittersweet Chocolate swatch →

Valspar Equivalent of Tortoise Shell

Valspar has no exact twin of Tortoise Shell. The nearest is Fired Earth (6011-1) at ΔE 3.85 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 3.7 vs 5). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Fired Earth swatch →

Magnolia Home Equivalent of Tortoise Shell

Magnolia Home has no exact twin of Tortoise Shell. The nearest is Moments (JG-150) at ΔE 4.08 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 4 vs 5). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Moments swatch →

Hirshfield's Equivalent of Tortoise Shell

Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Tortoise Shell. The nearest is Film Noir (0144) at ΔE 4.63 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 5). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Film Noir swatch →

Kompozit Equivalent of Tortoise Shell

Kompozit has no exact twin of Tortoise Shell. The nearest is Film Noir (0144) at ΔE 4.63 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 5). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Film Noir swatch →

EXPLORE MORE