Color spec
| Brand | Farrow & Ball |
| Name | Buff |
| SKU | No. 20 |
| Hex | #B49D82 |
| RGB | 180, 157, 130 |
| HSL | 32°, 25%, 61% |
| LRV | 35 |
| Undertone | warm red-orange tone |
| Family | Neutral |
About Farrow & Ball Buff
Buff sits in the mid-range at LRV 35, 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.
Buff 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 by brand
16 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 neutral from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Portola Paints
Backdrop
Kompozit
Similar Farrow & Ball colors
closest in the Farrow & Ball deckThe nearest shades to Buff within Farrow & Ball'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 #B49D82 in HSL space. Pair Buff 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.
Farrow & Ball Buff Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Buff 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 Farrow & Ball No. 20 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Buff
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Buff is Dried Edamame (SW 9122) — very close at ΔE 3.17, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 36 vs 35) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Dried Edamame swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Buff
The closest Behr equivalent of Buff is Mission Hills (UL170-3). At ΔE 0.99 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 34 vs 35). If Behr is your counter, order Mission Hills and you'll get the same color. See the full Mission Hills swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Buff
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Coffeehouse Tan (CW-130), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.58). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 37 vs 35) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Buff without repainting risk. See the full Coffeehouse Tan swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Buff
At Valspar, the closest color to Buff is Faint Maple (2008-9C) — very close at ΔE 2.45, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 35.8 vs 35) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Faint Maple swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Buff
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Buff is Weathered Wood (PPG1077-4) — very close at ΔE 2.17, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 35 vs 35) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Weathered Wood swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Buff
Glidden's nearest match is Weathered Wood (PPG1077-4), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.79). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 35 vs 35) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Buff without repainting risk. See the full Weathered Wood swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Buff
Dutch Boy's nearest match is Wild Desert (416-5DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.23). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 34 vs 35) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Buff without repainting risk. See the full Wild Desert swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Buff
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Buff is Elk Run (HGSW 3204) — very close at ΔE 3.17, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 36 vs 35) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Elk Run swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Buff
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Wooded Acre (DE6130), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.23). It runs slightly darker (LRV 33 vs 35) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Buff without repainting risk. See the full Wooded Acre swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Buff
The closest Diamond Vogel equivalent of Buff is Hillsboro Tan (H120). At ΔE 0.67 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and runs slightly darker (LRV 32 vs 35). If Diamond Vogel is your counter, order Hillsboro Tan and you'll get the same color. See the full Hillsboro Tan swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Buff
Hirshfield's's nearest match is Nankeen (H0120), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.23). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 37 vs 35) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Buff without repainting risk. See the full Nankeen swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Buff
Rodda's nearest match is Wheat (CA053), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.29). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 36 vs 35) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Buff without repainting risk. See the full Wheat swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Buff
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Buff is Thatch (C2-827) — very close at ΔE 2.07, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 37 vs 35) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Thatch swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Buff
At Portola Paints, the closest color to Buff is Boondocks (BOONDOCKS) — very close at ΔE 2.03, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 35 vs 35) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Boondocks swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Buff
At Kompozit, the closest color to Buff is Tailored Tan (0239) — very close at ΔE 3.23, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 36 vs 35) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Tailored Tan swatch →