Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Searching Blue |
| SKU | SW 6536 |
| Hex | #6C7F9A |
| RGB | 108, 127, 154 |
| HSL | 215°, 19%, 51% |
| LRV | 21 |
| Undertone | cool blue tone |
| Family | Gray |
About Sherwin-Williams Searching Blue
With an LRV of 21, Searching Blue is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Its blue 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.
Searching Blue works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.
Closest matches by brand
13 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
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
C2 Paint
Annie Sloan
Kompozit
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Searching Blue 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 #6C7F9A in HSL space. Pair Searching Blue 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 Searching Blue Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Searching Blue 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 6536 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Searching Blue
The closest Behr equivalent of Searching Blue is Lead Cast (MQ5-52). At ΔE 0.74 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 21 vs 21). If Behr is your counter, order Lead Cast and you'll get the same color. See the full Lead Cast swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Searching Blue
Benjamin Moore has no exact twin of Searching Blue. The nearest is In the Twilight (1434) at ΔE 3.72 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 22 vs 21). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full In the Twilight swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Searching Blue
At Valspar, the closest color to Searching Blue is Merman (T601) — very close at ΔE 2.43, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 20.6 vs 21) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Merman swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Searching Blue
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Searching Blue is Silver Blueberry (PPG1163-5) — very close at ΔE 2.79, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 21 vs 21) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Silver Blueberry swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Searching Blue
At Glidden, the closest color to Searching Blue is Silver Blueberry (PPG1163-5) — very close at ΔE 2.3, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 21 vs 21) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Silver Blueberry swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Searching Blue
The closest Dutch Boy equivalent of Searching Blue is Lustrous Blue (339-5DB). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 21 vs 21). If Dutch Boy is your counter, order Lustrous Blue and you'll get the same color. See the full Lustrous Blue swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Searching Blue
The closest HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Searching Blue is Searching Blue (HGSW 2393). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 21 vs 21). If HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Searching Blue and you'll get the same color. See the full Searching Blue swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Searching Blue
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Bay View (DE5886), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.37). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 20 vs 21) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Searching Blue without repainting risk. See the full Bay View swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Searching Blue
Diamond Vogel's nearest match is Madonna Blue (0590), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.97). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 20 vs 21) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Searching Blue without repainting risk. See the full Madonna Blue swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Searching Blue
C2 Paint has no exact twin of Searching Blue. The nearest is Moody Blue (C2-763) at ΔE 4.59 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 21 vs 21). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Moody Blue swatch →
Annie Sloan Equivalent of Searching Blue
Annie Sloan has no exact twin of Searching Blue. The nearest is Greek Blue (GREEK BLUE) at ΔE 4.83 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 23 vs 21). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Greek Blue swatch →