Color spec
| Brand | Dunn-Edwards |
| Name | Whale Watching |
| SKU | DET512 |
| Hex | #A5A495 |
| RGB | 165, 164, 149 |
| HSL | 56°, 8%, 62% |
| LRV | 37 |
| Undertone | warm yellow tone |
| 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 by brand
18 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
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Portola Paints
Backdrop
Rust-Oleum
Kompozit
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.
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
Glidden Equivalent of Whale Watching
At Glidden, the closest color to Whale Watching is Aldabra (PPG14-28) — very close at ΔE 2.56, 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 Aldabra 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 →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Whale Watching
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Rare Gray (HGSW 3275), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.82). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 37) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Whale Watching without repainting risk. See the full Rare 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 →
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 →
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 →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Whale Watching
At Hirshfield's, 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 38 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 →
Rodda Equivalent of Whale Watching
At Rodda, the closest color to Whale Watching is Secret Arbor (R068) — very close at ΔE 2.78, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 36 vs 37) and carries a cool green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Secret Arbor 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 →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Whale Watching
Portola Paints has no exact twin of Whale Watching. The nearest is La Catedral (LA CATEDRAL) at ΔE 4.87 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 34 vs 37). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full La Catedral 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 →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Whale Watching
Rust-Oleum has no exact twin of Whale Watching. The nearest is Tate Green (371674) at ΔE 3.93 — 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 Tate Green 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 →