Color spec
| Brand | Glidden |
| Name | Improbable |
| SKU | PPG1011-5 |
| Hex | #6E7376 |
| RGB | 110, 115, 118 |
| HSL | 203°, 4%, 45% |
| LRV | 17 |
| Undertone | true neutral (no measurable hue) |
| Family | Gray |
About Glidden Improbable
With an LRV of 17, Improbable 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.
Improbable 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 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 Improbable 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 #6E7376 in HSL space. Pair Improbable 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 Improbable Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Improbable 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 PPG1011-5 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Improbable
Sherwin-Williams doesn't make a true equivalent of Improbable — the nearest deck color, Exclusive Plum (SW 6263), is clearly different (ΔE 6.75). For an exact match, any Sherwin-Williams retailer can custom-tint Glidden PPG1011-5 instead. See the full Exclusive Plum swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Improbable
Behr's nearest match is Rich Pewter (QE-61), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.15). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 16 vs 17) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Improbable without repainting risk. See the full Rich Pewter swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Improbable
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Gray Shower (2125-30), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.09). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 18 vs 17) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Improbable without repainting risk. See the full Gray Shower swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Improbable
At Valspar, the closest color to Improbable is Iron Frost (4007-2B) — very close at ΔE 2.41, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 16.2 vs 17) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Iron Frost swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Improbable
The closest PPG / Glidden equivalent of Improbable is Improbable (PPG1011-5). At ΔE 0.6 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 17 vs 17). If PPG / Glidden is your counter, order Improbable and you'll get the same color. See the full Improbable swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Improbable
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Improbable is Plated Blue (434-6DB) — very close at ΔE 2.3, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 16 vs 17) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Plated Blue swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Improbable
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams doesn't make a true equivalent of Improbable — the nearest deck color, Smoky Purple (HGSW 3393), is clearly different (ΔE 6.75). For an exact match, any HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams retailer can custom-tint Glidden PPG1011-5 instead. See the full Smoky Purple swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Improbable
The closest Dunn-Edwards equivalent of Improbable is Battleship Gray (DEC797). At ΔE 0.7 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 16 vs 17). If Dunn-Edwards is your counter, order Battleship Gray and you'll get the same color. See the full Battleship Gray swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Improbable
Magnolia Home doesn't make a true equivalent of Improbable — the nearest deck color, Duke Gray (JG-03), is clearly different (ΔE 6.52). For an exact match, any Magnolia Home retailer can custom-tint Glidden PPG1011-5 instead. See the full Duke Gray swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Improbable
Farrow & Ball doesn't make a true equivalent of Improbable — the nearest deck color, De Nimes (NO. 299), is clearly different (ΔE 6.07). For an exact match, any Farrow & Ball retailer can custom-tint Glidden PPG1011-5 instead. See the full De Nimes swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Improbable
Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Improbable. The nearest is Dolphin Dream (0521) at ΔE 4.23 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 17 vs 17). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Dolphin Dream swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Improbable
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Improbable is Backwater (0513) — very close at ΔE 2.96, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 18 vs 17) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Backwater swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Improbable
Rodda has no exact twin of Improbable. The nearest is Moody Hue (R105) at ΔE 3.73 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 18 vs 17). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Moody Hue swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Improbable
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Improbable is Jailhouse Rock (C2-950) — very close at ΔE 2.79, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 17 vs 17) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Jailhouse Rock swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Improbable
Clare doesn't make a true equivalent of Improbable — the nearest deck color, Field Trip (PNT100-DP-66), is clearly different (ΔE 10.33). For an exact match, any Clare retailer can custom-tint Glidden PPG1011-5 instead. See the full Field Trip swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Improbable
Portola Paints doesn't make a true equivalent of Improbable — the nearest deck color, Carmine (CARMINE), is clearly different (ΔE 16.73). For an exact match, any Portola Paints retailer can custom-tint Glidden PPG1011-5 instead. See the full Carmine swatch →
Annie Sloan Equivalent of Improbable
Annie Sloan doesn't make a true equivalent of Improbable — the nearest deck color, Olive (OLIVE), is clearly different (ΔE 16.47). For an exact match, any Annie Sloan retailer can custom-tint Glidden PPG1011-5 instead. See the full Olive swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Improbable
Backdrop doesn't make a true equivalent of Improbable — the nearest deck color, Mom Jeans (BD-MJ), is clearly different (ΔE 7.59). For an exact match, any Backdrop retailer can custom-tint Glidden PPG1011-5 instead. See the full Mom Jeans swatch →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Improbable
Rust-Oleum doesn't make a true equivalent of Improbable — the nearest deck color, Coastal Blue (329207), is clearly different (ΔE 12.69). For an exact match, any Rust-Oleum retailer can custom-tint Glidden PPG1011-5 instead. See the full Coastal Blue swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Improbable
At Kompozit, the closest color to Improbable is Backwater (0513) — very close at ΔE 2.96, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 16 vs 17) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Backwater swatch →