CP
DUTCH BOY · 442-3DB

Dutch Boy Sultry Gray#B9B2A9 · LRV 45

Sultry Gray reads as a red-orange / warm — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover the spec, what Dutch Boy 442-3DB actually looks like under different light, and the closest matches at competing US brands.

DUTCH BOY SULTRY GRAY
RGB 185, 178, 169 LRV 45

Color spec

Brand Dutch Boy
Name Sultry Gray
SKU 442-3DB
Hex #B9B2A9
RGB 185, 178, 169
HSL 34°, 10%, 69%
LRV 45
Undertone red-orange / warm
Family Neutral

About Dutch Boy Sultry Gray

Sultry Gray sits in the mid-range at LRV 45, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Its orange 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.

Sultry Gray is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Greige-leaning neutrals like this are the safe whole-home choice when you want warmth without committing to a color.

Closest matches at every US brand

13 brands · top 5 each

5 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 neutral from that brand.

SW 7023 · #B9B2A9 · ΔE 0 · LRV 45
SW 9596 · #BAB3A6 · ΔE 1.91 · LRV 45
SW 9591 · #BBB2A3 · ΔE 2.59 · LRV 45
SW 9553 · #B4B2A9 · ΔE 2.66 · LRV 45
SW 6198 · #B6B5AB · ΔE 3.37 · LRV 46

PPG / Glidden

2,132 colors in deck · best ΔE 0.5
All neutral at PPG / Glidden →
PPG1018-3 · #B9B2AA · ΔE 0.5 · LRV 45
PPG1006-4 · #B6B0A9 · ΔE 1.1 · LRV 44
PPG1007-3 · #BCB6AD · ΔE 1.16 · LRV 47
PPG1022-3 · #BCB6AD · ΔE 1.16 · LRV 47
PPG1002-4 · #B9B3B0 · ΔE 3.04 · LRV 46

Dunn-Edwards

2,298 colors in deck · best ΔE 0.56
All neutral at Dunn-Edwards →
DEGR18 · #B8B1A9 · ΔE 0.56 · LRV 45
DEGR45 · #B4B0A9 · ΔE 1.68 · LRV 44
DEC770 · #BEB4A8 · ΔE 1.76 · LRV 43
DEGR23 · #BBB5A9 · ΔE 1.83 · LRV 46
DET627 · #BAB4A6 · ΔE 2.6 · LRV 46

Benjamin Moore

3,934 colors in deck · best ΔE 0.58
All neutral at Benjamin Moore →
2108-50 · #B8B1A7 · ΔE 0.58 · LRV 44
1551 · #B8B4AC · ΔE 1.53 · LRV 46
1473 · #B6B4AC · ΔE 2.53 · LRV 46
1467 · #B4B2AE · ΔE 2.99 · LRV 45
2107-50 · #BDAFA6 · ΔE 3.46 · LRV 44

Valspar

2,858 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.26
All neutral at Valspar →
V122-2 · #BAB5AC · ΔE 1.26 · LRV 46.3
6004-1B · #B8B4AA · ΔE 1.84 · LRV 45.6
T571 · #B7B4B0 · ΔE 2.72 · LRV 46
V119-1 · #B7B5B0 · ΔE 2.79 · LRV 46.4
M340 · #BAB3B0 · ΔE 3.2 · LRV 45.7

Magnolia Home

160 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.78
All neutral at Magnolia Home →
JG-19 · #BDB7AC · ΔE 1.78 · LRV 48
JG-14 · #B0AEA7 · ΔE 2.84 · LRV 42
JG-157 · #B4AD9E · ΔE 3.19 · LRV 42
JG-113 · #B7AF9F · ΔE 3.22 · LRV 43
JG-46 · #B3B9AA · ΔE 7.64 · LRV 47

Diamond Vogel

1,386 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.78
All neutral at Diamond Vogel →
0204 · #BBB2A5 · ΔE 1.78 · LRV 45
0553 · #B6B0AD · ΔE 3.06 · LRV 44
0540 · #B7B4B2 · ΔE 3.59 · LRV 46
0547 · #B2AFAF · ΔE 4.69 · LRV 43
0441 · #B0B7AE · ΔE 7.05 · LRV 46

Kompozit

1,321 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.93
All neutral at Kompozit →
0204 · #B8AEA2 · ΔE 1.93 · LRV 43
0211 · #BFB6A9 · ΔE 2.1 · LRV 47
0197 · #C0B6A8 · ΔE 2.53 · LRV 47
0540 · #B2B1AE · ΔE 3.65 · LRV 44
0581 · #B6B8B0 · ΔE 4.72 · LRV 47

Farrow & Ball

209 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.94
All neutral at Farrow & Ball →
NO. 267 · #B7AFA9 · ΔE 1.94 · LRV 44
NO. 5 · #B2ADA0 · ΔE 2.95 · LRV 42
NO. 88 · #B1B1AA · ΔE 3.58 · LRV 44
NO. 293 · #C1B2A2 · ΔE 3.97 · LRV 46
NO. 91 · #AEB2A4 · ΔE 6.6 · LRV 44

Behr

5,644 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.95
All neutral at Behr →
770B-4 · #B7B1AC · ΔE 1.95 · LRV 44
PPU24-11 · #B7B4AC · ΔE 2.02 · LRV 46
HDC-CL-27G · #B7B2A6 · ΔE 2.06 · LRV 45
UL200-7 · #B5B2A9 · ΔE 2.12 · LRV 45
PPU25-07 · #B6B4A9 · ΔE 3.08 · LRV 45

