Color spec
| Brand | Valspar |
| Name | Universal Umber |
| SKU | 3003-9B |
| Hex | #9A7E65 |
| RGB | 154, 126, 101 |
| HSL | 28°, 21%, 50% |
| LRV | 22.8 |
| Undertone | warm red-orange tone |
| Family | Brown |
About Valspar Universal Umber
With an LRV of 22.8, Universal Umber is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Its orange undertone is the part to watch: it gets picked up by whatever sits next to it, so test it against your trim, floor and the room's main light before committing. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Universal Umber works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Browns ground a room and pair naturally with leather, wood and warm metals.
Closest matches by brand
14 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 brown from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Benjamin Moore
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Kompozit
Similar Valspar colors
closest in the Valspar deckThe nearest shades to Universal Umber 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 #9A7E65 in HSL space. Pair Universal Umber 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 Universal Umber Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Universal Umber 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 3003-9B directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Universal Umber
The closest Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Universal Umber is Rookwood Clay (SW 2823). At ΔE 0.4 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 23 vs 22.8). If Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Rookwood Clay and you'll get the same color. See the full Rookwood Clay swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Universal Umber
Behr's nearest match is Home Sweet Home (MQ2-19), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.48). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 24 vs 22.8) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Universal Umber without repainting risk. See the full Home Sweet Home swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Universal Umber
Benjamin Moore has no exact twin of Universal Umber. The nearest is Coriander Seed (AF-110) at ΔE 3.96 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 23 vs 22.8). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Coriander Seed swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Universal Umber
PPG / Glidden's nearest match is Chocolate Moment (PPG1077-5), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.73). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 24 vs 22.8) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Universal Umber without repainting risk. See the full Chocolate Moment swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Universal Umber
Glidden's nearest match is Chocolate Moment (PPG1077-5), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.27). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 23 vs 22.8) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Universal Umber without repainting risk. See the full Chocolate Moment swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Universal Umber
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Universal Umber is Leather Pouch (417-5DB) — very close at ΔE 3.49, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 24 vs 22.8) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Leather Pouch swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Universal Umber
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Universal Umber is Dapper Tan (HGSW 3173) — very close at ΔE 3.28, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 22 vs 22.8) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Dapper Tan swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Universal Umber
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Universal Umber is Sandpit (DE6118) — very close at ΔE 2.27, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 21 vs 22.8) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Sandpit swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Universal Umber
The closest Farrow & Ball equivalent of Universal Umber is Tack Room Door (NO. G6). At ΔE 0.91 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red-orange undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 24 vs 22.8). If Farrow & Ball is your counter, order Tack Room Door and you'll get the same color. See the full Tack Room Door swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Universal Umber
Diamond Vogel's nearest match is Hawthorne Woods (H128), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.86). It runs slightly darker (LRV 21 vs 22.8) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Universal Umber without repainting risk. See the full Hawthorne Woods swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Universal Umber
Hirshfield's's nearest match is Weaver's Tool (0177), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.45). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 24 vs 22.8) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Universal Umber without repainting risk. See the full Weaver's Tool swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Universal Umber
At Rodda, the closest color to Universal Umber is Allspice (CA042) — very close at ΔE 2.33, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 24 vs 22.8) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Allspice swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Universal Umber
C2 Paint has no exact twin of Universal Umber. The nearest is Willow Branch (BD80) at ΔE 4.94 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 23 vs 22.8). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Willow Branch swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Universal Umber
Kompozit's nearest match is Weaver's Tool (0177), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.45). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 23 vs 22.8) and carries a warm red-orange undertone, so it substitutes for Universal Umber without repainting risk. See the full Weaver's Tool swatch →