Color spec
| Brand | Glidden |
| Name | Hippopotamus |
| SKU | PPG0994-4 |
| Hex | #A7AAA5 |
| RGB | 167, 170, 165 |
| HSL | 96°, 3%, 66% |
| LRV | 40 |
| Undertone | true neutral (no measurable hue) |
| Family | Gray |
About Glidden Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus sits in the mid-range at LRV 40, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. South-facing rooms will pull it lighter and warmer, while north light cools it down.
Hippopotamus 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 at every US brand
20 brands · top 5 each5 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 gray from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Clare
Portola Paints
Annie Sloan
Backdrop
Rust-Oleum
Kompozit
Similar Glidden colors
closest in the Glidden deckThe nearest shades to Hippopotamus within Glidden'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 #A7AAA5 in HSL space. Pair Hippopotamus 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.
Glidden Hippopotamus Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Hippopotamus 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 Glidden PPG0994-4 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Hippopotamus
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Hippopotamus is Ellie Gray (SW 7650) — very close at ΔE 2.06, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 40 vs 40) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Ellie Gray swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Hippopotamus
Behr's nearest match is Flipper (PPU25-15), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.2). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 40 vs 40) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Hippopotamus without repainting risk. See the full Flipper swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Hippopotamus
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Platinum Gray (HC-179), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.05). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 40 vs 40) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Hippopotamus without repainting risk. See the full Platinum Gray swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Hippopotamus
At Valspar, the closest color to Hippopotamus is Stately Graystone (V118-2) — very close at ΔE 2.03, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38.9 vs 40) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Stately Graystone swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Hippopotamus
The closest PPG / Glidden equivalent of Hippopotamus is Hippopotamus (PPG0994-4). At ΔE 0.5 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 40 vs 40). If PPG / Glidden is your counter, order Hippopotamus and you'll get the same color. See the full Hippopotamus swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Hippopotamus
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Hippopotamus is Ironed Gray (436-4DB) — very close at ΔE 2.28, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 38 vs 40) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Ironed Gray swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Hippopotamus
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Essex Grey (HGSW 1485), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.14). It runs slightly darker (LRV 38 vs 40) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Hippopotamus without repainting risk. See the full Essex Grey swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Hippopotamus
The closest Dunn-Edwards equivalent of Hippopotamus is Muted Gray (DEGR64). At ΔE 0.63 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 40 vs 40). If Dunn-Edwards is your counter, order Muted Gray and you'll get the same color. See the full Muted Gray swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Hippopotamus
The closest Magnolia Home equivalent of Hippopotamus is Weathered Windmill (JG-15). At ΔE 0.68 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 40). If Magnolia Home is your counter, order Weathered Windmill and you'll get the same color. See the full Weathered Windmill swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Hippopotamus
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Hippopotamus. The nearest is Hardwick White (NO. 5) at ΔE 4.99 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 42 vs 40). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Hardwick White swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Hippopotamus
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Hippopotamus is Shark Fin (0574) — very close at ΔE 2.61, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 38 vs 40) 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 Hippopotamus
Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Hippopotamus. The nearest is Silverado Ranch (0421) at ΔE 3.75 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 40 vs 40). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Silverado Ranch swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Hippopotamus
Rodda has no exact twin of Hippopotamus. The nearest is Winter Wood (R027) at ΔE 4.62 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 40 vs 40). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Winter Wood swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Hippopotamus
C2 Paint's nearest match is Pavement (C2-988), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.63). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 40) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Hippopotamus without repainting risk. See the full Pavement swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Hippopotamus
Clare doesn't make a true equivalent of Hippopotamus — the nearest deck color, Mellow Mood (PNT100-DP-78), is clearly different (ΔE 6.1). For an exact match, any Clare retailer can custom-tint Glidden PPG0994-4 instead. See the full Mellow Mood swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Hippopotamus
Portola Paints has no exact twin of Hippopotamus. The nearest is Aberdeen (ABERDEEN) at ΔE 3.63 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 45 vs 40). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Aberdeen swatch →
Annie Sloan Equivalent of Hippopotamus
Annie Sloan doesn't make a true equivalent of Hippopotamus — the nearest deck color, Duck Egg Blue (DUCK EGG BLUE), is clearly different (ΔE 7.82). For an exact match, any Annie Sloan retailer can custom-tint Glidden PPG0994-4 instead. See the full Duck Egg Blue swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Hippopotamus
At Backdrop, the closest color to Hippopotamus is Nuevo (BD-NU) — very close at ΔE 2.22, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 38 vs 40) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Nuevo swatch →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Hippopotamus
Rust-Oleum doesn't make a true equivalent of Hippopotamus — the nearest deck color, Tate Green (371674), is clearly different (ΔE 7.98). For an exact match, any Rust-Oleum retailer can custom-tint Glidden PPG0994-4 instead. See the full Tate Green swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Hippopotamus
Kompozit has no exact twin of Hippopotamus. The nearest is Silverado Ranch (0421) at ΔE 3.75 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 40). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Silverado Ranch swatch →