Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Positive Red |
| SKU | SW 6871 |
| Hex | #AD2C34 |
| RGB | 173, 44, 52 |
| HSL | 356°, 59%, 43% |
| LRV | 11 |
| Undertone | warm red tone |
| 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.
Closest matches by brand
15 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 red from that brand.
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
C2 Paint
Annie Sloan
Backdrop
Kompozit
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.
Sherwin-Williams Positive Red Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Positive Red 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 6871 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Positive Red
Behr's nearest match is Indiscreet (UL110-6), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.8). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 11) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Positive Red without repainting risk. See the full Indiscreet swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Positive Red
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Exotic Red (2086-10), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.25). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 11) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Positive Red without repainting risk. See the full Exotic Red swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Positive Red
The closest Valspar equivalent of Positive Red is Planet Fever (V006-3). At ΔE 0.8 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 11.1 vs 11). If Valspar is your counter, order Planet Fever and you'll get the same color. See the full Planet Fever swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Positive Red
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Positive Red is Red Gumball (PPG1187-7) — very close at ΔE 2.47, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 11) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Red Gumball swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Positive Red
Glidden's nearest match is Crimson Red (31YR 10/591), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.36). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 11) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Positive Red without repainting risk. See the full Crimson Red swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Positive Red
The closest Dutch Boy equivalent of Positive Red is Sugared Maple (104-7DB). At ΔE 0.98 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 11). If Dutch Boy is your counter, order Sugared Maple and you'll get the same color. See the full Sugared Maple swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Positive Red
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Positive Red is Show Stopper (HGSW 1052) — very close at ΔE 2.18, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 11) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Show Stopper swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Positive Red
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Red Ink (DEA151), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.1). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 11) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Positive Red without repainting risk. See the full Red Ink swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Positive Red
At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Positive Red is Brave And Bold (JG-32) — very close at ΔE 3.36, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 11) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Brave And Bold swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Positive Red
The closest Hirshfield's equivalent of Positive Red is Unmatched Beauty (1110). At ΔE 0.86 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red undertone and runs slightly lighter (LRV 13 vs 11). If Hirshfield's is your counter, order Unmatched Beauty and you'll get the same color. See the full Unmatched Beauty swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Positive Red
C2 Paint has no exact twin of Positive Red. The nearest is Tango (C2-566) at ΔE 3.68 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 12 vs 11). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Tango swatch →
Annie Sloan Equivalent of Positive Red
Annie Sloan has no exact twin of Positive Red. The nearest is Emperors Silk (EMPERORS SILK) at ΔE 4.69 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 13 vs 11). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Emperors Silk swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Positive Red
Backdrop's nearest match is Bahaus (BD-BH), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.47). It runs slightly darker (LRV 8 vs 11) and carries a warm red undertone, so it substitutes for Positive Red without repainting risk. See the full Bahaus swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Positive Red
The closest Kompozit equivalent of Positive Red is Unmatched Beauty (1110). At ΔE 0.86 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 11 vs 11). If Kompozit is your counter, order Unmatched Beauty and you'll get the same color. See the full Unmatched Beauty swatch →