Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Swanky Gray |
| SKU | SW 6261 |
| Hex | #B5B1B5 |
| RGB | 181, 177, 181 |
| HSL | 300°, 3%, 70% |
| LRV | 45 |
| Undertone | neutral with no strong undertone |
| Family | Gray |
About Sherwin-Williams Swanky Gray
Swanky Gray sits in the mid-range at LRV 45, 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.
Swanky 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
17 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
Portola Paints
Annie Sloan
Rust-Oleum
Kompozit
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Swanky 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 #B5B1B5 in HSL space. Pair Swanky 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 Swanky Gray Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Swanky 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 6261 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Swanky Gray
At Behr, the closest color to Swanky Gray is Sparrow (780F-4) — very close at ΔE 2.89, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 44 vs 45) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Sparrow swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Swanky Gray
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Swanky Gray is Silver Dollar (1460) — very close at ΔE 3.14, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 44 vs 45) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Silver Dollar swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Swanky Gray
The closest Valspar equivalent of Swanky Gray is Frisky Whiskers (8004-1C). At ΔE 0.87 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 46 vs 45). If Valspar is your counter, order Frisky Whiskers and you'll get the same color. See the full Frisky Whiskers swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Swanky Gray
The closest PPG / Glidden equivalent of Swanky Gray is Silver Bells (PPG1003-3). At ΔE 0.87 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 46 vs 45). If PPG / Glidden is your counter, order Silver Bells and you'll get the same color. See the full Silver Bells swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Swanky Gray
Glidden's nearest match is Silver Bells (PPG1003-3), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.31). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 46 vs 45) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Swanky Gray without repainting risk. See the full Silver Bells swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Swanky Gray
The closest Dutch Boy equivalent of Swanky Gray is Gracious Gray (444-2DB). At ΔE 0.96 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 46 vs 45). If Dutch Boy is your counter, order Gracious Gray and you'll get the same color. See the full Gracious Gray swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Swanky Gray
The closest HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Swanky Gray is Refracted (HGSW 3396). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 45 vs 45). If HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Refracted and you'll get the same color. See the full Refracted swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Swanky Gray
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Heliotrope Gray (DEGR78), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.09). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 47 vs 45) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Swanky Gray without repainting risk. See the full Heliotrope Gray swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Swanky Gray
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Swanky Gray is Buffed Plum (1317) — very close at ΔE 3.02, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 45 vs 45) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Buffed Plum swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Swanky Gray
Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Swanky Gray. The nearest is Praise Giving (0540) at ΔE 4.59 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 45 vs 45). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Praise Giving swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Swanky Gray
At Rodda, the closest color to Swanky Gray is Lavender (CA199) — very close at ΔE 2.56, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 44 vs 45) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Lavender swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Swanky Gray
Portola Paints's nearest match is Simmer Down (SIMMER DOWN), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.57). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 46 vs 45) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Swanky Gray without repainting risk. See the full Simmer Down swatch →
Annie Sloan Equivalent of Swanky Gray
Annie Sloan has no exact twin of Swanky Gray. The nearest is Paloma (PALOMA) at ΔE 3.96 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 47 vs 45). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Paloma swatch →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Swanky Gray
Rust-Oleum has no exact twin of Swanky Gray. The nearest is Aged Gray (285143) at ΔE 3.97 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 48 vs 45). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Aged Gray swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Swanky Gray
Kompozit has no exact twin of Swanky Gray. The nearest is Praise Giving (0540) at ΔE 4.59 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 44 vs 45). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Praise Giving swatch →