Sherwin-Williams DovetailvsSherwin-Williams Gauntlet Gray
Why this comparison: Both dark SW greiges for doors and islands; Gauntlet Gray brings noticeably more depth. Dovetail and Gauntlet Gray are close but distinct (ΔE 8.85). Visible difference on the wall, especially in flat daylight.
Built from our full reviews of both colors — same measured data, same real-room photos. About the testing process →
The Numbers
Dovetail is slightly lighter (LRV 26 vs 17, 9-point delta).
What Each Color Really Is
A warm gray with real brown in the mix, and no single dramatic story behind it — which is the point. Dovetail sits in Sherwin-Williams' neutral collection as one of the brand's most consistently reached-for colors for cabinetry, exteriors, and doors, without ever getting the Color of the Year spotlight or the magazine profile that colors like Naval or Urbane Bronze got. It is famous the quiet way: contractors keep specifying it, kitchen islands keep getting painted it, and it keeps showing up in "best warm gray" round-ups years after it launched.
At LRV 26 it is a genuinely mid-deep color, closer in weight to Chelsea Gray than to Agreeable Gray. That depth is the whole trade: on a small sample chip it can look like a pleasant medium gray, but depth multiplies undertone on four walls, and Dovetail arrives noticeably darker and browner than the chip promised. That is a feature on a kitchen island or a single front door — it is exactly the risk on a whole small room with one window.
Gauntlet Gray (SW 7019) is a dark warm gray. The hex value #76726A is nearly balanced across red, green, and blue, and the saturation reading is only about 5 percent, so this is a genuine gray rather than a brown pretending to be one. What tilts it is the hue at 40 degrees, which adds a quiet warm cast and keeps it from going cold or blue. An LRV of 17 puts it firmly in the dark band, deep enough to change the mood of a room the moment it goes up.
People reach for it when they want charcoal without the chill. Cool grays at this depth can feel severe, while Gauntlet Gray stays grounded and a little earthy. That makes it a common pick for exterior siding, front doors, kitchen islands, and cabinetry where the goal is weight rather than color.
Specs Side by Side
| Spec | Dovetail | Gauntlet Gray |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams | Sherwin-Williams |
| SKU | SW 7018 | SW 7019 |
| Hex | #908A83 | #78736E |
| RGB | 144, 138, 131 | 120, 115, 110 |
| LRV | 26 | 17 |
| Undertone | red-orange / warm | true neutral |
| Family | Gray | Gray |
How Light Changes Them
Warm sun keeps the brown and gray balanced — this is the light where it reads rich, not muddy.
Cool flat daylight drains the warmth and leaves a dull, muddy green-gray. Test before committing a whole room.
Cooler and grayer in the morning, warmer and more brown-leaning by afternoon. The shift is real but gentle.
2700K lamps deepen the brown and make it feel grounded. Cool white LEDs flatten it toward a dull slate — swap bulbs before you blame the paint.
With an LRV of 17, Gauntlet Gray reflects little light, so every source in the room counts. In north-facing rooms it goes deeper and quieter and the warmth mostly disappears, leaving a sober charcoal. Corners and walls away from the window will read close to black.
South-facing rooms bring the warmth back. Steady sun lifts the 40 degree hue and the color looks softer and more brown-gray, closer to weathered stone than to charcoal. East rooms look flat and cool in the morning and warm as the day moves on, and west rooms hold their depth until late-day light warms them noticeably.
Both Colors in Real Rooms
Photos from our full reviews — the same rooms and captions, so you can judge each color where it actually lives, not on a chip.
When to Pick Which
Kitchen islands and cabinets · exterior siding and front doors · dens and home offices with real daylight · anyone who wants more depth than Agreeable Gray without going full charcoal
Your room is small, north-facing and dim · you want a true light gray you can paint without a sample · your trim and floors are cool gray or icy white · you're choosing between five look-alike warm grays in the store and need the fastest safe answer
Best when you want the more neutral baseline — works in nearly any room.
No comparison page can see your light. Upload one photo of your room and try both colors on the same walls, seconds apart.
Dovetail vs Gauntlet Gray FAQ
Which is lighter, Dovetail or Gauntlet Gray?
Dovetail is lighter: LRV 26 vs 17. Dovetail is slightly lighter (LRV 26 vs 17, 9-point delta).
Which is warmer, Dovetail or Gauntlet Gray?
Dovetail is the warmer of the two (red-orange / warm); Gauntlet Gray reads true neutral.
How similar are Dovetail and Gauntlet Gray?
Dovetail and Gauntlet Gray are close but distinct (ΔE 8.85). Visible difference on the wall, especially in flat daylight. The only reliable test is seeing both in your own room and light — a side-by-side on a screen or chip flattens the difference.
Can I use Dovetail and Gauntlet Gray together in one house?
Yes, in separate rooms. They are close enough to feel related but different enough to notice, so give each its own room and connect them with a shared trim white. Avoid putting them on adjoining walls.
Ask a Question