Color spec
| Brand | Dutch Boy |
| Name | Payphone |
| SKU | 434-3DB |
| Hex | #A6AEB2 |
| RGB | 166, 174, 178 |
| HSL | 200°, 7%, 67% |
| LRV | 41 |
| Undertone | blue-green / cool |
| Family | Gray |
About Dutch Boy Payphone
Payphone sits in the mid-range at LRV 41, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Its teal 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.
Payphone 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.
Sherwin-Williams
Benjamin Moore
PPG / Glidden
Dunn-Edwards
Kompozit
Valspar
Behr
Diamond Vogel
C2 Paint
Clare
Magnolia Home
Backdrop
Farrow & Ball
Similar Dutch Boy colors
closest in the Dutch Boy deckThe nearest shades to Payphone 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 #A6AEB2 in HSL space. Pair Payphone 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 Payphone Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Payphone 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 434-3DB directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Payphone
The closest Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Payphone is Morning Fog (SW 6255). At ΔE 0.91 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue-green undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 42 vs 41). If Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Morning Fog and you'll get the same color. See the full Morning Fog swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Payphone
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Gull Wing Gray (2134-50), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.03). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 42 vs 41) and carries a cool blue-green undertone, so it substitutes for Payphone without repainting risk. See the full Gull Wing Gray swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Payphone
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Marinescape (DEGR77), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.26). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 41 vs 41) and carries a cool blue-green undertone, so it substitutes for Payphone without repainting risk. See the full Marinescape swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Payphone
Kompozit's nearest match is Cystern (0511), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.46). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 43 vs 41) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Payphone without repainting risk. See the full Cystern swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Payphone
At Behr, the closest color to Payphone is Intercoastal Gray (MQ5-23) — very close at ΔE 2.45, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 43 vs 41) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Intercoastal Gray swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Payphone
At Valspar, the closest color to Payphone is Metropolis (4005-1C) — very close at ΔE 2.45, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 41 vs 41) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Metropolis swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Payphone
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Payphone is Gosling Gray (PPG0993-3) — very close at ΔE 2.49, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 42 vs 41) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Gosling Gray swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Payphone
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Payphone is Beacon Fog (0490) — very close at ΔE 2.8, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 40 vs 41) 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 →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Payphone
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Payphone is Argyle (C2-751) — very close at ΔE 2.89, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 42 vs 41) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Argyle swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Payphone
Magnolia Home has no exact twin of Payphone. The nearest is Tranquil Waters (JG-162) at ΔE 3.75 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 43 vs 41). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Tranquil Waters swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Payphone
Backdrop has no exact twin of Payphone. The nearest is Underdog (BD-UD) at ΔE 3.76 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 41 vs 41). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Underdog swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Payphone
Farrow & Ball doesn't make a true equivalent of Payphone — the nearest deck color, Lamp Room Gray (NO. 88), is clearly different (ΔE 6.35). For an exact match, any Farrow & Ball retailer can custom-tint Dutch Boy 434-3DB instead. See the full Lamp Room Gray swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Payphone
Clare doesn't make a true equivalent of Payphone — the nearest deck color, Make Waves (PNT100-MD-43), is clearly different (ΔE 7.96). For an exact match, any Clare retailer can custom-tint Dutch Boy 434-3DB instead. See the full Make Waves swatch →