Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Flexible Gray |
| SKU | SW 6010 |
| Hex | #B1A3A1 |
| RGB | 177, 163, 161 |
| HSL | 7°, 9%, 66% |
| LRV | 38 |
| Undertone | warm red tone |
| Family | Gray |
About Sherwin-Williams Flexible Gray
Flexible Gray 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. Its red 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. South-facing rooms will pull it lighter and warmer, while north light cools it down.
Flexible Gray 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
13 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
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Kompozit
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Flexible Gray 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 #B1A3A1 in HSL space. Pair Flexible Gray 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 Flexible Gray Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Flexible Gray 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 6010 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Flexible Gray
Behr's nearest match is Lavender Suede (HDC-NT-19), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.11). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Flexible Gray without repainting risk. See the full Lavender Suede swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Flexible Gray
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Flexible Gray is Mauve Desert (2113-50) — very close at ΔE 2.16, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Mauve Desert swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Flexible Gray
Valspar's nearest match is Mystical Gray (8004-3D), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.36). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Flexible Gray without repainting risk. See the full Mystical Gray swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Flexible Gray
At Glidden, the closest color to Flexible Gray is Truly Taupe (50RR 39/025) — very close at ΔE 3.38, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Truly Taupe swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Flexible Gray
The closest Dutch Boy equivalent of Flexible Gray is Claystone (403-3DB). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38). If Dutch Boy is your counter, order Claystone and you'll get the same color. See the full Claystone swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Flexible Gray
The closest HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Flexible Gray is Felted Gray (HGSW 3425). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38). If HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Felted Gray and you'll get the same color. See the full Felted Gray swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Flexible Gray
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Flexible Gray is Hazelnut (DE6032) — very close at ΔE 2.81, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 34 vs 38) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Hazelnut swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Flexible Gray
Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Flexible Gray. The nearest is Cozy Cover (0140) at ΔE 3.88 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Cozy Cover swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Flexible Gray
At Rodda, the closest color to Flexible Gray is Bohemia (R110) — very close at ΔE 2.4, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Bohemia swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Flexible Gray
Kompozit has no exact twin of Flexible Gray. The nearest is Cozy Cover (0140) at ΔE 3.88 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Cozy Cover swatch →