Color spec
| Brand | HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Essex Grey |
| SKU | HGSW 1485 |
| Hex | #A7A8A2 |
| RGB | 167, 168, 162 |
| HSL | 70°, 3%, 65% |
| LRV | 38 |
| Undertone | true neutral (no measurable hue) |
| Family | Gray |
About HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Essex Grey
Essex Grey sits in the mid-range at LRV 38, 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.
Essex Grey 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
Benjamin Moore
Magnolia Home
Dunn-Edwards
Behr
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
C2 Paint
Diamond Vogel
Dutch Boy
Backdrop
Kompozit
Farrow & Ball
Clare
Similar HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Essex Grey 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 #A7A8A2 in HSL space. Pair Essex Grey 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 Essex Grey Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Essex Grey 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 1485 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Essex Grey
The closest Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Essex Grey is Gray Matters (SW 7066). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38). If Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Gray Matters and you'll get the same color. See the full Gray Matters swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Essex Grey
The closest Benjamin Moore equivalent of Essex Grey is Platinum Gray (HC-179). At ΔE 0.29 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and runs slightly lighter (LRV 40 vs 38). If Benjamin Moore is your counter, order Platinum Gray and you'll get the same color. See the full Platinum Gray swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Essex Grey
The closest Magnolia Home equivalent of Essex Grey is Weathered Windmill (JG-15). At ΔE 0.56 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38). If Magnolia Home is your counter, order Weathered Windmill and you'll get the same color. See the full Weathered Windmill swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Essex Grey
The closest Valspar equivalent of Essex Grey is Classic Grayscale (V121-2). At ΔE 0.83 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 38.4 vs 38). If Valspar is your counter, order Classic Grayscale and you'll get the same color. See the full Classic Grayscale swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Essex Grey
C2 Paint's nearest match is Pavement (C2-988), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.01). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Essex Grey without repainting risk. See the full Pavement swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Essex Grey
Behr's nearest match is Silver Gray (6694), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.26). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Essex Grey without repainting risk. See the full Silver Gray swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Essex Grey
Diamond Vogel's nearest match is Shark Fin (0574), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.61). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Essex Grey without repainting risk. See the full Shark Fin swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Essex Grey
PPG / Glidden's nearest match is Statue Garden (PPG0996-3), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.77). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Essex Grey without repainting risk. See the full Statue Garden swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Essex Grey
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Essex Grey is Distant Dusk (DEGR46) — very close at ΔE 2.06, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Distant Dusk swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Essex Grey
At Backdrop, the closest color to Essex Grey is Nuevo (BD-NU) — very close at ΔE 2.27, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Nuevo swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Essex Grey
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Essex Grey is Ironed Gray (436-4DB) — very close at ΔE 2.65, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Ironed Gray swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Essex Grey
At Kompozit, the closest color to Essex Grey is Silverado Ranch (0421) — very close at ΔE 3.26, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Silverado Ranch swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Essex Grey
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Essex Grey. The nearest is Hardwick White (NO. 5) at ΔE 4.23 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 42 vs 38). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Hardwick White swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Essex Grey
Clare doesn't make a true equivalent of Essex Grey — the nearest deck color, Mellow Mood (PNT100-DP-78), is clearly different (ΔE 6.92). For an exact match, any Clare retailer can custom-tint HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams HGSW 1485 instead. See the full Mellow Mood swatch →