Color spec
| Brand | HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | African Gray |
| SKU | HGSW 9162 |
| Hex | #939899 |
| RGB | 147, 152, 153 |
| HSL | 190°, 3%, 59% |
| LRV | 31 |
| Undertone | true neutral (no measurable hue) |
| Family | Gray |
About HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams African Gray
African Gray sits in the mid-range at LRV 31, 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.
African Gray 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
14 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
Magnolia Home
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
Dunn-Edwards
Dutch Boy
PPG / Glidden
C2 Paint
Farrow & Ball
Clare
Diamond Vogel
Kompozit
Backdrop
Similar HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to African Gray within HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams'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 #939899 in HSL space. Pair African Gray 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.
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams African Gray Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching African Gray 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 HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams HGSW 9162 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of African Gray
The closest Sherwin-Williams equivalent of African Gray is African Gray (SW 9162). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 31 vs 31). If Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order African Gray and you'll get the same color. See the full African Gray swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of African Gray
The closest Magnolia Home equivalent of African Gray is Times Past (JG-94). At ΔE 0.86 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 31 vs 31). If Magnolia Home is your counter, order Times Past and you'll get the same color. See the full Times Past swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of African Gray
Dutch Boy's nearest match is Over The Moon (434-4DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.7). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 30 vs 31) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for African Gray without repainting risk. See the full Over The Moon swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of African Gray
Valspar's nearest match is Stone Mason Gray (4008-1C), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.77). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 30.9 vs 31) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for African Gray without repainting risk. See the full Stone Mason Gray swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of African Gray
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to African Gray is Playing Possum (PPG0997-5) — very close at ΔE 2.09, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 31 vs 31) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Playing Possum swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of African Gray
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to African Gray is Wolverine (DET610) — very close at ΔE 2.12, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 31 vs 31) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Wolverine swatch →
Behr Equivalent of African Gray
At Behr, the closest color to African Gray is Shark Fin (PPU24-19) — very close at ΔE 2.33, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 31 vs 31) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Shark Fin swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of African Gray
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to African Gray is Gibraltar Cliffs (1587) — very close at ΔE 2.53, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 32 vs 31) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Gibraltar Cliffs swatch →
Clare Equivalent of African Gray
Clare has no exact twin of African Gray. The nearest is Shade (PNT100-MD-14) at ΔE 4.37 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 28 vs 31). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Shade swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of African Gray
C2 Paint doesn't make a true equivalent of African Gray — the nearest deck color, Zydeco (C2-986), is clearly different (ΔE 5.03). For an exact match, any C2 Paint retailer can custom-tint HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams HGSW 9162 instead. See the full Zydeco swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of African Gray
Kompozit doesn't make a true equivalent of African Gray — the nearest deck color, Sparrow (0554), is clearly different (ΔE 5.41). For an exact match, any Kompozit retailer can custom-tint HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams HGSW 9162 instead. See the full Sparrow swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of African Gray
Diamond Vogel doesn't make a true equivalent of African Gray — the nearest deck color, Sparrow (0554), is clearly different (ΔE 5.45). For an exact match, any Diamond Vogel retailer can custom-tint HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams HGSW 9162 instead. See the full Sparrow swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of African Gray
Farrow & Ball doesn't make a true equivalent of African Gray — the nearest deck color, Oval Room Blue (NO. 85), is clearly different (ΔE 6). For an exact match, any Farrow & Ball retailer can custom-tint HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams HGSW 9162 instead. See the full Oval Room Blue swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of African Gray
Backdrop doesn't make a true equivalent of African Gray — the nearest deck color, Anita (BD-AN), is clearly different (ΔE 11.8). For an exact match, any Backdrop retailer can custom-tint HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams HGSW 9162 instead. See the full Anita swatch →