Color spec
| Brand | PPG / Glidden |
| Name | Playing Possum |
| SKU | PPG0997-5 |
| Hex | #969796 |
| RGB | 150, 151, 150 |
| HSL | 120°, 0%, 59% |
| LRV | 31 |
| Undertone | neutral with no strong undertone |
| Family | Gray |
About PPG / Glidden Playing Possum
Playing Possum sits in the mid-range at LRV 31, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. South-facing rooms will pull it lighter and warmer, while north light cools it down.
Playing Possum is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.
Closest matches by brand
16 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
Clare
Kompozit
Similar PPG / Glidden colors
closest in the PPG / Glidden deckThe nearest shades to Playing Possum 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 #969796 in HSL space. Pair Playing Possum 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 Playing Possum Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Playing Possum 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 PPG0997-5 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Playing Possum
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Playing Possum is African Gray (SW 9162) — very close at ΔE 2.09, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 31 vs 31) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full African Gray swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Playing Possum
The closest Behr equivalent of Playing Possum is Shark Fin (PPU24-19). At ΔE 0.57 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 31 vs 31). If Behr is your counter, order Shark Fin and you'll get the same color. See the full Shark Fin swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Playing Possum
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Playing Possum is Soho Loft (CSP-10) — very close at ΔE 3.22, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 30 vs 31) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Soho Loft swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Playing Possum
Valspar's nearest match is Stone Mason Gray (4008-1C), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.32). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 30.9 vs 31) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Playing Possum without repainting risk. See the full Stone Mason Gray swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Playing Possum
The closest Glidden equivalent of Playing Possum is Playing Possum (PPG0997-5). At ΔE 0.57 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 31 vs 31). If Glidden is your counter, order Playing Possum and you'll get the same color. See the full Playing Possum swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Playing Possum
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Playing Possum is Padlock Gray (438-4DB) — very close at ΔE 2.71, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 31 vs 31) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Padlock Gray swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Playing Possum
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Playing Possum is Flannel Grey (HGSW 1464) — very close at ΔE 2.09, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 31 vs 31) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Flannel Grey swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Playing Possum
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Gray Soapstone (DEGR53), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.2). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 32 vs 31) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Playing Possum without repainting risk. See the full Gray Soapstone swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Playing Possum
At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Playing Possum is Times Past (JG-94) — very close at ΔE 2.46, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 31 vs 31) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Times Past swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Playing Possum
Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Playing Possum. The nearest is Sparrow (0554) at ΔE 3.62 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 32 vs 31). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Sparrow swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Playing Possum
Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Playing Possum. The nearest is Sparrow (0554) at ΔE 3.51 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 32 vs 31). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Sparrow swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Playing Possum
Rodda has no exact twin of Playing Possum. The nearest is December Sky (R094) at ΔE 3.59 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 32 vs 31). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full December Sky swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Playing Possum
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Playing Possum is Tin Man (C2-970) — very close at ΔE 2.16, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 32 vs 31) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Tin Man swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Playing Possum
At Clare, the closest color to Playing Possum is Shade (PNT100-MD-14) — very close at ΔE 3.26, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 28 vs 31) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Shade swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Playing Possum
Kompozit has no exact twin of Playing Possum. The nearest is Sparrow (0554) at ΔE 3.51 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 30 vs 31). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Sparrow swatch →