Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Ponder |
| SKU | SW 7079 |
| Hex | #BCB6B6 |
| RGB | 188, 182, 182 |
| HSL | 0°, 4%, 73% |
| LRV | 48 |
| Undertone | neutral with no strong undertone |
| Family | Gray |
About Sherwin-Williams Ponder
Ponder sits in the mid-range at LRV 48, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. South-facing rooms will pull it lighter and warmer, while north light cools it down.
Ponder 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
19 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
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Clare
Portola Paints
Annie Sloan
Rust-Oleum
Kompozit
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Ponder 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 #BCB6B6 in HSL space. Pair Ponder 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 Ponder Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Ponder 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 7079 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Ponder
At Behr, the closest color to Ponder is Sonic Silver (HDC-MD-26) — very close at ΔE 3.45, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 47 vs 48) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Sonic Silver swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Ponder
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Ponder is Victorian Mauve (2114-50) — very close at ΔE 3.46, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 48 vs 48) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Victorian Mauve swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Ponder
Valspar's nearest match is Ganymede (8006-12C), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.17). It runs slightly darker (LRV 46 vs 48) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Ponder without repainting risk. See the full Ganymede swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Ponder
PPG / Glidden has no exact twin of Ponder. The nearest is Pigeon Feather (PPG0995-4) at ΔE 3.96 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 48 vs 48). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Pigeon Feather swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Ponder
Glidden's nearest match is Hazy Grey (30RR 46/018), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.66). It runs slightly darker (LRV 46 vs 48) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Ponder without repainting risk. See the full Hazy Grey swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Ponder
Dutch Boy's nearest match is Gracious Gray (444-2DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.78). It runs slightly darker (LRV 46 vs 48) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Ponder without repainting risk. See the full Gracious Gray swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Ponder
The closest HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Ponder is Heaven Sent (HGSW 3376). At ΔE 0.68 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 48 vs 48). If HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Heaven Sent and you'll get the same color. See the full Heaven Sent swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Ponder
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Ponder is Silver Bullet (DE6381) — very close at ΔE 2.67, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 44 vs 48) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Silver Bullet swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Ponder
Diamond Vogel's nearest match is North Island (0552), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.35). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 50 vs 48) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Ponder without repainting risk. See the full North Island swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Ponder
Hirshfield's's nearest match is North Island (0552), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.1). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 49 vs 48) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Ponder without repainting risk. See the full North Island swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Ponder
Rodda has no exact twin of Ponder. The nearest is Hue is the Artist? (R115) at ΔE 3.99 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 48 vs 48). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Hue is the Artist? swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Ponder
C2 Paint has no exact twin of Ponder. The nearest is Melodic (C2-990) at ΔE 4.95 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 48 vs 48). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Melodic swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Ponder
At Clare, the closest color to Ponder is Greige (PNT100-LT-13) — very close at ΔE 3.3, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 49 vs 48) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Greige swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Ponder
Portola Paints's nearest match is Simmer Down (SIMMER DOWN), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.88). It runs slightly darker (LRV 46 vs 48) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Ponder without repainting risk. See the full Simmer Down swatch →
Annie Sloan Equivalent of Ponder
Annie Sloan's nearest match is Paloma (PALOMA), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.9). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 47 vs 48) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Ponder without repainting risk. See the full Paloma swatch →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Ponder
Rust-Oleum has no exact twin of Ponder. The nearest is Aged Gray (285143) at ΔE 4.72 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 48 vs 48). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Aged Gray swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Ponder
Kompozit's nearest match is North Island (0552), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.1). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 47 vs 48) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Ponder without repainting risk. See the full North Island swatch →