Color spec
| Brand | Valspar |
| Name | Building Block |
| SKU | V145-3 |
| Hex | #A8A89F |
| RGB | 168, 168, 159 |
| HSL | 60°, 5%, 64% |
| LRV | 38.7 |
| Undertone | neutral with no strong undertone |
| Family | Gray |
About Valspar Building Block
Building Block sits in the mid-range at LRV 38.7, 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.
Building Block 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.
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
Portola Paints
Backdrop
Kompozit
Similar Valspar colors
closest in the Valspar deckThe nearest shades to Building Block 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 #A8A89F in HSL space. Pair Building Block 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 Building Block Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Building Block 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 V145-3 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Building Block
Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Gray Matters (SW 7066), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.44). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38.7) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Building Block without repainting risk. See the full Gray Matters swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Building Block
The closest Behr equivalent of Building Block is Old Celadon (PPU25-05). At ΔE 0.92 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm yellow undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38.7). If Behr is your counter, order Old Celadon and you'll get the same color. See the full Old Celadon swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Building Block
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Platinum Gray (HC-179), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.47). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 40 vs 38.7) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Building Block without repainting risk. See the full Platinum Gray swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Building Block
PPG / Glidden's nearest match is Hot Stone (PPG1007-4), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.05). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38.7) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Building Block without repainting risk. See the full Hot Stone swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Building Block
Glidden's nearest match is Hot Stone (PPG1007-4), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.53). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38.7) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Building Block without repainting risk. See the full Hot Stone swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Building Block
Dutch Boy has no exact twin of Building Block. The nearest is Ironed Gray (436-4DB) at ΔE 4.07 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38.7). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Ironed Gray swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Building Block
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Essex Grey (HGSW 1485), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.44). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38.7) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Building Block without repainting risk. See the full Essex Grey swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Building Block
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Building Block is Distant Dusk (DEGR46) — very close at ΔE 2.08, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38.7) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Distant Dusk swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Building Block
Magnolia Home's nearest match is Weathered Windmill (JG-15), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.61). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38.7) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Building Block without repainting risk. See the full Weathered Windmill swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Building Block
At Farrow & Ball, the closest color to Building Block is Vitty Green (NO. G3) — very close at ΔE 2.4, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 40 vs 38.7) and carries a warm yellow undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Vitty Green swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Building Block
The closest Diamond Vogel equivalent of Building Block is Shark Fin (0574). At ΔE 0.57 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm yellow undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38.7). If Diamond Vogel is your counter, order Shark Fin and you'll get the same color. See the full Shark Fin swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Building Block
Hirshfield's's nearest match is Silverado Ranch (0421), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.97). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 40 vs 38.7) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Building Block without repainting risk. See the full Silverado Ranch swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Building Block
At Rodda, the closest color to Building Block is Winter Wood (R027) — very close at ΔE 3.21, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 40 vs 38.7) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Winter Wood swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Building Block
The closest C2 Paint equivalent of Building Block is Pavement (C2-988). At ΔE 0.67 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38.7). If C2 Paint is your counter, order Pavement and you'll get the same color. See the full Pavement swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Building Block
Backdrop's nearest match is Nuevo (BD-NU), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.99). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38.7) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Building Block without repainting risk. See the full Nuevo swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Building Block
Kompozit's nearest match is Silverado Ranch (0421), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.97). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38.7) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Building Block without repainting risk. See the full Silverado Ranch swatch →