Sherwin-Williams Positive Red#AD2C34 · LRV 11
Positive Red reads as a red / warm — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover the spec, what Sherwin-Williams SW 6871 actually looks like under different light, and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Positive Red |
| SKU | SW 6871 |
| Hex | #AD2C34 |
| RGB | 173, 44, 52 |
| HSL | 356°, 59%, 43% |
| LRV | 11 |
| Undertone | red / warm |
| Family | Red |
About Sherwin-Williams Positive Red
With an LRV of 11, Positive Red is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. 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. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Positive Red works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Reds bring energy and appetite, classic in dining rooms and front doors.
Kompozit alternative
The closest hex in the Kompozit deck, ranked by ΔE2000 (perceptual color difference). ΔE under 2 is indistinguishable to most eyes; under 5 is a very close visual match.
Closest matches at every US brand
9 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 red from that brand.
Valspar
Dunn-Edwards
Benjamin Moore
Backdrop
Behr
PPG / Glidden
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Clare
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Positive Red 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 #AD2C34 in HSL space. Pair Positive Red 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.