Color spec
| Brand | Valspar |
| Name | Academy Gray |
| SKU | 5001-2A |
| Hex | #6D7C81 |
| RGB | 109, 124, 129 |
| HSL | 195°, 8%, 47% |
| LRV | 19.3 |
| Undertone | cool blue-green tone |
| Family | Teal |
About Valspar Academy Gray
With an LRV of 19.3, Academy Gray is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Its teal 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.
Academy Gray works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Teals add character without shouting — good for a vanity, an island or a feature wall.
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 teal from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Benjamin Moore
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 Valspar colors
closest in the Valspar deckThe nearest shades to Academy Gray within Valspar'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 #6D7C81 in HSL space. Pair Academy 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.
Valspar Academy Gray Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Academy 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 Valspar 5001-2A directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Academy Gray
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Academy Gray is Foggy Day (SW 6235) — very close at ΔE 2.03, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 20 vs 19.3) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Foggy Day swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Academy Gray
At Behr, the closest color to Academy Gray is Ocean Swell (PPU25-19) — very close at ΔE 2.21, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 19 vs 19.3) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Ocean Swell swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Academy Gray
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Academy Gray is Steep Cliff Gray (2122-20) — very close at ΔE 2.14, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 21 vs 19.3) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Steep Cliff Gray swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Academy Gray
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Academy Gray is Phantom (PPG1036-6) — very close at ΔE 2.26, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 19 vs 19.3) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Phantom swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Academy Gray
At Glidden, the closest color to Academy Gray is French Grey (70BG 19/071) — very close at ΔE 2.44, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 19 vs 19.3) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full French Grey swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Academy Gray
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Academy Gray is Aged Denim (431-4DB) — very close at ΔE 2.57, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 19 vs 19.3) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Aged Denim swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Academy Gray
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Academy Gray. The nearest is Aquamarined (HGSW 3313) at ΔE 4.57 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 19 vs 19.3). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Aquamarined swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Academy Gray
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Taliesin Blue (DEC798), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.2). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 19 vs 19.3) and carries a cool blue-green undertone, so it substitutes for Academy Gray without repainting risk. See the full Taliesin Blue swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Academy Gray
The closest Farrow & Ball equivalent of Academy Gray is Barrow Blue (NO. G8). At ΔE 0.81 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue-green undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 19 vs 19.3). If Farrow & Ball is your counter, order Barrow Blue and you'll get the same color. See the full Barrow Blue swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Academy Gray
Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Academy Gray. The nearest is Polar Pond (0492) at ΔE 3.56 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 20 vs 19.3). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Polar Pond swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Academy Gray
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Academy Gray is Polar Pond (0492) — very close at ΔE 3.02, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 20 vs 19.3) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Polar Pond swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Academy Gray
Clare has no exact twin of Academy Gray. The nearest is Irony (PNT100-MD-16) at ΔE 4.78 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 21 vs 19.3). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Irony swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Academy Gray
At Kompozit, the closest color to Academy Gray is Polar Pond (0492) — very close at ΔE 3.02, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 19 vs 19.3) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Polar Pond swatch →