Color spec
| Brand | PPG / Glidden |
| Name | Purple Surf |
| SKU | PPG1173-5 |
| Hex | #9C96A9 |
| RGB | 156, 150, 169 |
| HSL | 259°, 10%, 63% |
| LRV | 32 |
| Undertone | cool blue tone |
| Family | Purple |
About PPG / Glidden Purple Surf
Purple Surf 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 violet 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.
Purple Surf is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Purples range from restful (bedrooms) to dramatic (powder rooms) depending on depth.
Closest matches by brand
13 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 purple from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
C2 Paint
Clare
Kompozit
Similar PPG / Glidden colors
closest in the PPG / Glidden deckThe nearest shades to Purple Surf 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 #9C96A9 in HSL space. Pair Purple Surf 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 Purple Surf Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Purple Surf 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 PPG1173-5 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Purple Surf
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Purple Surf is Ash Violet (SW 6549) — very close at ΔE 2.28, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 34 vs 32) and carries a cool violet undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Ash Violet swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Purple Surf
At Behr, the closest color to Purple Surf is Duchess Lilac (PPU16-13) — very close at ΔE 3.12, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 29 vs 32) and carries a cool violet undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Duchess Lilac swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Purple Surf
Valspar has no exact twin of Purple Surf. The nearest is Palace Walls (8004-48D) at ΔE 3.86 — 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 Palace Walls swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Purple Surf
The closest Glidden equivalent of Purple Surf is Purple Surf (PPG1173-5). At ΔE 0.5 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 31 vs 32). If Glidden is your counter, order Purple Surf and you'll get the same color. See the full Purple Surf swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Purple Surf
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Purple Surf is Provence (343-4DB) — very close at ΔE 3.16, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 30 vs 32) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Provence swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Purple Surf
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Purple Surf is Ash Violet (HGSW 2415) — very close at ΔE 2.28, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 34 vs 32) and carries a cool violet undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Ash Violet swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Purple Surf
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Purple Surf is Bay Fog (DE5934) — very close at ΔE 3.34, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 30 vs 32) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Bay Fog swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Purple Surf
Diamond Vogel's nearest match is Lilac Blossom (1289), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.27). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 32 vs 32) and carries a cool violet undertone, so it substitutes for Purple Surf without repainting risk. See the full Lilac Blossom swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Purple Surf
Hirshfield's's nearest match is Lilac Blossom (1289), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.52). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 33 vs 32) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Purple Surf without repainting risk. See the full Lilac Blossom swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Purple Surf
The closest C2 Paint equivalent of Purple Surf is African Purple (C2-781). At ΔE 0.64 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 33 vs 32). If C2 Paint is your counter, order African Purple and you'll get the same color. See the full African Purple swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Purple Surf
Clare has no exact twin of Purple Surf. The nearest is Cosmic Vibes (PNT100-LT-32) at ΔE 4.94 — 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 Cosmic Vibes swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Purple Surf
Kompozit's nearest match is Lilac Blossom (1289), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.52). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 31 vs 32) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Purple Surf without repainting risk. See the full Lilac Blossom swatch →