Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Intellectual Gray |
| SKU | SW 7045 |
| Hex | #A8A093 |
| RGB | 168, 160, 147 |
| HSL | 37°, 11%, 62% |
| LRV | 36 |
| Undertone | warm red-orange tone |
| Family | Neutral |
About Sherwin-Williams Intellectual Gray
Intellectual Gray sits in the mid-range at LRV 36, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. 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. South-facing rooms will pull it lighter and warmer, while north light cools it down.
Intellectual Gray is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Greige-leaning neutrals like this are the safe whole-home choice when you want warmth without committing to a color.
Closest matches by brand
18 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 neutral 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
Annie Sloan
Backdrop
Kompozit
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Intellectual 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 #A8A093 in HSL space. Pair Intellectual 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 Intellectual Gray Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Intellectual 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 7045 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Intellectual Gray
The closest Behr equivalent of Intellectual Gray is Jackal (T12-12). At ΔE 0.53 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 36 vs 36). If Behr is your counter, order Jackal and you'll get the same color. See the full Jackal swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Intellectual Gray
The closest Benjamin Moore equivalent of Intellectual Gray is River Reflections (1552). At ΔE 0.65 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 35 vs 36). If Benjamin Moore is your counter, order River Reflections and you'll get the same color. See the full River Reflections swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Intellectual Gray
Valspar's nearest match is Gray Silt (6002-1C), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.36). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 35.9 vs 36) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Intellectual Gray without repainting risk. See the full Gray Silt swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Intellectual Gray
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Intellectual Gray is Simmering Smoke (PPG1019-4) — very close at ΔE 2.56, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 35 vs 36) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Simmering Smoke swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Intellectual Gray
At Glidden, the closest color to Intellectual Gray is Simmering Smoke (PPG1019-4) — very close at ΔE 2.56, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 35 vs 36) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Simmering Smoke swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Intellectual Gray
The closest Dutch Boy equivalent of Intellectual Gray is Poised Neutral (440-4DB). 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 36 vs 36). If Dutch Boy is your counter, order Poised Neutral and you'll get the same color. See the full Poised Neutral swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Intellectual Gray
The closest HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Intellectual Gray is Intellectual Gray (HGSW 3485). 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 36 vs 36). If HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Intellectual Gray and you'll get the same color. See the full Intellectual Gray swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Intellectual Gray
The closest Dunn-Edwards equivalent of Intellectual Gray is Feldspar (DEGR31). At ΔE 0.65 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 35 vs 36). If Dunn-Edwards is your counter, order Feldspar and you'll get the same color. See the full Feldspar swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Intellectual Gray
Magnolia Home's nearest match is Quaint Cottage (JG-114), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.52). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 37 vs 36) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Intellectual Gray without repainting risk. See the full Quaint Cottage swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Intellectual Gray
The closest Diamond Vogel equivalent of Intellectual Gray is Wood Shadow (0205). At ΔE 0.64 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 36 vs 36). If Diamond Vogel is your counter, order Wood Shadow and you'll get the same color. See the full Wood Shadow swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Intellectual Gray
The closest Hirshfield's equivalent of Intellectual Gray is Drifting Sand (0218). At ΔE 0.86 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 36 vs 36). If Hirshfield's is your counter, order Drifting Sand and you'll get the same color. See the full Drifting Sand swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Intellectual Gray
Rodda's nearest match is Bay Leaf (CA142), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.37). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 35 vs 36) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Intellectual Gray without repainting risk. See the full Bay Leaf swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Intellectual Gray
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Intellectual Gray is Aggregate (C2-956) — very close at ΔE 2.75, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 35 vs 36) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Aggregate swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Intellectual Gray
Portola Paints's nearest match is La Catedral (LA CATEDRAL), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.61). It runs slightly darker (LRV 34 vs 36) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Intellectual Gray without repainting risk. See the full La Catedral swatch →
Annie Sloan Equivalent of Intellectual Gray
Annie Sloan has no exact twin of Intellectual Gray. The nearest is French Linen (FRENCH LINEN) at ΔE 4.78 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 34 vs 36). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full French Linen swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Intellectual Gray
At Backdrop, the closest color to Intellectual Gray is Carry the Two (BD-CT) — very close at ΔE 2.88, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 33 vs 36) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Carry the Two swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Intellectual Gray
The closest Kompozit equivalent of Intellectual Gray is Drifting Sand (0218). At ΔE 0.86 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 35 vs 36). If Kompozit is your counter, order Drifting Sand and you'll get the same color. See the full Drifting Sand swatch →