Color spec
| Brand | Dunn-Edwards |
| Name | Whale Watching |
| SKU | DET512 |
| Hex | #A5A495 |
| RGB | 165, 164, 149 |
| HSL | 56°, 8%, 62% |
| LRV | 37 |
| Undertone | yellow / warm |
| Family | Gray |
About Dunn-Edwards Whale Watching
Whale Watching sits in the mid-range at LRV 37, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Its yellow 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.
Whale Watching 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.
Behr
C2 Paint
Sherwin-Williams
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Kompozit
Benjamin Moore
Dutch Boy
Magnolia Home
Backdrop
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Clare
Similar Dunn-Edwards colors
closest in the Dunn-Edwards deckThe nearest shades to Whale Watching 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 #A5A495 in HSL space. Pair Whale Watching 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 Whale Watching Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Whale Watching 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 DET512 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Whale Watching
The closest Behr equivalent of Whale Watching is Woodland Sage (HDC-NT-01). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm yellow undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 37 vs 37). If Behr is your counter, order Woodland Sage and you'll get the same color. See the full Woodland Sage swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Whale Watching
Valspar's nearest match is Green Turquoise (8004-26D), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.79). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 36 vs 37) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Whale Watching without repainting risk. See the full Green Turquoise swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Whale Watching
C2 Paint's nearest match is Quahog (C2-908), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.79). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 36 vs 37) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Whale Watching without repainting risk. See the full Quahog swatch →
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Whale Watching
Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Downing Stone (SW 2821), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.84). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 36 vs 37) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Whale Watching without repainting risk. See the full Downing Stone swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Whale Watching
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Whale Watching is Aldabra (PPG14-28) — very close at ΔE 2.16, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 37) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Aldabra swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Whale Watching
At Kompozit, the closest color to Whale Watching is Shark Fin (0574) — very close at ΔE 2.84, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 37 vs 37) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Shark Fin swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Whale Watching
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Whale Watching is Rockport Gray (HC-105) — very close at ΔE 2.98, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 37 vs 37) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Rockport Gray swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Whale Watching
At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Whale Watching is Quaint Cottage (JG-114) — very close at ΔE 2.99, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 37 vs 37) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Quaint Cottage swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Whale Watching
At Backdrop, the closest color to Whale Watching is Nuevo (BD-NU) — very close at ΔE 3.42, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 37) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Nuevo swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Whale Watching
Dutch Boy has no exact twin of Whale Watching. The nearest is Poised Neutral (440-4DB) at ΔE 4.1 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 36 vs 37). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Poised Neutral swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Whale Watching
Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Whale Watching. The nearest is Wood Shadow (0205) at ΔE 4.38 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 36 vs 37). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Wood Shadow swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Whale Watching
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Whale Watching. The nearest is Light Gray (NO. 17) at ΔE 4.51 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 37). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Light Gray swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Whale Watching
Clare doesn't make a true equivalent of Whale Watching — the nearest deck color, Mellow Mood (PNT100-DP-78), is clearly different (ΔE 8.22). For an exact match, any Clare retailer can custom-tint Dunn-Edwards DET512 instead. See the full Mellow Mood swatch →