Color spec
| Brand | PPG / Glidden |
| Name | Granite Gray |
| SKU | PPG1010-5 |
| Hex | #7E7C75 |
| RGB | 126, 124, 117 |
| HSL | 47°, 4%, 48% |
| LRV | 21 |
| Undertone | neutral with no strong undertone |
| Family | Gray |
What Color Is Granite Gray, Really?
Granite Gray (PPG1010-5) is a deep, mid-to-dark gray that reads mostly neutral with the faintest warm lean. Its saturation sits at just 4 percent, so it never looks colorful, but the small amount of warmth in its makeup keeps it from feeling cold or blue. Think of it as the color of a weathered stone or a rain-darkened sidewalk, grounded and quiet rather than sharp.
With an LRV of 21 it is genuinely dark, which is why PPG lists it among its most-specified dark exterior picks. That depth is the draw: it gives siding, a front door, or an accent wall real weight without going fully black.
It suits people who want a strong, settled gray that holds its color across a house, and homes with enough daylight or warm indoor light to keep it from turning flat.
On paper Granite Gray is close to a true neutral. Its saturation is only 4 percent, so there is no bold undertone pulling it one direction. What little color it carries sits on the warm side of the hue wheel, which shows up as a soft greige or stone quality rather than anything you would call brown, blue, or green.
Because the lean is so slight, context decides what you see. Next to a cool blue-gray it will look warmer and softer. Next to a warm tan or beige it can suddenly read cooler and more neutral. That is normal for a color this close to gray.
Always test it against your fixed elements. Hold a sample beside your trim, flooring, and roof or stone before committing. On a large surface the small warm cast reads stronger than it does on a chip, so judge it big and in place.
Best Rooms and Uses for Granite Gray
At LRV 21 this is a statement and contrast color, not a whole-room light. Painting every wall of a small or dim room in it will feel closed-in, so use it where depth is the goal.
Outside is where it shines, which fits its reputation as a heavily specified dark exterior gray. It works on siding for a modern, grounded look, on shutters and a front door for contrast against lighter siding, and on garage doors to make them recede. As a front door it delivers weight without the starkness of black.
Indoors, treat it as an accent wall, a fireplace surround, a moody dining room, or cabinetry and built-ins where a deep, settled gray adds contrast. It also makes a strong trim or window-sash color against pale walls. Just pair it with enough light-reflecting surfaces so the room stays balanced.
How Lighting Changes Granite Gray
With an LRV of 21, Granite Gray reflects only about a fifth of the light that hits it, so lighting has a big effect on how deep it looks. In strong, direct sun it opens up and shows its soft warmth. In weak light it drops toward a heavy, near-charcoal gray.
North-facing rooms and east-facing rooms in the afternoon get cooler, flatter light, and they will make Granite Gray look darker and more somber. South and west exposures bring warmer, stronger light that keeps the color alive and shows its stone-like quality at its best.
Bulb choice matters just as much indoors. Warm bulbs around 2700K flatter it and bring out the gentle warmth. Cool daylight bulbs can leach that warmth out and leave it looking cold. Because it is a dark color, give any room using it plenty of light or reserve it for well-lit walls.
Most complaints about Granite Gray are a light mismatch. Upload a photo of your actual room and see it on your walls — then ask for the same wall in north light or evening lamps before you buy a single sample.
TEST IT IN YOUR LIGHT →Granite Gray vs Similar Colors
Granite Gray sits in a tight cluster of PPG deep grays, and the differences are subtle but real on a big surface. On The Edge (PPG0998-6) at LRV 20 is almost the same color and just a hair deeper, so choose it if you want a fractionally darker, equally neutral result.
Ghost Ship (PPG15-20) at LRV 21 is nearly the same depth but clearly warmer and browner. If your home has a lot of wood, tan stone, or brick, Ghost Ship blends in better; Granite Gray stays more neutral and modern.
City Skyline (PPG0995-6) at LRV 20 goes the other way, reading as a truer, cooler gray with none of Granite Gray's warm lean. Pick City Skyline for a cleaner, more contemporary gray, and Granite Gray when you want that touch of stone-like warmth to keep it from feeling cold.
Colors That Go With Granite Gray
For crisp trim and ceilings, Pure White (PPG1001-1) at LRV 88 gives the brightest, cleanest contrast against the dark gray. If you want something softer and less stark, Antique White (PPG1015-2) at LRV 78 warms the pairing slightly.
For a lighter second wall color that stays in the same tonal family, Limited Gray (PPG1010-3) at LRV 56 is a natural step up, since it shares the 1010 base. Antique Silver (PPG1010-4) at LRV 36 gives a closer mid-gray transition if you want less jump.
For a warm neutral companion on trim boards or an adjacent room, Stone Beige (PPG1024-3) at LRV 49 balances the coolness. And for a bold front door or accent, Mariner Blue (PPG1162-7) at LRV 8 adds deep color without fighting the gray. Natural wood tones and both brushed-nickel and matte-black metals also sit comfortably against it.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint PPG / Glidden PPG1010-5 directly — but if you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches:
Similar PPG / Glidden colors
closest in the PPG / Glidden deckThe nearest shades to Granite 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 #7E7C75 in HSL space. Pair Granite 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.
The Questions Everyone Asks
Is Granite Gray warm or cool?
Granite Gray is essentially neutral with a very slight warm lean. Its saturation is only 4 percent, so it never looks strongly warm or cool. The small amount of warmth gives it a soft, stone-like quality rather than a blue or icy cast, but next to a warm beige it can look almost cool. Judging it against your own fixed finishes is the only reliable test.
Is Granite Gray more gray than brown?
Yes. Granite Gray is firmly a gray, not a brown. Any warmth in it is faint and shows up as a greige or weathered-stone softness, not as an obvious tan or beige. If you want something clearly browner in the same depth, Ghost Ship (PPG15-20) leans warmer. Granite Gray stays the more neutral, modern-looking of the two.
What trim white goes with Granite Gray?
Pure White (PPG1001-1), with an LRV of 88, is the cleanest, brightest trim white for Granite Gray and gives strong, crisp contrast. If you prefer a softer edge, Antique White (PPG1015-2) at LRV 78 is slightly warmer and less stark. Both keep the trim reading clearly lighter than the deep gray walls or siding.
Does Granite Gray work on cabinets and exteriors?
It works well on both. Granite Gray is one of PPG's most-specified dark exterior grays, so it is a proven choice for siding, shutters, garage doors, and front doors. On cabinets and built-ins indoors it adds a deep, settled contrast. Because it is dark, pair it with light countertops, walls, or hardware so the space stays balanced.
What does an LRV of 21 mean for Granite Gray?
LRV, or light reflectance value, runs from 0 for black to 100 for pure white. At 21, Granite Gray reflects only about a fifth of the light in a room, which makes it a genuinely dark, high-drama color. It shows depth and warmth in strong daylight or warm bulbs, but can look flat and heavy in dim or north-facing rooms.
How is Granite Gray different from City Skyline?
City Skyline (PPG0995-6) sits at LRV 20, almost the same depth as Granite Gray, but it reads as a truer, cooler gray with no warm lean. Granite Gray carries a slight stone-like warmth. Choose City Skyline for a cleaner, more contemporary gray, and Granite Gray when you want a touch of warmth so the color does not feel cold.
Will It Work in YOUR Room?
No page can promise how Granite Gray behaves in your light. Upload a photo and see it on your own walls in seconds — before you spend a cent on samples.
TRY GRANITE GRAY ON YOUR ROOM →
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