Color spec
| Brand | PPG / Glidden |
| Name | Improbable |
| SKU | PPG1011-5 |
| Hex | #6E7477 |
| RGB | 110, 116, 119 |
| HSL | 200°, 4%, 45% |
| LRV | 17 |
| Undertone | neutral with no strong undertone |
| Family | Gray |
About PPG / Glidden Improbable
With an LRV of 17, Improbable 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.
Improbable 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 by brand
14 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 gray from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
Glidden
Dutch Boy
Dunn-Edwards
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Clare
Kompozit
Similar PPG / Glidden colors
closest in the PPG / Glidden deckThe nearest shades to Improbable 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 #6E7477 in HSL space. Pair Improbable 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 Improbable Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Improbable 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 PPG1011-5 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Improbable
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Improbable is Before the Storm (SW 9564) — very close at ΔE 2.12, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 18 vs 17) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Before the Storm swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Improbable
Behr's nearest match is Rich Pewter (QE-61), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 16 vs 17) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Improbable without repainting risk. See the full Rich Pewter swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Improbable
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Gray Shower (2125-30), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.21). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 18 vs 17) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Improbable without repainting risk. See the full Gray Shower swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Improbable
At Valspar, the closest color to Improbable is Tinman (V114-2) — very close at ΔE 2.11, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 17.6 vs 17) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Tinman swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Improbable
The closest Glidden equivalent of Improbable is Improbable (PPG1011-5). At ΔE 0.6 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 17 vs 17). If Glidden is your counter, order Improbable and you'll get the same color. See the full Improbable swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Improbable
Dutch Boy has no exact twin of Improbable. The nearest is Cliffside Gray (437-5DB) at ΔE 4.15 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 17 vs 17). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Cliffside Gray swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Improbable
The closest Dunn-Edwards equivalent of Improbable is Battleship Gray (DEC797). At ΔE 0.64 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 16 vs 17). If Dunn-Edwards is your counter, order Battleship Gray and you'll get the same color. See the full Battleship Gray swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Improbable
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Improbable. The nearest is Barrow Blue (NO. G8) at ΔE 4.88 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 19 vs 17). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Barrow Blue swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Improbable
Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Improbable. The nearest is Dolphin Dream (0521) at ΔE 4.56 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 17 vs 17). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Dolphin Dream swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Improbable
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Improbable is Backwater (0513) — very close at ΔE 3.08, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 18 vs 17) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Backwater swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Improbable
Rodda has no exact twin of Improbable. The nearest is Moody Hue (R105) at ΔE 4.16 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 18 vs 17). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Moody Hue swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Improbable
C2 Paint has no exact twin of Improbable. The nearest is Stomp (C2-983) at ΔE 4.08 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 17 vs 17). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Stomp swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Improbable
At Kompozit, the closest color to Improbable is Backwater (0513) — very close at ΔE 3.08, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 16 vs 17) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Backwater swatch →