Color spec
| Brand | PPG / Glidden |
| Name | Steel Curtain |
| SKU | PPG0994-5 |
| Hex | #9C9F9A |
| RGB | 156, 159, 154 |
| HSL | 96°, 3%, 61% |
| LRV | 34 |
| Undertone | true neutral (no measurable hue) |
| Family | Gray |
About PPG / Glidden Steel Curtain
Steel Curtain sits in the mid-range at LRV 34, 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.
Steel Curtain 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 at every US brand
13 brands · top 5 each5 closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all gray from that brand.
Dunn-Edwards
Farrow & Ball
Sherwin-Williams
Valspar
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Magnolia Home
Kompozit
Diamond Vogel
Dutch Boy
Backdrop
C2 Paint
Clare
Similar PPG / Glidden colors
closest in the PPG / Glidden deckThe nearest shades to Steel Curtain 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 #9C9F9A in HSL space. Pair Steel Curtain 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 Steel Curtain Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Steel Curtain 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 PPG0994-5 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Steel Curtain
Farrow & Ball's nearest match is Manor House Gray (NO. 265), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.34). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 35 vs 34) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Steel Curtain without repainting risk. See the full Manor House Gray swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Steel Curtain
Behr's nearest match is Brampton Gray (PPU11-16), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.69). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 35 vs 34) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Steel Curtain without repainting risk. See the full Brampton Gray swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Steel Curtain
At Valspar, the closest color to Steel Curtain is Hazy Stratus (4004-1C) — very close at ΔE 2.16, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 35.2 vs 34) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Hazy Stratus swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Steel Curtain
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Steel Curtain is Gray Cardigan (1600) — very close at ΔE 2.18, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 35 vs 34) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Gray Cardigan swatch →
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Steel Curtain
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Steel Curtain is Bedrock (SW 9563) — very close at ΔE 2.3, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 34 vs 34) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Bedrock swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Steel Curtain
At Kompozit, the closest color to Steel Curtain is Smoky Tone (0541) — very close at ΔE 2.61, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 34 vs 34) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Smoky Tone swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Steel Curtain
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Steel Curtain is Chateau Gray (DEGR51) — very close at ΔE 3.09, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 34 vs 34) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Chateau Gray swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Steel Curtain
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Steel Curtain is Antiquated Pewter (425-4DB) — very close at ΔE 3.29, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 34 vs 34) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Antiquated Pewter swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Steel Curtain
C2 Paint has no exact twin of Steel Curtain. The nearest is Artesian (C2-972) at ΔE 3.68 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 33 vs 34). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Artesian swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Steel Curtain
Magnolia Home has no exact twin of Steel Curtain. The nearest is Watering Can (JG-135) at ΔE 4.21 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 34 vs 34). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Watering Can swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Steel Curtain
Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Steel Curtain. The nearest is Jet Gray (0548) at ΔE 4.84 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 34 vs 34). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Jet Gray swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Steel Curtain
Clare doesn't make a true equivalent of Steel Curtain — the nearest deck color, Set In Stone (PNT100-LT-15), is clearly different (ΔE 5.51). For an exact match, any Clare retailer can custom-tint PPG / Glidden PPG0994-5 instead. See the full Set In Stone swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Steel Curtain
Backdrop doesn't make a true equivalent of Steel Curtain — the nearest deck color, Carry the Two (BD-CT), is clearly different (ΔE 8.12). For an exact match, any Backdrop retailer can custom-tint PPG / Glidden PPG0994-5 instead. See the full Carry the Two swatch →