CP

Valspar Gray Expose5007-2A · #97978C · LRV 30.6

Gray Expose reads as a warm yellow tone — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover the color's details, what Valspar 5007-2A actually looks like under different light, and the closest matches at competing US brands.

VALSPAR GRAY EXPOSE
RGB 151, 151, 140LRV 30.6

Color spec

BrandValspar
NameGray Expose
SKU5007-2A
Hex#97978C
RGB151, 151, 140
HSL60°, 5%, 57%
LRV30.6
Undertonewarm yellow tone
FamilyGray
See Valspar Gray Expose on your own walls — upload a room photo.SEE IT IN YOUR ROOM →

About Valspar Gray Expose

Gray Expose sits in the mid-range at LRV 30.6, 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.

Gray Expose 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

18 brands within ΔE 5

The 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

1,947 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.11
All gray at Sherwin-Williams →
SW 9131 · #949488 · ΔE 1.11 · LRV 29
SW 9130 · #95978A · ΔE 1.47 · LRV 30
SW 9126 · #9D9887 · ΔE 3.25 · LRV 31
SW 7673 · #9B9893 · ΔE 3.8 · LRV 31

Behr

5,644 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.02
All gray at Behr →
MQ6-21 · #95978C · ΔE 1.02 · LRV 30
ECC-36-1 · #939689 · ΔE 1.96 · LRV 30
N360-4 · #99968F · ΔE 2.81 · LRV 31
MQ2-60 · #99948C · ΔE 3.45 · LRV 30

Benjamin Moore

4,068 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.04
All gray at Benjamin Moore →
1559 · #9A9A8E · ΔE 1.04 · LRV 32
1475 · #99958C · ΔE 2.58 · LRV 31
HC-107 · #9A9684 · ΔE 3.25 · LRV 30
CSP-80 · #9D968C · ΔE 3.96 · LRV 31

PPG / Glidden

2,132 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.76
All gray at PPG / Glidden →
PPG0999-4 · #999489 · ΔE 2.76 · LRV 30
PPG1007-5 · #97938C · ΔE 3.4 · LRV 29
PPG0994-6 · #919691 · ΔE 3.5 · LRV 30
PPG1128-5 · #939A8A · ΔE 4.2 · LRV 31

Glidden

3,101 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.67
All gray at Glidden →
PPG0999-4 · #999488 · ΔE 2.67 · LRV 30
10GY 30/104 · #959987 · ΔE 3.77 · LRV 30
PPG1128-5 · #939A89 · ΔE 4.44 · LRV 31
PPG0997-5 · #969795 · ΔE 4.47 · LRV 31

Dutch Boy

1,340 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.8
All gray at Dutch Boy →
438-4DB · #9B9893 · ΔE 3.8 · LRV 31
439-3DB · #A0998F · ΔE 4.11 · LRV 32
HGSW 3274 · #949488 · ΔE 1.11 · LRV 29
HGSW 9131 · #949488 · ΔE 1.11 · LRV 29
HGSW 3264 · #95978A · ΔE 1.47 · LRV 30
HGSW 9130 · #95978A · ΔE 1.47 · LRV 30

Dunn-Edwards

2,298 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.13
All gray at Dunn-Edwards →
DEGR28 · #9B988F · ΔE 2.13 · LRV 31
DET514 · #939789 · ΔE 2.57 · LRV 30
DESS46 · #99948B · ΔE 3.15 · LRV 30
DET513 · #959988 · ΔE 3.45 · LRV 31

Magnolia Home

160 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.75
All gray at Magnolia Home →
JG-128 · #A39B89 · ΔE 4.75 · LRV 33

Farrow & Ball

302 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.81
All gray at Farrow & Ball →
NO. CC7 · #93908A · ΔE 3.81 · LRV 28
NO. 216 · #989188 · ΔE 4.44 · LRV 29

Diamond Vogel

1,386 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.39
All gray at Diamond Vogel →
0422 · #999A8D · ΔE 1.39 · LRV 32
0562 · #979088 · ΔE 4.81 · LRV 28

Hirshfield's

1,469 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.71
All gray at Hirshfield's →
0422 · #949587 · ΔE 1.71 · LRV 31

Rodda

357 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.17
All gray at Rodda →
CA155 · #A09A87 · ΔE 4.17 · LRV 32

C2 Paint

580 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.74
All gray at C2 Paint →
C2-971 · #9C998D · ΔE 1.74 · LRV 32
C2-889 · #9A9589 · ΔE 2.61 · LRV 30
C2-939 · #979785 · ΔE 2.98 · LRV 30
C2-795 · #9D958C · ΔE 4.74 · LRV 31

Clare

78 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.84
All gray at Clare →
PNT100-MD-14 · #91928C · ΔE 2.84 · LRV 28

Portola Paints

69 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.76
All gray at Portola Paints →
BRONSON · #999985 · ΔE 3.76 · LRV 31

Rust-Oleum

16 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.2
All gray at Rust-Oleum →
285141 · #8E948A · ΔE 3.2 · LRV 29

Kompozit

1,321 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.71
All gray at Kompozit →
0422 · #949587 · ΔE 1.71 · LRV 30

Similar Valspar colors

closest in the Valspar deck

The nearest shades to Gray Expose within Valspar's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.

