Color spec
| Brand | Hirshfield's |
| Name | Backwater |
| SKU | 0513 |
| Hex | #687078 |
| RGB | 104, 112, 120 |
| HSL | 210°, 7%, 44% |
| LRV | 18 |
| Undertone | blue / cool |
| Family | Gray |
About Hirshfield's Backwater
With an LRV of 18, Backwater is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Its blue 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. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Backwater 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
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Rodda
C2 Paint
Clare
Portola Paints
Annie Sloan
Backdrop
Rust-Oleum
Kompozit
Similar Hirshfield's colors
closest in the Hirshfield's deckThe nearest shades to Backwater within Hirshfield's'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 #687078 in HSL space. Pair Backwater 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.
Hirshfield's Backwater Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Backwater 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 Hirshfield's 0513 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Backwater
Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Wall Street (SW 7665), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.65). It runs slightly darker (LRV 15 vs 18) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Backwater without repainting risk. See the full Wall Street swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Backwater
At Behr, the closest color to Backwater is Rain Shadow (ECC-22-3) — very close at ΔE 3.1, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 16 vs 18) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Rain Shadow swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Backwater
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Britannia Blue (1623), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.89). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 18 vs 18) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Backwater without repainting risk. See the full Britannia Blue swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Backwater
At Valspar, the closest color to Backwater is Iron Frost (4007-2B) — very close at ΔE 2.8, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 16.2 vs 18) 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 Backwater
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Backwater is In The Shadows (PPG1039-6) — very close at ΔE 2.67, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 15 vs 18) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full In The Shadows swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Backwater
At Glidden, the closest color to Backwater is Charcoal Coast (30BB 16/031) — very close at ΔE 2.56, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 16 vs 18) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Charcoal Coast swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Backwater
The closest Dutch Boy equivalent of Backwater is Plated Blue (434-6DB). At ΔE 0.72 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and runs slightly darker (LRV 16 vs 18). If Dutch Boy is your counter, order Plated Blue and you'll get the same color. See the full Plated Blue swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Backwater
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Jagged Granite (HGSW 1452), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.65). It runs slightly darker (LRV 15 vs 18) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Backwater without repainting risk. See the full Jagged Granite swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Backwater
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Slate Gray (DEGR73), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.41). It runs slightly darker (LRV 16 vs 18) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Backwater without repainting risk. See the full Slate Gray swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Backwater
Magnolia Home has no exact twin of Backwater. The nearest is Storm Chaser (JG-86) at ΔE 3.8 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 15 vs 18). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Storm Chaser swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Backwater
Farrow & Ball doesn't make a true equivalent of Backwater — the nearest deck color, De Nimes (NO. 299), is clearly different (ΔE 6.71). For an exact match, any Farrow & Ball retailer can custom-tint Hirshfield's 0513 instead. See the full De Nimes swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Backwater
Diamond Vogel's nearest match is Deep Lagoon (0507), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.58). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 17 vs 18) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Backwater without repainting risk. See the full Deep Lagoon swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Backwater
At Rodda, the closest color to Backwater is Spur (CA198) — very close at ΔE 2.7, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 16 vs 18) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Spur swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Backwater
C2 Paint's nearest match is Magnet (C2-967), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.51). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 17 vs 18) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Backwater without repainting risk. See the full Magnet swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Backwater
Clare doesn't make a true equivalent of Backwater — the nearest deck color, Prince (PNT100-DP-33), is clearly different (ΔE 12.08). For an exact match, any Clare retailer can custom-tint Hirshfield's 0513 instead. See the full Prince swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Backwater
Portola Paints doesn't make a true equivalent of Backwater — the nearest deck color, Carmine (CARMINE), is clearly different (ΔE 17.63). For an exact match, any Portola Paints retailer can custom-tint Hirshfield's 0513 instead. See the full Carmine swatch →
Annie Sloan Equivalent of Backwater
Annie Sloan doesn't make a true equivalent of Backwater — the nearest deck color, Olive (OLIVE), is clearly different (ΔE 19.65). For an exact match, any Annie Sloan retailer can custom-tint Hirshfield's 0513 instead. See the full Olive swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Backwater
Backdrop has no exact twin of Backwater. The nearest is Mom Jeans (BD-MJ) at ΔE 4.95 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 18 vs 18). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Mom Jeans swatch →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Backwater
Rust-Oleum doesn't make a true equivalent of Backwater — the nearest deck color, Coastal Blue (329207), is clearly different (ΔE 9.87). For an exact match, any Rust-Oleum retailer can custom-tint Hirshfield's 0513 instead. See the full Coastal Blue swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Backwater
The closest Kompozit equivalent of Backwater is Backwater (0513). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and runs slightly darker (LRV 16 vs 18). If Kompozit is your counter, order Backwater and you'll get the same color. See the full Backwater swatch →