Color guide · Valspar · Gray

To the Tarmac

V116-3 · #4F5556 · LRV 8.8 · neutral with no strong undertone

V116-3 · #4F5556 · LRV 8.8 — neutral with no strong undertone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.

To the TarmacValspar · V116-3
The color, edge to edge.Use your own photo →
To the Tarmac
VALSPAR · V116-3 · #4F5556
Brand · codeValsparV116-3 · all Valspar grays
LRV8.8Very dark — reads black in most rooms.
Undertoneneutral with no strong undertone
FamilyGray
Hex · RGB · HSL#4F5556 · 79, 85, 86 · 189°, 4%, 32%Display values from the brand. Match it at another brand
Sheen we recommendEggshell on walls · satin on trim and cabinetsWhich sheen where, explained
Where it sits, light to dark
  1. 1To the Tarmac8.8
  2. 2Kendall Charcoal15
  3. 3Retreat21
Undertone and depth

What Color Is To the Tarmac, Really?

To the Tarmac reads as a neutral with no strong undertone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Valspar V116-3 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.

Room by room

Best Rooms and Uses for To the Tarmac

To the Tarmac earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.

Light by light

How Lighting Changes To the Tarmac

At LRV 8.8, To the Tarmac is about as dark as paint gets — it reads near-black on a wall and reveals its character only in direct daylight or under warm bulbs. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.

Test it in your light, not a showroom's

Most complaints about To the Tarmac 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.

Upload a photoPainted in about a minuteFree, no account
Visualize in your room
Same color, different store

Need It From Another Brand?

Any paint counter can custom-tint Valspar V116-3 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.

Same deck, next chip over

Similar Valspar Colors

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

Contrast, for text and signage
Black text on To the Tarmac · 2.8 : 1 · fails for textWhite text on To the Tarmac · 7.6 : 1 · passes AA and AAA

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 #4F5556 in HSL space. Pair To the Tarmac with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.

COMPLEMENTARY
#4F5556 + #56504F
TRIADIC
#4F5556 · #564F55 · #55564F
ANALOGOUS
#4F5654 · #4F5556 · #4F5256

Have you painted with To the Tarmac?

Rate it — one tap helps the next reader decide.

Ask a Question

Jessica Williams

Not sure about To the Tarmac in your room?

Ask Jessica below — every question gets a real reply, usually within a day.

Keep exploring