Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | African Gray |
| SKU | SW 9162 |
| Hex | #939899 |
| RGB | 147, 152, 153 |
| HSL | 190°, 3%, 59% |
| LRV | 31 |
| Undertone | neutral with no strong undertone |
| Family | Gray |
About Sherwin-Williams African Gray
African Gray 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.
African Gray 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.
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Clare
Portola Paints
Kompozit
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to African Gray within Sherwin-Williams'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 #939899 in HSL space. Pair African 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.
Sherwin-Williams African Gray Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching African 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 Sherwin-Williams SW 9162 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of African Gray
At Behr, the closest color to African Gray is Shark Fin (PPU24-19) — very close at ΔE 2.33, 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 Shark Fin swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of African Gray
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to African Gray is Gibraltar Cliffs (1587) — very close at ΔE 2.53, 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 Gibraltar Cliffs swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of African Gray
Valspar's nearest match is Stone Mason Gray (4008-1C), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.77). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 30.9 vs 31) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for African Gray without repainting risk. See the full Stone Mason Gray swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of African Gray
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to African Gray is Playing Possum (PPG0997-5) — 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 Playing Possum swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of African Gray
At Glidden, the closest color to African Gray is Playing Possum (PPG0997-5) — very close at ΔE 2.33, 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 Playing Possum swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of African Gray
Dutch Boy's nearest match is Over The Moon (434-4DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.7). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 30 vs 31) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for African Gray without repainting risk. See the full Over The Moon swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of African Gray
The closest HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams equivalent of African Gray is Flannel Grey (HGSW 1464). At ΔE 0 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 HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Flannel Grey and you'll get the same color. See the full Flannel Grey swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of African Gray
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to African Gray is Wolverine (DET610) — very close at ΔE 2.12, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 31 vs 31) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Wolverine swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of African Gray
The closest Magnolia Home equivalent of African Gray is Times Past (JG-94). At ΔE 0.86 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 Magnolia Home is your counter, order Times Past and you'll get the same color. See the full Times Past swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of African Gray
Rodda's nearest match is December Sky (R094), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.52). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 32 vs 31) and carries a cool blue-green undertone, so it substitutes for African Gray without repainting risk. See the full December Sky swatch →
Clare Equivalent of African Gray
Clare has no exact twin of African Gray. The nearest is Shade (PNT100-MD-14) at ΔE 4.37 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 28 vs 31). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Shade swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of African Gray
Portola Paints has no exact twin of African Gray. The nearest is Twin Peaks (TWIN PEAKS) at ΔE 3.99 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 33 vs 31). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Twin Peaks swatch →