CP

Farrow & Ball Tanner's BrownNo. 255 · #4F4A4A · LRV 7

Tanner's Brown reads as a neutral with no strong undertone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover the color's details, what Farrow & Ball No. 255 actually looks like under different light, and the closest matches at competing US brands.

FARROW & BALL TANNER'S BROWN
RGB 79, 74, 74LRV 7

Color spec

BrandFarrow & Ball
NameTanner's Brown
SKUNo. 255
Hex#4F4A4A
RGB79, 74, 74
HSL0°, 3%, 30%
LRV7
Undertoneneutral with no strong undertone
FamilyGray
See Farrow & Ball Tanner's Brown on your own walls — upload a room photo.SEE IT IN YOUR ROOM →

About Farrow & Ball Tanner's Brown

At LRV 7, Tanner's Brown is about as dark as paint gets — it reads near-black on a wall and reveals its character only in direct daylight or under warm bulbs. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.

Tanner's Brown earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. 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 5

The 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

1,947 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.83
All gray at Sherwin-Williams →
SW 9154 · #4F4D51 · ΔE 2.83 · LRV 8
SW 7020 · #4F4842 · ΔE 3.7 · LRV 7

Behr

5,644 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.74
All gray at Behr →
HDC-CL-14A · #4C4846 · ΔE 1.74 · LRV 7
BNC-33 · #524A48 · ΔE 1.84 · LRV 7
N140-7 · #4C4B4B · ΔE 2.36 · LRV 7
ECC-62-2 · #4B494D · ΔE 2.74 · LRV 7

Benjamin Moore

4,068 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.07
All gray at Benjamin Moore →
2134-20 · #504A45 · ΔE 3.07 · LRV 7
2133-30 · #4B4B4F · ΔE 3.38 · LRV 9
2124-10 · #494A4B · ΔE 3.56 · LRV 8
1617 · #4B4D4F · ΔE 4.16 · LRV 9

Valspar

2,858 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.37
All gray at Valspar →
8005-12G · #534C4C · ΔE 1.37 · LRV 8
8006-12F · #4D494C · ΔE 1.86 · LRV 7
V124-6 · #4D494C · ΔE 1.86 · LRV 6.9
T501 · #4F4845 · ΔE 2.06 · LRV 6.7

PPG / Glidden

2,132 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.06
All gray at PPG / Glidden →
PPG1004-7 · #51484B · ΔE 3.06 · LRV 7
PPG1014-7 · #554848 · ΔE 4.18 · LRV 7
PPG15-24 · #544642 · ΔE 4.89 · LRV 7

Glidden

3,101 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.26
All gray at Glidden →
PPG1004-7 · #50484A · ΔE 2.26 · LRV 7
30YY 07/041 · #4F4A45 · ΔE 3.2 · LRV 7
PPG1014-7 · #554747 · ΔE 4.67 · LRV 7

Dutch Boy

1,340 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.71
All gray at Dutch Boy →
443-7DB · #504844 · ΔE 2.71 · LRV 7
439-7DB · #4F4842 · ΔE 3.7 · LRV 7
HGSW 3471 · #4F4842 · ΔE 3.7 · LRV 7
HGSW 7020 · #4F4842 · ΔE 3.7 · LRV 7

Dunn-Edwards

2,298 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.48
All gray at Dunn-Edwards →
DE6385 · #4E4B4A · ΔE 1.48 · LRV 7
DEB006 · #514C49 · ΔE 2.02 · LRV 7
DET680 · #4F4744 · ΔE 2.38 · LRV 7
DE6392 · #524A46 · ΔE 2.65 · LRV 7

Magnolia Home

160 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.51
All gray at Magnolia Home →
JG-145 · #4D484C · ΔE 2.51 · LRV 7
JG-149 · #514647 · ΔE 3.49 · LRV 7
JG-131 · #544846 · ΔE 3.67 · LRV 7

Diamond Vogel

1,386 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.24
All gray at Diamond Vogel →
0557 · #534B48 · ΔE 2.24 · LRV 7
0543 · #4C4845 · ΔE 2.33 · LRV 7
0536 · #4F4E4C · ΔE 3.21 · LRV 8

Hirshfield's

1,469 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.88
All gray at Hirshfield's →
0508 · #46474A · ΔE 3.88 · LRV 9

