Color spec
| Brand | Dutch Boy |
| Name | Fair-Minded Gray |
| SKU | 438-3DB |
| Hex | #B9BAB6 |
| RGB | 185, 186, 182 |
| HSL | 75°, 3%, 72% |
| LRV | 49 |
| Undertone | neutral with no strong undertone |
| Family | Gray |
About Dutch Boy Fair-Minded Gray
Fair-Minded Gray sits in the mid-range at LRV 49, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. South-facing rooms will pull it lighter and warmer, while north light cools it down.
Fair-Minded Gray 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
19 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
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Clare
Portola Paints
Annie Sloan
Rust-Oleum
Kompozit
Similar Dutch Boy colors
closest in the Dutch Boy deckThe nearest shades to Fair-Minded Gray 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 #B9BAB6 in HSL space. Pair Fair-Minded Gray 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 Fair-Minded Gray Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Fair-Minded Gray 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 438-3DB directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Fair-Minded Gray
Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is March Wind (SW 7668), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.29). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 49 vs 49) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Fair-Minded Gray without repainting risk. See the full March Wind swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Fair-Minded Gray
The closest Behr equivalent of Fair-Minded Gray is Classic Silver (PPU18-11). At ΔE 0.56 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 48 vs 49). If Behr is your counter, order Classic Silver and you'll get the same color. See the full Classic Silver swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Fair-Minded Gray
The closest Benjamin Moore equivalent of Fair-Minded Gray is Coventry Gray (HC-169). At ΔE 0.51 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 48 vs 49). If Benjamin Moore is your counter, order Coventry Gray and you'll get the same color. See the full Coventry Gray swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Fair-Minded Gray
Valspar's nearest match is Granite Dust (5006-1C), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.54). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 48.1 vs 49) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Fair-Minded Gray without repainting risk. See the full Granite Dust swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Fair-Minded Gray
The closest PPG / Glidden equivalent of Fair-Minded Gray is Pigeon Feather (PPG0995-4). At ΔE 0.84 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 48 vs 49). If PPG / Glidden is your counter, order Pigeon Feather and you'll get the same color. See the full Pigeon Feather swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Fair-Minded Gray
The closest Glidden equivalent of Fair-Minded Gray is Fresh Granite (PPG0997-3). At ΔE 0.52 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 49 vs 49). If Glidden is your counter, order Fresh Granite and you'll get the same color. See the full Fresh Granite swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Fair-Minded Gray
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Monochrome (HGSW 1454), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.97). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 48 vs 49) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Fair-Minded Gray without repainting risk. See the full Monochrome swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Fair-Minded Gray
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Fair-Minded Gray is Covered in Platinum (DE6367) — very close at ΔE 2.18, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 46 vs 49) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Covered in Platinum swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Fair-Minded Gray
The closest Magnolia Home equivalent of Fair-Minded Gray is Day-to-day (JG-123). At ΔE 0.89 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 50 vs 49). If Magnolia Home is your counter, order Day-to-day and you'll get the same color. See the full Day-to-day swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Fair-Minded Gray
At Farrow & Ball, the closest color to Fair-Minded Gray is Light Blue (NO. 22) — very close at ΔE 3.05, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 49 vs 49) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Light Blue swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Fair-Minded Gray
The closest Diamond Vogel equivalent of Fair-Minded Gray is Rand Moon (0532). At ΔE 0.83 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 49 vs 49). If Diamond Vogel is your counter, order Rand Moon and you'll get the same color. See the full Rand Moon swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Fair-Minded Gray
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Fair-Minded Gray is Marseilles (0525) — very close at ΔE 2.33, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 50 vs 49) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Marseilles swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Fair-Minded Gray
At Rodda, the closest color to Fair-Minded Gray is Stonewash (CA183) — very close at ΔE 2.66, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 49 vs 49) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Stonewash swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Fair-Minded Gray
The closest C2 Paint equivalent of Fair-Minded Gray is Melodic (C2-990). At ΔE 0.71 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 48 vs 49). If C2 Paint is your counter, order Melodic and you'll get the same color. See the full Melodic swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Fair-Minded Gray
Portola Paints has no exact twin of Fair-Minded Gray. The nearest is Piano Room (PIANO ROOM) at ΔE 3.81 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 47 vs 49). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Piano Room swatch →
Annie Sloan Equivalent of Fair-Minded Gray
Annie Sloan's nearest match is Chicago Grey (CHICAGO GREY), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.82). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 49 vs 49) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Fair-Minded Gray without repainting risk. See the full Chicago Grey swatch →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Fair-Minded Gray
Rust-Oleum has no exact twin of Fair-Minded Gray. The nearest is Aged Gray (285143) at ΔE 4.82 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 48 vs 49). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Aged Gray swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Fair-Minded Gray
At Kompozit, the closest color to Fair-Minded Gray is Marseilles (0525) — very close at ΔE 2.33, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 49 vs 49) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Marseilles swatch →