Color spec
| Brand | PPG / Glidden |
| Name | Earl Gray |
| SKU | PPG1020-5 |
| Hex | #A6978A |
| RGB | 166, 151, 138 |
| HSL | 28°, 14%, 60% |
| LRV | 32 |
| Undertone | warm red-orange tone |
| Family | Neutral |
About PPG / Glidden Earl Gray
Earl Gray sits in the mid-range at LRV 32, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Its orange 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. South-facing rooms will pull it lighter and warmer, while north light cools it down.
Earl Gray is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Greige-leaning neutrals like this are the safe whole-home choice when you want warmth without committing to a color.
Closest matches by brand
17 brands within ΔE 5The closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Only colors within ΔE 5 (close enough to substitute on a wall) are shown — brands with no real match are left off. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all neutral from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Portola Paints
Backdrop
Kompozit
Similar PPG / Glidden colors
closest in the PPG / Glidden deckThe nearest shades to Earl Gray within PPG / 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 #A6978A in HSL space. Pair Earl 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.
PPG / Glidden Earl Gray Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Earl 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 PPG / Glidden PPG1020-5 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Earl Gray
The closest Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Earl Gray is Sticks & Stones (SW 7503). At ΔE 0.62 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 31 vs 32). If Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Sticks & Stones and you'll get the same color. See the full Sticks & Stones swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Earl Gray
The closest Behr equivalent of Earl Gray is Studio Taupe (PPU5-07). At ΔE 0.49 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 32 vs 32). If Behr is your counter, order Studio Taupe and you'll get the same color. See the full Studio Taupe swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Earl Gray
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Earl Gray is Waynesboro Taupe (1544) — very close at ΔE 2.11, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 33 vs 32) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Waynesboro Taupe swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Earl Gray
At Valspar, the closest color to Earl Gray is Chocolate Oatmeal (T575) — very close at ΔE 2.84, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 32.7 vs 32) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Chocolate Oatmeal swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Earl Gray
The closest Glidden equivalent of Earl Gray is Earl Gray (PPG1020-5). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 32 vs 32). If Glidden is your counter, order Earl Gray and you'll get the same color. See the full Earl Gray swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Earl Gray
Dutch Boy has no exact twin of Earl Gray. The nearest is Dusky Gray (439-3DB) at ΔE 3.72 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 32 vs 32). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Dusky Gray swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Earl Gray
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Earl Gray is Domaine (HGSW 3443) — very close at ΔE 2.56, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 31 vs 32) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Domaine swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Earl Gray
The closest Dunn-Edwards equivalent of Earl Gray is Sorrel Felt (DET624). At ΔE 0.92 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 31 vs 32). If Dunn-Edwards is your counter, order Sorrel Felt and you'll get the same color. See the full Sorrel Felt swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Earl Gray
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Earl Gray is Trenton Taupe (H113) — very close at ΔE 2.11, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 31 vs 32) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Trenton Taupe swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Earl Gray
The closest Hirshfield's equivalent of Earl Gray is Rain Barrel (H0113). At ΔE 0.92 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 32 vs 32). If Hirshfield's is your counter, order Rain Barrel and you'll get the same color. See the full Rain Barrel swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Earl Gray
Rodda's nearest match is Burlap (CA070), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.48). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 31 vs 32) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Earl Gray without repainting risk. See the full Burlap swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Earl Gray
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Earl Gray is Darwin (C2-810) — very close at ΔE 2.32, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 33 vs 32) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Darwin swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Earl Gray
Portola Paints has no exact twin of Earl Gray. The nearest is La Catedral (LA CATEDRAL) at ΔE 3.7 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 34 vs 32). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full La Catedral swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Earl Gray
At Backdrop, the closest color to Earl Gray is Anita (BD-AN) — very close at ΔE 2.18, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 33 vs 32) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Anita swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Earl Gray
At Kompozit, the closest color to Earl Gray is Young Colt (0198) — very close at ΔE 2.33, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 34 vs 32) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Young Colt swatch →