Rodda

357 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.82
All gray at Rodda →
R108 · #4B4648 · ΔE 1.82 · LRV 7
R030 · #4B4745 · ΔE 1.92 · LRV 7
CA212 · #4B4642 · ΔE 2.96 · LRV 6
R029 · #534F4A · ΔE 3.74 · LRV 8

C2 Paint

580 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.07
All gray at C2 Paint →
C2-853 · #554E4C · ΔE 2.07 · LRV 8
C2-901 · #4C4C4A · ΔE 3.66 · LRV 7

Clare

78 colors in deck · best ΔE 3
All gray at Clare →
PNT100-DP-55 · #515052 · ΔE 3 · LRV 8
PNT100-DP-54 · #484745 · ΔE 3.34 · LRV 6

Portola Paints

69 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.84
All gray at Portola Paints →
BLACK SKY · #434545 · ΔE 4.84 · LRV 6

Kompozit

1,321 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.88
All gray at Kompozit →
0508 · #46474A · ΔE 3.88 · LRV 6

Similar Farrow & Ball colors

closest in the Farrow & Ball deck

The nearest shades to Tanner's Brown within Farrow & Ball's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.

No. 36 · LRV 7
No. CB10 · LRV 7
No. 93 · LRV 7
No. 31 · LRV 7
No. 57 · LRV 6
No. 254 · LRV 7

Coordinated palette

Generated by hue-rotating #4F4A4A in HSL space. Pair Tanner's Brown with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.

COMPLEMENTARY
#4F4A4A + #4A4F4F
TRIADIC
#4F4A4A · #4A4F4A · #4A4A4F
ANALOGOUS
#4F4A4D · #4F4A4A · #4F4D4A

Accessibility (WCAG contrast)

Sample text on white
8.71:1AAA
Sample text on black
2.41:1fail

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

Farrow & Ball Tanner's Brown Equivalents at Other Brands

Matching Tanner's Brown 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. 255 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.

Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Tanner's Brown

At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Tanner's Brown is Perle Noir (SW 9154) — very close at ΔE 2.83, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 7) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Perle Noir swatch →

Behr Equivalent of Tanner's Brown

At Behr, the closest color to Tanner's Brown is Timber Brown (N140-7) — very close at ΔE 2.36, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Timber Brown swatch →

Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Tanner's Brown

At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Tanner's Brown is Midsummer Night (2134-20) — very close at ΔE 3.07, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Midsummer Night swatch →

Valspar Equivalent of Tanner's Brown

Valspar's nearest match is Soft Panther (8006-12F), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.86). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Tanner's Brown without repainting risk. See the full Soft Panther swatch →

PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Tanner's Brown

At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Tanner's Brown is Black Elegance (PPG1004-7) — very close at ΔE 3.06, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a warm magenta undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Black Elegance swatch →

Glidden Equivalent of Tanner's Brown

At Glidden, the closest color to Tanner's Brown is Black Elegance (PPG1004-7) — very close at ΔE 2.26, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Black Elegance swatch →

Dutch Boy Equivalent of Tanner's Brown

At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Tanner's Brown is Orchid Black (443-7DB) — very close at ΔE 2.71, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Orchid Black swatch →

HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Tanner's Brown

HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Tanner's Brown. The nearest is Black Fox (HGSW 3471) at ΔE 3.7 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Black Fox swatch →

Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Tanner's Brown

Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Black Bean (DE6385), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.48). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Tanner's Brown without repainting risk. See the full Black Bean swatch →

Magnolia Home Equivalent of Tanner's Brown

At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Tanner's Brown is Aspen Stone (JG-145) — very close at ΔE 2.51, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Aspen Stone swatch →

Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Tanner's Brown

At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Tanner's Brown is Evermore (0557) — very close at ΔE 2.24, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Evermore swatch →

Rodda Equivalent of Tanner's Brown

Rodda's nearest match is Chocolate Bark (R030), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.92). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Tanner's Brown without repainting risk. See the full Chocolate Bark swatch →

C2 Paint Equivalent of Tanner's Brown

C2 Paint has no exact twin of Tanner's Brown. The nearest is Andromeda (C2-901) at ΔE 3.66 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Andromeda swatch →

Clare Equivalent of Tanner's Brown

At Clare, the closest color to Tanner's Brown is Blackish (PNT100-DP-54) — very close at ΔE 3.34, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 7) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Blackish swatch →

Portola Paints Equivalent of Tanner's Brown

Portola Paints has no exact twin of Tanner's Brown. The nearest is Black Sky (BLACK SKY) at ΔE 4.84 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 7). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Black Sky swatch →

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