Color spec
| Brand | Glidden |
| Name | Licorice |
| SKU | PPG1009-7 |
| Hex | #4E4F48 |
| RGB | 78, 79, 72 |
| HSL | 69°, 5%, 30% |
| LRV | 8 |
| Undertone | true neutral (no measurable hue) |
| Family | Gray |
About Glidden Licorice
At LRV 8, Licorice 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.
Licorice 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 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 Licorice 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 #4E4F48 in HSL space. Pair Licorice 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 Licorice Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Licorice 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 PPG1009-7 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Licorice
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Licorice is Shade-Grown (SW 6188) — very close at ΔE 2.12, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8) and carries a cool green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Shade-Grown swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Licorice
Behr's nearest match is Underground (N200-7), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.9). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Licorice without repainting risk. See the full Underground swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Licorice
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Deep River (1582), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.9). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Licorice without repainting risk. See the full Deep River swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Licorice
At Valspar, the closest color to Licorice is Sable Calm (5002-2C) — very close at ΔE 2.38, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7.3 vs 8) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Sable Calm swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Licorice
The closest PPG / Glidden equivalent of Licorice is Licorice (PPG1009-7). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8). If PPG / Glidden is your counter, order Licorice and you'll get the same color. See the full Licorice swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Licorice
Dutch Boy doesn't make a true equivalent of Licorice — the nearest deck color, Mertie Kay (425-7DB), is clearly different (ΔE 5.13). For an exact match, any Dutch Boy retailer can custom-tint Glidden PPG1009-7 instead. See the full Mertie Kay swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Licorice
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Licorice is Shade-Grown (HGSW 3261) — very close at ΔE 2.12, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8) and carries a cool green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Shade-Grown swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Licorice
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Renwick Brown (DET630), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.82). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Licorice without repainting risk. See the full Renwick Brown swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Licorice
At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Licorice is Cottage Grove (JG-161) — very close at ΔE 2.93, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 8) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Cottage Grove swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Licorice
At Farrow & Ball, the closest color to Licorice is Studio Green (NO. 93) — very close at ΔE 3.48, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 8) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Studio Green swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Licorice
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Licorice is Subway (0536) — very close at ΔE 3.44, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Subway swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Licorice
Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Licorice. The nearest is Terra Pin (0571) at ΔE 4.29 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 9 vs 8). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Terra Pin swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Licorice
Rodda has no exact twin of Licorice. The nearest is Barn Rafter (R029) at ΔE 3.6 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Barn Rafter swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Licorice
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Licorice is Amazon (C2-917) — very close at ΔE 2.41, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 8) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Amazon swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Licorice
Clare doesn't make a true equivalent of Licorice — the nearest deck color, Blackest (PNT100-DP-55), is clearly different (ΔE 6.15). For an exact match, any Clare retailer can custom-tint Glidden PPG1009-7 instead. See the full Blackest swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Licorice
Portola Paints doesn't make a true equivalent of Licorice — the nearest deck color, Ponderosa (PONDEROSA), is clearly different (ΔE 6.4). For an exact match, any Portola Paints retailer can custom-tint Glidden PPG1009-7 instead. See the full Ponderosa swatch →
Annie Sloan Equivalent of Licorice
Annie Sloan doesn't make a true equivalent of Licorice — the nearest deck color, Aubusson Blue (AUBUSSON BLUE), is clearly different (ΔE 11.74). For an exact match, any Annie Sloan retailer can custom-tint Glidden PPG1009-7 instead. See the full Aubusson Blue swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Licorice
Backdrop doesn't make a true equivalent of Licorice — the nearest deck color, North End (BD-NE), is clearly different (ΔE 8.48). For an exact match, any Backdrop retailer can custom-tint Glidden PPG1009-7 instead. See the full North End swatch →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Licorice
Rust-Oleum doesn't make a true equivalent of Licorice — the nearest deck color, Rainforest Green (391445), is clearly different (ΔE 10.65). For an exact match, any Rust-Oleum retailer can custom-tint Glidden PPG1009-7 instead. See the full Rainforest Green swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Licorice
Kompozit has no exact twin of Licorice. The nearest is Terra Pin (0571) at ΔE 4.29 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Terra Pin swatch →