Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Alloy |
| SKU | SW 9569 |
| Hex | #8E8A81 |
| RGB | 142, 138, 129 |
| HSL | 42°, 5%, 53% |
| LRV | 25 |
| Undertone | red-orange / warm |
| Family | Gray |
About Sherwin-Williams Alloy
Alloy sits in the mid-range at LRV 25, 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.
Alloy 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.
Valspar
Magnolia Home
Dunn-Edwards
Diamond Vogel
Behr
Dutch Boy
Benjamin Moore
PPG / Glidden
Kompozit
C2 Paint
Clare
Farrow & Ball
Backdrop
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Alloy 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 #8E8A81 in HSL space. Pair Alloy 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 Alloy Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Alloy 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 9569 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Valspar Equivalent of Alloy
The closest Valspar equivalent of Alloy is Big Apple (8006-2F). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 25 vs 25). If Valspar is your counter, order Big Apple and you'll get the same color. See the full Big Apple swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Alloy
The closest Magnolia Home equivalent of Alloy is Reclaimed Wood (JG-124). At ΔE 0.68 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 25 vs 25). If Magnolia Home is your counter, order Reclaimed Wood and you'll get the same color. See the full Reclaimed Wood swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Alloy
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Highland Country (DEGR39), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.13). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 27 vs 25) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Alloy without repainting risk. See the full Highland Country swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Alloy
Diamond Vogel's nearest match is Greystoke (0575), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.13). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 26 vs 25) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Alloy without repainting risk. See the full Greystoke swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Alloy
Behr's nearest match is Pavement Gray (MQ6-25), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.24). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 25 vs 25) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Alloy without repainting risk. See the full Pavement Gray swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Alloy
Dutch Boy's nearest match is Promising Gray (439-4DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.3). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 24 vs 25) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Alloy without repainting risk. See the full Promising Gray swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Alloy
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Castle Gate (CSP-75), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.67). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 26 vs 25) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Alloy without repainting risk. See the full Castle Gate swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Alloy
At Kompozit, the closest color to Alloy is Sultry Castle (0562) — very close at ΔE 2.08, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 27 vs 25) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Sultry Castle swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Alloy
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Alloy is Houdini (C2-794) — very close at ΔE 2.22, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 26 vs 25) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Houdini swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Alloy
At Clare, the closest color to Alloy is Dirty Chai (PNT100-DP-52) — very close at ΔE 2.82, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 23 vs 25) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Dirty Chai swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Alloy
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Alloy is Downpour (PPG1010-5) — very close at ΔE 3.32, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 25 vs 25) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Downpour swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Alloy
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Alloy. The nearest is Treron (NO. 292) at ΔE 4.96 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 26 vs 25). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Treron swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Alloy
Backdrop doesn't make a true equivalent of Alloy — the nearest deck color, Hartford (BD-HF), is clearly different (ΔE 7.26). For an exact match, any Backdrop retailer can custom-tint Sherwin-Williams SW 9569 instead. See the full Hartford swatch →