Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Cardboard |
| SKU | SW 6124 |
| Hex | #9C7A56 |
| RGB | 156, 122, 86 |
| HSL | 31°, 29%, 47% |
| LRV | 22 |
| Undertone | warm red-orange tone |
| Family | Brown |
About Sherwin-Williams Cardboard
With an LRV of 22, Cardboard is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Its orange 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. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Cardboard works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Browns ground a room and pair naturally with leather, wood and warm 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 brown 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
Rodda
C2 Paint
Portola Paints
Kompozit
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Cardboard 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 #9C7A56 in HSL space. Pair Cardboard 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 Cardboard Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Cardboard 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 6124 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Cardboard
At Behr, the closest color to Cardboard is Coco Rum (PPU4-02) — very close at ΔE 2.29, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 21 vs 22) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Coco Rum swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Cardboard
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Cardboard is Caramel Apple (1042) — very close at ΔE 2.03, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 22 vs 22) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Caramel Apple swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Cardboard
The closest Valspar equivalent of Cardboard is Haute Hickory (8004-17F). 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 22 vs 22). If Valspar is your counter, order Haute Hickory and you'll get the same color. See the full Haute Hickory swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Cardboard
PPG / Glidden's nearest match is Cocoa Cupcake (PPG1086-7), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.98). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 21 vs 22) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Cardboard without repainting risk. See the full Cocoa Cupcake swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Cardboard
At Glidden, the closest color to Cardboard is Cocoa Pecan (PPG1084-6) — very close at ΔE 2.58, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 21 vs 22) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Cocoa Pecan swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Cardboard
The closest Dutch Boy equivalent of Cardboard is Warm Praline (316-6DB). 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 22 vs 22). If Dutch Boy is your counter, order Warm Praline and you'll get the same color. See the full Warm Praline swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Cardboard
The closest HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Cardboard is Cardboard (HGSW 2182). 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 22 vs 22). If HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Cardboard and you'll get the same color. See the full Cardboard swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Cardboard
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is New Cedar (DESS18), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.23). It runs slightly darker (LRV 20 vs 22) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Cardboard without repainting risk. See the full New Cedar swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Cardboard
Magnolia Home has no exact twin of Cardboard. The nearest is Vintage Crown (JG-152) at ΔE 4.74 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 26 vs 22). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Vintage Crown swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Cardboard
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Cardboard. The nearest is Tack Room Door (NO. G6) at ΔE 4.12 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 24 vs 22). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Tack Room Door swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Cardboard
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Cardboard is Cavern Sand (0165) — very close at ΔE 3.49, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 21 vs 22) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Cavern Sand swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Cardboard
Hirshfield's's nearest match is Prince Paris (0241), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.17). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 22 vs 22) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Cardboard without repainting risk. See the full Prince Paris swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Cardboard
Rodda has no exact twin of Cardboard. The nearest is Chocolate Opal (R130) at ΔE 4.8 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 21 vs 22). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Chocolate Opal swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Cardboard
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Cardboard is Garam Masala (C2-631) — very close at ΔE 2.55, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 20 vs 22) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Garam Masala swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Cardboard
Portola Paints has no exact twin of Cardboard. The nearest is Miel (MIEL) at ΔE 4.54 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 22 vs 22). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Miel swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Cardboard
Kompozit's nearest match is Prince Paris (0241), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.17). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 22 vs 22) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Cardboard without repainting risk. See the full Prince Paris swatch →