Color spec
| Brand | Dutch Boy |
| Name | Softened Coal |
| SKU | 438-5DB |
| Hex | #65615E |
| RGB | 101, 97, 94 |
| HSL | 26°, 4%, 38% |
| LRV | 12 |
| Undertone | true neutral (no measurable hue) |
| Family | Gray |
About Dutch Boy Softened Coal
With an LRV of 12, Softened Coal is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Softened Coal works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. 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.
PPG / Glidden
Dunn-Edwards
Benjamin Moore
Behr
Diamond Vogel
C2 Paint
Valspar
Sherwin-Williams
Kompozit
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Clare
Backdrop
Similar Dutch Boy colors
closest in the Dutch Boy deckThe nearest shades to Softened Coal 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 #65615E in HSL space. Pair Softened Coal 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 Softened Coal Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Softened Coal 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 438-5DB directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Softened Coal
The closest PPG / Glidden equivalent of Softened Coal is Dark Woods (PPG0999-7). At ΔE 0.97 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 12). If PPG / Glidden is your counter, order Dark Woods and you'll get the same color. See the full Dark Woods swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Softened Coal
At Behr, the closest color to Softened Coal is Shades On (T17-10) — very close at ΔE 2.35, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 12) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Shades On swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Softened Coal
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Softened Coal is Smokescreen (0556) — very close at ΔE 2.35, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 12) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Smokescreen swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Softened Coal
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Softened Coal is Charcoal Smudge (DE6370) — very close at ΔE 2.38, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 12) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Charcoal Smudge swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Softened Coal
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Softened Coal is James Brown (C2-870) — very close at ΔE 3.17, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 12) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full James Brown swatch →
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Softened Coal
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Softened Coal is Braintree (SW 9595) — very close at ΔE 3.45, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 12) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Braintree swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Softened Coal
Benjamin Moore has no exact twin of Softened Coal. The nearest is City Shadow (CSP-60) at ΔE 3.5 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 13 vs 12). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full City Shadow swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Softened Coal
Valspar has no exact twin of Softened Coal. The nearest is Night Skyscraper (8004-3F) at ΔE 4.21 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 12). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Night Skyscraper swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Softened Coal
Magnolia Home has no exact twin of Softened Coal. The nearest is Autumn Gray (JG-143) at ΔE 4.23 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 12). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Autumn Gray swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Softened Coal
Kompozit has no exact twin of Softened Coal. The nearest is Tornado Wind (0584) at ΔE 4.34 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 12). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Tornado Wind swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Softened Coal
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Softened Coal. The nearest is Down Pipe (NO. 26) at ΔE 4.72 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 13 vs 12). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Down Pipe swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Softened Coal
Clare doesn't make a true equivalent of Softened Coal — the nearest deck color, Coffee Date (PNT100-DP-53), is clearly different (ΔE 5.39). For an exact match, any Clare retailer can custom-tint Dutch Boy 438-5DB instead. See the full Coffee Date swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Softened Coal
Backdrop doesn't make a true equivalent of Softened Coal — the nearest deck color, Buenos Aires (BD-BA), is clearly different (ΔE 12.46). For an exact match, any Backdrop retailer can custom-tint Dutch Boy 438-5DB instead. See the full Buenos Aires swatch →