Color spec
| Brand | Farrow & Ball |
| Name | Down Pipe |
| SKU | No. 26 |
| Hex | #525659 |
| RGB | 82, 86, 89 |
| HSL | 206°, 4%, 34% |
| LRV | 11 |
| Undertone | true neutral (no measurable hue) |
| Family | Gray |
About Farrow & Ball Down Pipe
With an LRV of 11, Down Pipe 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.
Down Pipe 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 by brand
17 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 gray from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Clare
Portola Paints
Kompozit
Similar Farrow & Ball colors
closest in the Farrow & Ball deckThe nearest shades to Down Pipe 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 #525659 in HSL space. Pair Down Pipe 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 Down Pipe Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Down Pipe 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. 26 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Down Pipe
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Down Pipe is Peppercorn (SW 7674) — very close at ΔE 2.69, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 11) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Peppercorn swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Down Pipe
Behr's nearest match is Maximum Gray (QE-62), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.79). It runs slightly darker (LRV 9 vs 11) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Down Pipe without repainting risk. See the full Maximum Gray swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Down Pipe
The closest Benjamin Moore equivalent of Down Pipe is Deep Space (2125-20). At ΔE 0.62 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and runs slightly darker (LRV 9 vs 11). If Benjamin Moore is your counter, order Deep Space and you'll get the same color. See the full Deep Space swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Down Pipe
Valspar's nearest match is To the Tarmac (V116-3), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.98). It runs slightly darker (LRV 8.8 vs 11) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Down Pipe without repainting risk. See the full To the Tarmac swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Down Pipe
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Down Pipe is Black Widow (PPG0997-7) — very close at ΔE 2.66, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 11) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Black Widow swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Down Pipe
At Glidden, the closest color to Down Pipe is Black Widow (PPG0997-7) — very close at ΔE 2.72, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 11) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Black Widow swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Down Pipe
Dutch Boy's nearest match is Gravity (435-7DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.15). It runs slightly darker (LRV 9 vs 11) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Down Pipe without repainting risk. See the full Gravity swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Down Pipe
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Down Pipe is Peppercorn (HGSW 1491) — very close at ΔE 2.69, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 11) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Peppercorn swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Down Pipe
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Edge of Black (DE6349), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.98). It runs slightly darker (LRV 9 vs 11) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Down Pipe without repainting risk. See the full Edge of Black swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Down Pipe
At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Down Pipe is Coffee Nook (JG-96) — very close at ΔE 2.78, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 9 vs 11) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Coffee Nook swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Down Pipe
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Down Pipe is Midnight Magic (0508) — very close at ΔE 2.83, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 9 vs 11) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Midnight Magic swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Down Pipe
Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Down Pipe. The nearest is Deep Sea Shadow (0480) at ΔE 4.91 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 11). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Deep Sea Shadow swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Down Pipe
At Rodda, the closest color to Down Pipe is Midnight Wanderer (R017) — very close at ΔE 2.66, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 11) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Midnight Wanderer swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Down Pipe
C2 Paint has no exact twin of Down Pipe. The nearest is Sorcerer (C2-758) at ΔE 4.41 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 11). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Sorcerer swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Down Pipe
At Clare, the closest color to Down Pipe is Blackest (PNT100-DP-55) — very close at ΔE 3.35, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 8 vs 11) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Blackest swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Down Pipe
Portola Paints has no exact twin of Down Pipe. The nearest is In The Navy (IN THE NAVY) at ΔE 3.57 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 9 vs 11). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full In The Navy swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Down Pipe
Kompozit has no exact twin of Down Pipe. The nearest is Deep Sea Shadow (0480) at ΔE 4.91 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 9 vs 11). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Deep Sea Shadow swatch →