Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Breakwater |
| SKU | SW 9638 |
| Hex | #A2A8A6 |
| RGB | 162, 168, 166 |
| HSL | 160°, 3%, 65% |
| LRV | 38 |
| Undertone | neutral with no strong undertone |
| Family | Gray |
About Sherwin-Williams Breakwater
Breakwater sits in the mid-range at LRV 38, 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.
Breakwater 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
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
C2 Paint
Clare
Backdrop
Kompozit
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Breakwater 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 #A2A8A6 in HSL space. Pair Breakwater 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 Breakwater Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Breakwater 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 9638 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Breakwater
Behr's nearest match is Chain Reaction (PPU25-16), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.99). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Breakwater without repainting risk. See the full Chain Reaction swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Breakwater
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Slate (CW-700), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.31). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Breakwater without repainting risk. See the full Slate swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Breakwater
Valspar's nearest match is Cloud Mountain (V115-2), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.62). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38.4 vs 38) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Breakwater without repainting risk. See the full Cloud Mountain swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Breakwater
PPG / Glidden's nearest match is Stepping Stone (PPG1010-4), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.45). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Breakwater without repainting risk. See the full Stepping Stone swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Breakwater
Glidden's nearest match is Stepping Stone (PPG1010-4), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.45). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Breakwater without repainting risk. See the full Stepping Stone swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Breakwater
Dutch Boy's nearest match is Ironed Gray (436-4DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.67). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Breakwater without repainting risk. See the full Ironed Gray swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Breakwater
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Steel Piling (HGSW 1475), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.29). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Breakwater without repainting risk. See the full Steel Piling swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Breakwater
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Breakwater is Baby Seal (DE6361) — very close at ΔE 3.28, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 35 vs 38) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Baby Seal swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Breakwater
At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Breakwater is Vintage Weathervane (JG-137) — very close at ΔE 2.13, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Vintage Weathervane swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Breakwater
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Breakwater is Techile (0533) — very close at ΔE 3.08, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 37 vs 38) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Techile swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Breakwater
Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Breakwater. The nearest is Beacon Fog (0490) at ΔE 3.56 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 40 vs 38). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Beacon Fog swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Breakwater
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Breakwater is Monday Morning (C2-987) — very close at ΔE 2.33, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 40 vs 38) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Monday Morning swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Breakwater
At Backdrop, the closest color to Breakwater is Nuevo (BD-NU) — very close at ΔE 3.47, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Nuevo swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Breakwater
Kompozit has no exact twin of Breakwater. The nearest is Beacon Fog (0490) at ΔE 3.56 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Beacon Fog swatch →