Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Dark Brown |
| SKU | SW 7520 |
| Hex | #6A5143 |
| RGB | 106, 81, 67 |
| HSL | 22°, 23%, 34% |
| LRV | 9 |
| Undertone | warm red-orange tone |
| Family | Brown |
About Sherwin-Williams Dark Brown
At LRV 9, Dark Brown is about as dark as paint gets — it reads near-black on a wall and reveals its character only in direct daylight or under warm bulbs. 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. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Dark Brown earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Browns ground a room and pair naturally with leather, wood and warm metals.
Closest matches by brand
15 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
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Backdrop
Kompozit
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Dark Brown 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 #6A5143 in HSL space. Pair Dark Brown 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 Dark Brown Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Dark Brown 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 7520 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Dark Brown
At Behr, the closest color to Dark Brown is Moroccan Henna (PPU3-19) — very close at ΔE 2.28, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 9 vs 9) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Moroccan Henna swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Dark Brown
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Riding Boots (CSP-300), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.79). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 11 vs 9) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Dark Brown without repainting risk. See the full Riding Boots swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Dark Brown
The closest Valspar equivalent of Dark Brown is Rue Bourbon (8004-9F). At ΔE 0.61 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 9). If Valspar is your counter, order Rue Bourbon and you'll get the same color. See the full Rue Bourbon swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Dark Brown
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Dark Brown is Bigfoot (PPG1061-7) — very close at ΔE 3.32, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 9) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Bigfoot swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Dark Brown
At Glidden, the closest color to Dark Brown is Bronze Amulet (70YR 08/186) — very close at ΔE 2.58, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 9) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Bronze Amulet swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Dark Brown
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Dark Brown. The nearest is Kaffee (HGSW 3111) at ΔE 3.68 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 9 vs 9). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Kaffee swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Dark Brown
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Dark Brown is Mayan Chocolate (DET693) — very close at ΔE 2.24, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 9 vs 9) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Mayan Chocolate swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Dark Brown
Magnolia Home has no exact twin of Dark Brown. The nearest is Mountain Currant (JG-171) at ΔE 4.89 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 9). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Mountain Currant swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Dark Brown
Diamond Vogel's nearest match is Hideaway (0137), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.54). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 9) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Dark Brown without repainting risk. See the full Hideaway swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Dark Brown
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Dark Brown is Bargeboard Brown (H0140) — very close at ΔE 2.62, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 9) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Bargeboard Brown swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Dark Brown
Rodda has no exact twin of Dark Brown. The nearest is Bistre (CA214) at ΔE 4.21 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 9 vs 9). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Bistre swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Dark Brown
Backdrop has no exact twin of Dark Brown. The nearest is It's a Date (BD-IT) at ΔE 4.61 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 7 vs 9). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full It's a Date swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Dark Brown
At Kompozit, the closest color to Dark Brown is Connoisseur (0143) — very close at ΔE 2.21, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 9 vs 9) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Connoisseur swatch →