Cadet Gray
4001-2A · #8A8486 · LRV 23.5 — neutral with no strong undertone, dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs.
- 1Black Fox7
- 2Pewter Green12
- 3Cadet Gray23.5
- 4Stardew43
- 5Quietude48
What Color Is Cadet Gray, Really?
Cadet Gray reads as a neutral with no strong undertone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Valspar 4001-2A behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Cadet Gray
Cadet 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.
How Lighting Changes Cadet Gray
With an LRV of 23.5, Cadet 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.
Most complaints about Cadet Gray are a light mismatch. Upload a photo of your actual room and see it on your walls — then ask for the same wall in north light or evening lamps before you buy a single sample.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Valspar 4001-2A directly. If you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches, measured as ΔE2000. Under 2 is a difference you will not see on the wall.
| Brand | Closest color | ΔE | LRV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Behr | Pewter RingUL260-4 · Behr | 2.2 | 24 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | CinderAF-705 · Benjamin Moore | 4.0 | 23 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Pewter MugPPG1004-5 · PPG / Glidden | 1.5 | 23 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Pewter MugPPG1004-5 · Glidden | 1.6 | 23 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Relaxed Gray437-4DB · Dutch Boy | 4.6 | 25 | Color page → |
| Dunn-Edwards | Fallen RockDE6389 · Dunn-Edwards | 2.5 | 23 | Color page → |
Similar Valspar Colors
The nearest shades to Cadet Gray within Valspar's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
WCAG 2.1: AA is 4.5 : 1 for normal text, 3 : 1 for large text, AAA is 7 : 1.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #8A8486 in HSL space. Pair Cadet Gray with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Have you painted with Cadet Gray?
Rate it — one tap helps the next reader decide.
Ask a Question