Color spec
| Brand | Dutch Boy |
| Name | Explore The Shore |
| SKU | 426-5DB |
| Hex | #9FAAA6 |
| RGB | 159, 170, 166 |
| HSL | 158°, 6%, 65% |
| LRV | 39 |
| Undertone | green / cool |
| Family | Gray |
About Dutch Boy Explore The Shore
Explore The Shore sits in the mid-range at LRV 39, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Its green 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.
Explore The Shore 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.
Valspar
Benjamin Moore
Dunn-Edwards
Behr
PPG / Glidden
Sherwin-Williams
Clare
Diamond Vogel
Kompozit
Magnolia Home
Backdrop
C2 Paint
Farrow & Ball
Similar Dutch Boy colors
closest in the Dutch Boy deckThe nearest shades to Explore The Shore within Dutch Boy'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 #9FAAA6 in HSL space. Pair Explore The Shore 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.
Dutch Boy Explore The Shore Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Explore The Shore 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 Dutch Boy 426-5DB directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Valspar Equivalent of Explore The Shore
The closest Valspar equivalent of Explore The Shore is Artful (T685). At ΔE 0.43 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool green undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 39). If Valspar is your counter, order Artful and you'll get the same color. See the full Artful swatch →
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Explore The Shore
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Explore The Shore is Breakwater (SW 9638) — very close at ΔE 2.62, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 39) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Breakwater swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Explore The Shore
At Clare, the closest color to Explore The Shore is Mellow Mood (PNT100-DP-78) — very close at ΔE 2.7, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 39) and carries a cool green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Mellow Mood swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Explore The Shore
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Explore The Shore is Adagio (1593) — very close at ΔE 2.73, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 39) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Adagio swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Explore The Shore
At Kompozit, the closest color to Explore The Shore is Beacon Fog (0490) — very close at ΔE 3.12, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 39) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Beacon Fog swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Explore The Shore
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Explore The Shore is Mission Bay Blue (DET563) — very close at ΔE 3.14, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 39) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Mission Bay Blue swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Explore The Shore
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Explore The Shore is Pale Slate (H045) — very close at ΔE 3.15, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 39) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Pale Slate swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Explore The Shore
At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Explore The Shore is Vintage Weathervane (JG-137) — very close at ΔE 3.17, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 39) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Vintage Weathervane swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Explore The Shore
At Behr, the closest color to Explore The Shore is Silver Clouds (ECC-35-1) — very close at ΔE 3.43, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 39) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Silver Clouds swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Explore The Shore
Backdrop has no exact twin of Explore The Shore. The nearest is Nuevo (BD-NU) at ΔE 3.64 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 39). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Nuevo swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Explore The Shore
PPG / Glidden has no exact twin of Explore The Shore. The nearest is Stepping Stone (PPG1010-4) at ΔE 3.77 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 39). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Stepping Stone swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Explore The Shore
C2 Paint has no exact twin of Explore The Shore. The nearest is Rite of Spring (C2-715) at ΔE 4.02 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 39). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Rite of Spring swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Explore The Shore
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Explore The Shore. The nearest is Dix Blue (NO. 82) at ΔE 4.59 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 41 vs 39). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Dix Blue swatch →