Color spec
| Brand | Farrow & Ball |
| Name | French Gray |
| SKU | No. 18 |
| Hex | #A4A89C |
| RGB | 164, 168, 156 |
| HSL | 80°, 6%, 64% |
| LRV | 38 |
| Undertone | green / cool |
| Family | Gray |
About Farrow & Ball French Gray
French Gray sits in the mid-range at LRV 38, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Its green 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.
French Gray 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 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
Backdrop
Rust-Oleum
Kompozit
Similar Farrow & Ball colors
closest in the Farrow & Ball deckThe nearest shades to French Gray 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 #A4A89C in HSL space. Pair French Gray 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 French Gray Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching French 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 Farrow & Ball No. 18 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of French Gray
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to French Gray is Rare Gray (SW 6199) — very close at ΔE 2.08, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Rare Gray swatch →
Behr Equivalent of French Gray
The closest Behr equivalent of French Gray is Garden Promenade (HDC-AC-18). At ΔE 0.83 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool green undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38). If Behr is your counter, order Garden Promenade and you'll get the same color. See the full Garden Promenade swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of French Gray
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Sabre Gray (1482), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.51). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for French Gray without repainting risk. See the full Sabre Gray swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of French Gray
At Valspar, the closest color to French Gray is Building Block (V145-3) — very close at ΔE 2.59, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38.7 vs 38) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Building Block swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of French Gray
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to French Gray is Wandering Willow (PPG1031-3) — very close at ΔE 2.16, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Wandering Willow swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of French Gray
At Glidden, the closest color to French Gray is Wandering Willow (PPG1031-3) — very close at ΔE 2.16, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Wandering Willow swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of French Gray
Dutch Boy has no exact twin of French Gray. The nearest is Explore The Shore (426-5DB) at ΔE 4.51 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Explore The Shore swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of French Gray
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to French Gray is Rare Gray (HGSW 3275) — very close at ΔE 2.08, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Rare Gray swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of French Gray
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to French Gray is Casting Shadow (DE6291) — very close at ΔE 3.31, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 35 vs 38) and carries a cool green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Casting Shadow swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of French Gray
At Magnolia Home, the closest color to French Gray is Vintage Weathervane (JG-137) — very close at ΔE 2.79, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Vintage Weathervane swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of French Gray
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to French Gray is Shark Fin (0574) — very close at ΔE 3.03, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Shark Fin swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of French Gray
Hirshfield's's nearest match is Silverado Ranch (0421), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.44). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 40 vs 38) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for French Gray without repainting risk. See the full Silverado Ranch swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of French Gray
Rodda's nearest match is Buried Fossil (R057), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.47). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for French Gray without repainting risk. See the full Buried Fossil swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of French Gray
C2 Paint's nearest match is Bramble (C2-957), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.97). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for French Gray without repainting risk. See the full Bramble swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of French Gray
Backdrop's nearest match is Nuevo (BD-NU), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.35). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for French Gray without repainting risk. See the full Nuevo swatch →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of French Gray
Rust-Oleum has no exact twin of French Gray. The nearest is Tate Green (371674) at ΔE 4.68 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Tate Green swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of French Gray
Kompozit's nearest match is Silverado Ranch (0421), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.44). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for French Gray without repainting risk. See the full Silverado Ranch swatch →