Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Real Red |
| SKU | SW 6868 |
| Hex | #A82F2A |
| RGB | 168, 47, 42 |
| HSL | 2°, 60%, 41% |
| LRV | 9 |
| Undertone | red / warm |
| Family | Red |
About Sherwin-Williams Real Red
At LRV 9, Real Red is about as dark as paint gets — it reads near-black on a wall and reveals its character only in direct daylight or under warm bulbs. 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. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Real Red earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Reds bring energy and appetite, classic in dining rooms and front doors.
Closest matches by brand
14 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
Hirshfield's
C2 Paint
Backdrop
Rust-Oleum
Kompozit
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Real 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 #A82F2A in HSL space. Pair Real 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 Real Red Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Real 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 6868 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Real Red
Behr has no exact twin of Real Red. The nearest is Indiscreet (UL110-6) at ΔE 3.63 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 12 vs 9). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Indiscreet swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Real Red
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Real Red is Hot Tamale (CSP-1155) — very close at ΔE 2.43, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 13 vs 9) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Hot Tamale swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Real Red
At Valspar, the closest color to Real Red is Très Bien (8001-9G) — very close at ΔE 3.06, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 9) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Très Bien swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Real Red
PPG / Glidden has no exact twin of Real Red. The nearest is Red Gumball (PPG1187-7) at ΔE 4.55 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 12 vs 9). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Red Gumball swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Real Red
Glidden has no exact twin of Real Red. The nearest is Crimson Red (31YR 10/591) at ΔE 3.95 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 9). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Crimson Red swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Real Red
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Real Red is Sugared Maple (104-7DB) — very close at ΔE 3.06, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 11 vs 9) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Sugared Maple swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Real Red
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Real Red is Red Tanager (HGSW 1062) — very close at ΔE 2.37, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 11 vs 9) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Red Tanager swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Real Red
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Real Red is Red Ink (DEA151) — very close at ΔE 2.96, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 11 vs 9) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Red Ink swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Real Red
The closest Magnolia Home equivalent of Real Red is Brave And Bold (JG-32). At ΔE 0.77 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 9). If Magnolia Home is your counter, order Brave And Bold and you'll get the same color. See the full Brave And Bold swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Real Red
Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Real Red. The nearest is Siren (1117) at ΔE 3.99 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 11 vs 9). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Siren swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Real Red
At Backdrop, the closest color to Real Red is Bahaus (BD-BH) — very close at ΔE 2.23, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 9) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Bahaus swatch →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Real Red
Rust-Oleum has no exact twin of Real Red. The nearest is Farmhouse Red (329211) at ΔE 4.51 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 13 vs 9). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Farmhouse Red swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Real Red
Kompozit has no exact twin of Real Red. The nearest is Siren (1117) at ΔE 3.99 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 9). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Siren swatch →