Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Software |
| SKU | SW 7074 |
| Hex | #7F8486 |
| RGB | 127, 132, 134 |
| HSL | 197°, 3%, 51% |
| LRV | 23 |
| Undertone | neutral with no strong undertone |
| Family | Gray |
About Sherwin-Williams Software
With an LRV of 23, Software 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.
Software 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
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
Clare
Kompozit
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Software 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 #7F8486 in HSL space. Pair Software 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 Software Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Software 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 7074 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Software
The closest Behr equivalent of Software is Legendary Gray (PPU26-03). At ΔE 0.72 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 22 vs 23). If Behr is your counter, order Legendary Gray and you'll get the same color. See the full Legendary Gray swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Software
The closest Benjamin Moore equivalent of Software is Englewood Cliffs (1607). At ΔE 0.58 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 24 vs 23). If Benjamin Moore is your counter, order Englewood Cliffs and you'll get the same color. See the full Englewood Cliffs swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Software
Valspar's nearest match is City Storm (4008-2A), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.22). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 23 vs 23) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Software without repainting risk. See the full City Storm swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Software
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Software is Garrison Gray (PPG1039-5) — very close at ΔE 2.69, 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 Software
At Glidden, the closest color to Software is Garrison Gray (PPG1039-5) — very close at ΔE 2.24, 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 Software
The closest Dutch Boy equivalent of Software is Refined Gray (435-5DB). At ΔE 0.93 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 22 vs 23). If Dutch Boy is your counter, order Refined Gray and you'll get the same color. See the full Refined Gray swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Software
The closest HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Software is Software (HGSW 1463). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 23 vs 23). If HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Software and you'll get the same color. See the full Software swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Software
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Storm Cloud (DE6362), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.59). It runs slightly darker (LRV 21 vs 23) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Software without repainting risk. See the full Storm Cloud swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Software
Magnolia Home's nearest match is Teak Cups (JG-139), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.97). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 24 vs 23) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Software without repainting risk. See the full Teak Cups swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Software
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Software is Subtle Shadow (0534) — very close at ΔE 2.1, 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 Subtle Shadow swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Software
Hirshfield's's nearest match is Subtle Shadow (0534), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.47). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 24 vs 23) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Software without repainting risk. See the full Subtle Shadow swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Software
At Rodda, the closest color to Software is Evening Traveller (R015) — very close at ΔE 2.4, 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 Software
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Software is Smoking Jacket (C2-984) — very close at ΔE 3.19, 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 Smoking Jacket swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Software
Clare's nearest match is Irony (PNT100-MD-16), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.5). It runs slightly darker (LRV 21 vs 23) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Software without repainting risk. See the full Irony swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Software
Kompozit's nearest match is Subtle Shadow (0534), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.47). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 22 vs 23) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Software without repainting risk. See the full Subtle Shadow swatch →