Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Dark Brown |
| SKU | SW 7520 |
| Hex | #6A5143 |
| RGB | 106, 81, 67 |
| HSL | 22°, 23%, 34% |
| LRV | 9 |
| Undertone | red-orange / warm |
| 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 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 brown from that brand.
Valspar
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Diamond Vogel
Kompozit
Dunn-Edwards
PPG / Glidden
C2 Paint
Dutch Boy
Backdrop
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Clare
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.
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Dark Brown is Auberge (2106-20) — very close at ΔE 2.42, 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 Auberge 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 →
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 →
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 →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Dark Brown
C2 Paint doesn't make a true equivalent of Dark Brown — the nearest deck color, Buffalo (C2-613), is clearly different (ΔE 5.91). For an exact match, any C2 Paint retailer can custom-tint Sherwin-Williams SW 7520 instead. See the full Buffalo swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Dark Brown
Dutch Boy doesn't make a true equivalent of Dark Brown — the nearest deck color, Bottle Neck (419-7DB), is clearly different (ΔE 6.04). For an exact match, any Dutch Boy retailer can custom-tint Sherwin-Williams SW 7520 instead. See the full Bottle Neck swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Dark Brown
Clare doesn't make a true equivalent of Dark Brown — the nearest deck color, Vintage (PNT100-DP-67), is clearly different (ΔE 10.41). For an exact match, any Clare retailer can custom-tint Sherwin-Williams SW 7520 instead. See the full Vintage swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Dark Brown
Farrow & Ball doesn't make a true equivalent of Dark Brown — the nearest deck color, Reduced Green (NO. 313), is clearly different (ΔE 12.16). For an exact match, any Farrow & Ball retailer can custom-tint Sherwin-Williams SW 7520 instead. See the full Reduced Green swatch →