Color spec
| Brand | Hirshfield's |
| Name | Emu |
| SKU | 0549 |
| Hex | #756E6D |
| RGB | 117, 110, 109 |
| HSL | 8°, 4%, 44% |
| LRV | 18 |
| Undertone | true neutral (no measurable hue) |
| Family | Gray |
About Hirshfield's Emu
With an LRV of 18, Emu is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Emu 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 Emu 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 #756E6D in HSL space. Pair Emu 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 Emu Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Emu 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 0549 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Emu
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Emu is Hulett Ore (SW 9574) — very close at ΔE 2.79, 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 Hulett Ore swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Emu
Behr has no exact twin of Emu. The nearest is Ancestral (PPU24-05) at ΔE 4.29 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 16 vs 18). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Ancestral swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Emu
Benjamin Moore has no exact twin of Emu. The nearest is Kasbah (AF-640) at ΔE 3.94 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 16 vs 18). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Kasbah swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Emu
At Valspar, the closest color to Emu is Rugged Suede (4003-2B) — very close at ΔE 2.37, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 15.9 vs 18) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Rugged Suede swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Emu
PPG / Glidden has no exact twin of Emu. The nearest is Slate Mine (PPG0996-6) at ΔE 3.74 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 16 vs 18). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Slate Mine swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Emu
At Glidden, the closest color to Emu is Grey Hearth (30YY 16/032) — very close at ΔE 3.32, 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 Grey Hearth swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Emu
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Emu is Heathered Gray (445-5DB) — very close at ΔE 2.49, 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 Heathered Gray swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Emu
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Emu is Aviatrix (HGSW 3472) — very close at ΔE 3.36, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 17 vs 18) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Aviatrix swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Emu
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Emu is Hickory Cliff (DE6397) — very close at ΔE 3.41, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 16 vs 18) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Hickory Cliff swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Emu
Magnolia Home doesn't make a true equivalent of Emu — the nearest deck color, Estate (JG-159), is clearly different (ΔE 7.03). For an exact match, any Magnolia Home retailer can custom-tint Hirshfield's 0549 instead. See the full Estate swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Emu
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Emu. The nearest is London Clay (NO. 244) at ΔE 4.47 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 14 vs 18). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full London Clay swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Emu
Diamond Vogel doesn't make a true equivalent of Emu — the nearest deck color, Grey Locks (0570), is clearly different (ΔE 5.52). For an exact match, any Diamond Vogel retailer can custom-tint Hirshfield's 0549 instead. See the full Grey Locks swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Emu
Rodda has no exact twin of Emu. The nearest is In the Dark (R022) at ΔE 3.9 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 17 vs 18). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full In the Dark swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Emu
C2 Paint has no exact twin of Emu. The nearest is Jailhouse Rock (C2-950) at ΔE 3.87 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 17 vs 18). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Jailhouse Rock swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Emu
Clare doesn't make a true equivalent of Emu — the nearest deck color, Field Trip (PNT100-DP-66), is clearly different (ΔE 10.51). For an exact match, any Clare retailer can custom-tint Hirshfield's 0549 instead. See the full Field Trip swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Emu
Portola Paints doesn't make a true equivalent of Emu — the nearest deck color, Carmine (CARMINE), is clearly different (ΔE 11.01). For an exact match, any Portola Paints retailer can custom-tint Hirshfield's 0549 instead. See the full Carmine swatch →
Annie Sloan Equivalent of Emu
Annie Sloan doesn't make a true equivalent of Emu — the nearest deck color, Olive (OLIVE), is clearly different (ΔE 14.42). For an exact match, any Annie Sloan retailer can custom-tint Hirshfield's 0549 instead. See the full Olive swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Emu
Backdrop doesn't make a true equivalent of Emu — the nearest deck color, Mom Jeans (BD-MJ), is clearly different (ΔE 13.53). For an exact match, any Backdrop retailer can custom-tint Hirshfield's 0549 instead. See the full Mom Jeans swatch →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Emu
Rust-Oleum doesn't make a true equivalent of Emu — the nearest deck color, Coastal Blue (329207), is clearly different (ΔE 17.47). For an exact match, any Rust-Oleum retailer can custom-tint Hirshfield's 0549 instead. See the full Coastal Blue swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Emu
The closest Kompozit equivalent of Emu is Emu (0549). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and runs slightly darker (LRV 16 vs 18). If Kompozit is your counter, order Emu and you'll get the same color. See the full Emu swatch →