C2 Paint

580 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.39
All neutral at C2 Paint →
C2-958 · #B4B1AC · ΔE 2.39 · LRV 44
Vex
C2-927 · #B9B5A6 · ΔE 3.63 · LRV 46
C2-973 · #B1B1A8 · ΔE 3.75 · LRV 44
C2-909 · #BFB5A1 · ΔE 4.58 · LRV 47
BD30 · #BEB19B · ΔE 5.3 · LRV 45

Clare

78 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.14
All neutral at Clare →
PNT100-LT-13 · #C2B8B2 · ΔE 3.14 · LRV 49
PNT100-MD-48 · #B5B9A6 · ΔE 7.83 · LRV 47
PNT100-MD-43 · #9AB0AB · ΔE 12.68 · LRV 41
PNT100-MD-73 · #ADBECB · ΔE 13.34 · LRV 50
PNT100-MD-49 · #ABBD9F · ΔE 14.27 · LRV 48

Backdrop

30 colors in deck · best ΔE 6.7
All neutral at Backdrop →
BD-NU · #A4A89F · ΔE 6.7 · LRV 38
BD-LF · #A4AB95 · ΔE 10.1 · LRV 35
BD-UD · #A4B5BB · ΔE 11.59 · LRV 41
BD-RO · #D2A299 · ΔE 15.23 · LRV 38
BD-LO · #A4C2D2 · ΔE 16.35 · LRV 51

Similar Dutch Boy colors

closest in the Dutch Boy deck

The nearest shades to Sultry 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.

447-2DB · LRV 44
440-2DB · LRV 47
441-3DB · LRV 46
443-2DB · LRV 47
404-2DB · LRV 47
402-2DB · LRV 46

Coordinated palette

Generated by hue-rotating #B9B2A9 in HSL space. Pair Sultry Gray with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.

COMPLEMENTARY
#B9B2A9 + #A9B0B9
TRIADIC
#B9B2A9 · #A9B9B2 · #B2A9B9
ANALOGOUS
#B9AAA9 · #B9B2A9 · #B8B9A9

Accessibility (WCAG contrast)

Sample text on white
2.1:1 fail
Sample text on black
10:1 AAA

WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.

Dutch Boy Sultry Gray Equivalents at Other Brands

Matching Sultry 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 442-3DB directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.

Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Sultry Gray

The closest Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Sultry Gray is Requisite Gray (SW 7023). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 45 vs 45). If Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Requisite Gray and you'll get the same color. See the full Requisite Gray swatch →

PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Sultry Gray

The closest PPG / Glidden equivalent of Sultry Gray is City Street (PPG1018-3). At ΔE 0.5 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 45 vs 45). If PPG / Glidden is your counter, order City Street and you'll get the same color. See the full City Street swatch →

Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Sultry Gray

The closest Dunn-Edwards equivalent of Sultry Gray is Dove's Cry (DEGR18). At ΔE 0.56 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 45 vs 45). If Dunn-Edwards is your counter, order Dove's Cry and you'll get the same color. See the full Dove's Cry swatch →

Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Sultry Gray

The closest Benjamin Moore equivalent of Sultry Gray is Silver Fox (2108-50). At ΔE 0.58 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 44 vs 45). If Benjamin Moore is your counter, order Silver Fox and you'll get the same color. See the full Silver Fox swatch →

Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Sultry Gray

Diamond Vogel's nearest match is Marshy Habitat (0204), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.78). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 45 vs 45) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Sultry Gray without repainting risk. See the full Marshy Habitat swatch →

Valspar Equivalent of Sultry Gray

Valspar's nearest match is Soulful Grey (6004-1B), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.84). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 45.6 vs 45) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Sultry Gray without repainting risk. See the full Soulful Grey swatch →

Kompozit Equivalent of Sultry Gray

Kompozit's nearest match is Marshy Habitat (0204), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.93). It runs slightly darker (LRV 43 vs 45) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Sultry Gray without repainting risk. See the full Marshy Habitat swatch →

Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Sultry Gray

Farrow & Ball's nearest match is Dove Tale (NO. 267), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.94). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 44 vs 45) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Sultry Gray without repainting risk. See the full Dove Tale swatch →

Behr Equivalent of Sultry Gray

At Behr, the closest color to Sultry Gray is Rushmore Gray (HDC-CL-27G) — very close at ΔE 2.06, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 45 vs 45) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Rushmore Gray swatch →

C2 Paint Equivalent of Sultry Gray

At C2 Paint, the closest color to Sultry Gray is Tailored (C2-958) — very close at ΔE 2.39, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 44 vs 45) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Tailored swatch →

Magnolia Home Equivalent of Sultry Gray

At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Sultry Gray is Renewed (JG-113) — very close at ΔE 3.22, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 43 vs 45) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Renewed swatch →

Clare Equivalent of Sultry Gray

Clare doesn't make a true equivalent of Sultry Gray — the nearest deck color, Money Moves (PNT100-MD-48), is clearly different (ΔE 7.83). For an exact match, any Clare retailer can custom-tint Dutch Boy 442-3DB instead. See the full Money Moves swatch →

Backdrop Equivalent of Sultry Gray

Backdrop doesn't make a true equivalent of Sultry Gray — the nearest deck color, Underdog (BD-UD), is clearly different (ΔE 11.59). For an exact match, any Backdrop retailer can custom-tint Dutch Boy 442-3DB instead. See the full Underdog swatch →

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