Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Serious Gray |
| SKU | SW 6256 |
| Hex | #7D848B |
| RGB | 125, 132, 139 |
| HSL | 210°, 6%, 52% |
| LRV | 23 |
| Undertone | cool blue tone |
| Family | Gray |
About Sherwin-Williams Serious Gray
With an LRV of 23, Serious Gray is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Serious Gray 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
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 gray 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
Rodda
C2 Paint
Clare
Kompozit
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Serious 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 #7D848B in HSL space. Pair Serious 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 Serious Gray Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Serious 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 6256 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Serious Gray
At Behr, the closest color to Serious Gray is Legendary Gray (PPU26-03) — very close at ΔE 3.22, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 22 vs 23) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Legendary Gray swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Serious Gray
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Serious Gray is Englewood Cliffs (1607) — very close at ΔE 2.09, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 24 vs 23) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Englewood Cliffs swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Serious Gray
At Valspar, the closest color to Serious Gray is Sharkfin (4007-2A) — very close at ΔE 2.98, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 23.6 vs 23) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Sharkfin swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Serious Gray
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Serious Gray is Garrison Gray (PPG1039-5) — very close at ΔE 3.37, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 23 vs 23) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Garrison Gray swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Serious Gray
At Glidden, the closest color to Serious Gray is Garrison Gray (PPG1039-5) — very close at ΔE 3.02, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 23 vs 23) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Garrison Gray swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Serious Gray
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Serious Gray is Refined Gray (435-5DB) — very close at ΔE 2.2, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 22 vs 23) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Refined Gray swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Serious Gray
The closest HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Serious Gray is Nevermore Grey (HGSW 1443). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 23 vs 23). If HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Nevermore Grey and you'll get the same color. See the full Nevermore Grey swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Serious Gray
Dunn-Edwards has no exact twin of Serious Gray. The nearest is Winding Road (DEFD61) at ΔE 4.07 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 23 vs 23). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Winding Road swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Serious Gray
Magnolia Home has no exact twin of Serious Gray. The nearest is Teak Cups (JG-139) at ΔE 4.46 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 24 vs 23). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Teak Cups swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Serious Gray
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Serious Gray is Slate Tint (0520) — very close at ΔE 3.12, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 23 vs 23) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Slate Tint swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Serious Gray
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Serious Gray is London Road (0527) — very close at ΔE 2.61, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 25 vs 23) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full London Road swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Serious Gray
At Rodda, the closest color to Serious Gray is Evening Traveller (R015) — very close at ΔE 3.15, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 24 vs 23) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Evening Traveller swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Serious Gray
The closest C2 Paint equivalent of Serious Gray is Smoking Jacket (C2-984). At ΔE 0.88 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 23 vs 23). If C2 Paint is your counter, order Smoking Jacket and you'll get the same color. See the full Smoking Jacket swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Serious Gray
At Clare, the closest color to Serious Gray is Irony (PNT100-MD-16) — very close at ΔE 3.02, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 21 vs 23) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Irony swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Serious Gray
At Kompozit, the closest color to Serious Gray is London Road (0527) — very close at ΔE 2.61, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 24 vs 23) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full London Road swatch →