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 | true neutral (no measurable hue) |
| 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 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.
Benjamin Moore
PPG / Glidden
Behr
C2 Paint
Diamond Vogel
Magnolia Home
Dunn-Edwards
Kompozit
Sherwin-Williams
Valspar
Clare
Farrow & Ball
Backdrop
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.
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
Clare Equivalent of Fair-Minded Gray
Clare doesn't make a true equivalent of Fair-Minded Gray — the nearest deck color, Greige (PNT100-LT-13), is clearly different (ΔE 5.45). For an exact match, any Clare retailer can custom-tint Dutch Boy 438-3DB instead. See the full Greige swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Fair-Minded Gray
Backdrop doesn't make a true equivalent of Fair-Minded Gray — the nearest deck color, Underdog (BD-UD), is clearly different (ΔE 7.82). For an exact match, any Backdrop retailer can custom-tint Dutch Boy 438-3DB instead. See the full Underdog swatch →