5002-1C · LRV 31.2
6004-2A · LRV 31.3
5005-2A · LRV 32
M102 · LRV 31.5
T688 · LRV 32.3
4008-1C · LRV 30.9

Coordinated palette

Generated by hue-rotating #97978C in HSL space. Pair Gray Expose with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.

COMPLEMENTARY
#97978C + #8C8C97
TRIADIC
#97978C · #8C9797 · #978C97
ANALOGOUS
#97928C · #97978C · #92978C

Accessibility (WCAG contrast)

Sample text on white
2.95:1fail
Sample text on black
7.12:1AAA

WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.

Valspar Gray Expose Equivalents at Other Brands

Matching Gray Expose 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 5007-2A directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.

Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Gray Expose

Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Evergreen Fog (SW 9130), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.47). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 30 vs 30.6) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Gray Expose without repainting risk. See the full Evergreen Fog swatch →

Behr Equivalent of Gray Expose

Behr's nearest match is Hunters Hollow (MQ6-21), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.02). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 30 vs 30.6) and carries a cool green undertone, so it substitutes for Gray Expose without repainting risk. See the full Hunters Hollow swatch →

Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Gray Expose

At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Gray Expose is Graystone (1475) — very close at ΔE 2.58, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 31 vs 30.6) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Graystone swatch →

PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Gray Expose

At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Gray Expose is Steeped Tea (PPG0999-4) — very close at ΔE 2.76, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 30 vs 30.6) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Steeped Tea swatch →

Glidden Equivalent of Gray Expose

At Glidden, the closest color to Gray Expose is Steeped Tea (PPG0999-4) — very close at ΔE 2.67, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 30 vs 30.6) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Steeped Tea swatch →

Dutch Boy Equivalent of Gray Expose

Dutch Boy has no exact twin of Gray Expose. The nearest is Padlock Gray (438-4DB) at ΔE 3.8 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 31 vs 30.6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Padlock Gray swatch →

HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Gray Expose

HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Hunters Pointe (HGSW 3264), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.47). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 30 vs 30.6) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Gray Expose without repainting risk. See the full Hunters Pointe swatch →

Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Gray Expose

At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Gray Expose is Smoke & Ash (DET514) — very close at ΔE 2.57, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 30 vs 30.6) and carries a cool green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Smoke & Ash swatch →

Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Gray Expose

Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Gray Expose. The nearest is Chemise (NO. 216) at ΔE 4.44 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 29 vs 30.6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Chemise swatch →

Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Gray Expose

Diamond Vogel's nearest match is Everlasting Sage (0422), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.39). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 32 vs 30.6) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Gray Expose without repainting risk. See the full Everlasting Sage swatch →

Hirshfield's Equivalent of Gray Expose

Hirshfield's's nearest match is Everlasting Sage (0422), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.71). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 31 vs 30.6) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Gray Expose without repainting risk. See the full Everlasting Sage swatch →

C2 Paint Equivalent of Gray Expose

At C2 Paint, the closest color to Gray Expose is Hammered (C2-889) — very close at ΔE 2.61, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 30 vs 30.6) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Hammered swatch →

Clare Equivalent of Gray Expose

At Clare, the closest color to Gray Expose is Shade (PNT100-MD-14) — very close at ΔE 2.84, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 28 vs 30.6) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Shade swatch →

Portola Paints Equivalent of Gray Expose

Portola Paints has no exact twin of Gray Expose. The nearest is Bronson (BRONSON) at ΔE 3.76 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 31 vs 30.6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Bronson swatch →

Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Gray Expose

At Rust-Oleum, the closest color to Gray Expose is Country Gray (285141) — very close at ΔE 3.2, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 29 vs 30.6) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Country Gray swatch →

Kompozit Equivalent of Gray Expose

Kompozit's nearest match is Everlasting Sage (0422), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.71). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 30 vs 30.6) and carries a warm yellow undertone, so it substitutes for Gray Expose without repainting risk. See the full Everlasting Sage swatch →

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