High-Speed Steel
4005-2B · #616467 · LRV 12.6 — neutral with no strong undertone, dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs.
What Color Is High-Speed Steel, Really?
High-Speed Steel reads as a neutral with no strong undertone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Valspar 4005-2B behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for High-Speed Steel
High-Speed Steel 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 High-Speed Steel
With an LRV of 12.6, High-Speed Steel 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 High-Speed Steel 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 4005-2B 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams | Web GraySW 7075 · Sherwin-Williams | 1.2 | 13 | Color page → |
| Behr | DigitalN530-6 · Behr | 1.7 | 13 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Stormy Sky1616 · Benjamin Moore | 0.4 | 14 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Lava GrayPPG1038-6 · PPG / Glidden | 3.5 | 13 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Dark Grey Silk30BB 13/034 · Glidden | 1.8 | 13 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Steely Expression435-6DB · Dutch Boy | 1.4 | 12 | Color page → |
Similar Valspar Colors
The nearest shades to High-Speed Steel 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 #616467 in HSL space. Pair High-Speed Steel with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Have you painted with High-Speed Steel?
Rate it — one tap helps the next reader decide.
Ask a Question