Color spec
| Brand | Glidden |
| Name | Merlot |
| SKU | PPG13-04 |
| Hex | #723F45 |
| RGB | 114, 63, 69 |
| HSL | 353°, 29%, 35% |
| LRV | 8 |
| Undertone | red / warm |
| Family | Red |
About Glidden Merlot
At LRV 8, Merlot 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. Its red 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. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Merlot earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Reds bring energy and appetite, classic in dining rooms and front doors.
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 red 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 Merlot 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 #723F45 in HSL space. Pair Merlot 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 Merlot Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Merlot 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 PPG13-04 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Merlot
Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Fine Wine (SW 6307), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.93). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 8) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Merlot without repainting risk. See the full Fine Wine swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Merlot
Behr's nearest match is Rumors (MQ1-15), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.38). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Merlot without repainting risk. See the full Rumors swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Merlot
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Merlot is Ruby Dusk (1267) — very close at ΔE 2.73, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 9 vs 8) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Ruby Dusk swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Merlot
At Valspar, the closest color to Merlot is Stoic (1010-6) — very close at ΔE 2.12, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7.2 vs 8) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Stoic swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Merlot
The closest PPG / Glidden equivalent of Merlot is Merlot (PPG13-04). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8). If PPG / Glidden is your counter, order Merlot and you'll get the same color. See the full Merlot swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Merlot
Dutch Boy's nearest match is Holiday Berry (303-7DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.39). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Merlot without repainting risk. See the full Holiday Berry swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Merlot
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Merlot is Borscht (HGSW 7578) — very close at ΔE 3.13, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 6 vs 8) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Borscht swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Merlot
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Garnet Evening (DEA147), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.91). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 8) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Merlot without repainting risk. See the full Garnet Evening swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Merlot
Magnolia Home doesn't make a true equivalent of Merlot — the nearest deck color, Mountain Currant (JG-171), is clearly different (ΔE 8.89). For an exact match, any Magnolia Home retailer can custom-tint Glidden PPG13-04 instead. See the full Mountain Currant swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Merlot
At Farrow & Ball, the closest color to Merlot is Preference Red (NO. 297) — very close at ΔE 2.29, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Preference Red swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Merlot
Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Merlot. The nearest is Red Clay Hill (H007) at ΔE 4.63 — 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 Red Clay Hill swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Merlot
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Merlot is Queen's Rose (0095) — very close at ΔE 2.14, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 9 vs 8) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Queen's Rose swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Merlot
At Rodda, the closest color to Merlot is Apple of Grenada (R125) — very close at ΔE 2.78, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 8) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Apple of Grenada swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Merlot
C2 Paint has no exact twin of Merlot. The nearest is Bamboozled (C2-534) at ΔE 3.72 — 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 Bamboozled swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Merlot
Clare doesn't make a true equivalent of Merlot — the nearest deck color, Vintage (PNT100-DP-67), is clearly different (ΔE 5.11). For an exact match, any Clare retailer can custom-tint Glidden PPG13-04 instead. See the full Vintage swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Merlot
Portola Paints doesn't make a true equivalent of Merlot — the nearest deck color, Poe (POE), is clearly different (ΔE 8.13). For an exact match, any Portola Paints retailer can custom-tint Glidden PPG13-04 instead. See the full Poe swatch →
Annie Sloan Equivalent of Merlot
Annie Sloan doesn't make a true equivalent of Merlot — the nearest deck color, Primer Red (PRIMER RED), is clearly different (ΔE 7.22). For an exact match, any Annie Sloan retailer can custom-tint Glidden PPG13-04 instead. See the full Primer Red swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Merlot
Backdrop doesn't make a true equivalent of Merlot — the nearest deck color, Stage Beauty (BD-SB), is clearly different (ΔE 9.01). For an exact match, any Backdrop retailer can custom-tint Glidden PPG13-04 instead. See the full Stage Beauty swatch →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Merlot
Rust-Oleum doesn't make a true equivalent of Merlot — the nearest deck color, Rainforest Green (391445), is clearly different (ΔE 37.44). For an exact match, any Rust-Oleum retailer can custom-tint Glidden PPG13-04 instead. See the full Rainforest Green swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Merlot
At Kompozit, the closest color to Merlot is Queen's Rose (0095) — very close at ΔE 2.14, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 8) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Queen's Rose swatch →