Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Rare Gray |
| SKU | SW 6199 |
| Hex | #A6A69B |
| RGB | 166, 166, 155 |
| HSL | 60°, 6%, 63% |
| LRV | 38 |
| Undertone | warm yellow tone |
| Family | Gray |
About Sherwin-Williams Rare Gray
Rare 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. 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.
Rare 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
16 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
Backdrop
Kompozit
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Rare 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 #A6A69B in HSL space. Pair Rare 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 Rare Gray Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Rare 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 6199 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Rare Gray
The closest Behr equivalent of Rare Gray is Historical Gray (N370-4A). At ΔE 0.92 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm yellow undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38). If Behr is your counter, order Historical Gray and you'll get the same color. See the full Historical Gray swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Rare Gray
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Sabre Gray (1482), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.6). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Rare Gray without repainting risk. See the full Sabre Gray swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Rare Gray
Valspar's nearest match is Building Block (V145-3), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.13). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38.7 vs 38) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Rare Gray without repainting risk. See the full Building Block swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Rare Gray
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Rare Gray is Wandering Willow (PPG1031-3) — very close at ΔE 2.88, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Wandering Willow swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Rare Gray
At Glidden, the closest color to Rare Gray is Wandering Willow (PPG1031-3) — very close at ΔE 2.88, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Wandering Willow swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Rare Gray
Dutch Boy has no exact twin of Rare Gray. The nearest is Quarry Lane (442-4DB) at ΔE 4.67 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 37 vs 38). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Quarry Lane swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Rare Gray
The closest HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Rare Gray is Rare Gray (HGSW 3275). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm yellow undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38). If HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Rare Gray and you'll get the same color. See the full Rare Gray swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Rare Gray
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Whale Watching (DET512), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.82). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 37 vs 38) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Rare Gray without repainting risk. See the full Whale Watching swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Rare Gray
At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Rare Gray is Quaint Cottage (JG-114) — very close at ΔE 3.04, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 37 vs 38) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Quaint Cottage swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Rare Gray
Diamond Vogel's nearest match is Shark Fin (0574), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.23). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Rare Gray without repainting risk. See the full Shark Fin swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Rare Gray
Hirshfield's's nearest match is Silverado Ranch (0421), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.19). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 40 vs 38) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Rare Gray without repainting risk. See the full Silverado Ranch swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Rare Gray
At Rodda, the closest color to Rare Gray is Buried Fossil (R057) — very close at ΔE 2.16, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Buried Fossil swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Rare Gray
C2 Paint's nearest match is Bramble (C2-957), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.33). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Rare Gray without repainting risk. See the full Bramble swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Rare Gray
At Backdrop, the closest color to Rare Gray is Nuevo (BD-NU) — very close at ΔE 2.04, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Nuevo swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Rare Gray
Kompozit's nearest match is Silverado Ranch (0421), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.19). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Rare Gray without repainting risk. See the full Silverado Ranch swatch →