Color spec
| Brand | PPG / Glidden |
| Name | Lava Gray |
| SKU | PPG1038-6 |
| Hex | #5E686E |
| RGB | 94, 104, 110 |
| HSL | 203°, 8%, 40% |
| LRV | 13 |
| Undertone | cool blue tone |
| Family | Gray |
About PPG / Glidden Lava Gray
With an LRV of 13, Lava Gray 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.
Lava Gray 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
15 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
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Kompozit
Similar PPG / Glidden colors
closest in the PPG / Glidden deckThe nearest shades to Lava 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 #5E686E in HSL space. Pair Lava 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 Lava Gray Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Lava 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 PPG1038-6 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Lava Gray
Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Gibraltar (SW 6257), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.85). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 13) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Lava Gray without repainting risk. See the full Gibraltar swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Lava Gray
At Behr, the closest color to Lava Gray is Le Luxe (PPU25-20) — very close at ΔE 2.94, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 13 vs 13) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Le Luxe swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Lava Gray
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Ocean Floor (1630), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.52). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 13) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Lava Gray without repainting risk. See the full Ocean Floor swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Lava Gray
The closest Valspar equivalent of Lava Gray is Crucible (4006-2B). At ΔE 0.97 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 13.2 vs 13). If Valspar is your counter, order Crucible and you'll get the same color. See the full Crucible swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Lava Gray
The closest Glidden equivalent of Lava Gray is Lava Gray (PPG1038-6). At ΔE 0.58 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 13 vs 13). If Glidden is your counter, order Lava Gray and you'll get the same color. See the full Lava Gray swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Lava Gray
Dutch Boy's nearest match is Steeled Blue (430-7DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.23). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 13 vs 13) and carries a cool blue-green undertone, so it substitutes for Lava Gray without repainting risk. See the full Steeled Blue swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Lava Gray
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Lava Gray is Web Gray (HGSW 1462) — very close at ΔE 2.45, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 13 vs 13) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Web Gray swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Lava Gray
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Made of Steel (DET593), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.23). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 13) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Lava Gray without repainting risk. See the full Made of Steel swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Lava Gray
Magnolia Home has no exact twin of Lava Gray. The nearest is Ridge Rock (JG-170) at ΔE 4.69 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 13 vs 13). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Ridge Rock swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Lava Gray
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Lava Gray. The nearest is Inchyra Blue (NO. 289) at ΔE 4.08 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 13 vs 13). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Inchyra Blue swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Lava Gray
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Lava Gray is Thunderstorm (0514) — very close at ΔE 3.28, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 13 vs 13) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Thunderstorm swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Lava Gray
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Lava Gray is Greybeard (0528) — very close at ΔE 2.9, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 15 vs 13) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Greybeard swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Lava Gray
Rodda's nearest match is Midnight Surf (R095), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.98). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 13 vs 13) and carries a cool blue-green undertone, so it substitutes for Lava Gray without repainting risk. See the full Midnight Surf swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Lava Gray
C2 Paint has no exact twin of Lava Gray. The nearest is Vault (C2-966) at ΔE 4.13 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 13). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Vault swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Lava Gray
At Kompozit, the closest color to Lava Gray is Greybeard (0528) — very close at ΔE 2.9, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 13) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Greybeard swatch →