Color spec
| Brand | Valspar |
| Name | Warm Shale |
| SKU | M219 |
| Hex | #A8A7A5 |
| RGB | 168, 167, 165 |
| HSL | 40°, 2%, 65% |
| LRV | 38.5 |
| Undertone | neutral with no strong undertone |
| Family | Gray |
About Valspar Warm Shale
Warm Shale sits in the mid-range at LRV 38.5, 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.
Warm Shale 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
17 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 gray from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Benjamin Moore
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Clare
Backdrop
Kompozit
Similar Valspar colors
closest in the Valspar deckThe nearest shades to Warm Shale 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 #A8A7A5 in HSL space. Pair Warm Shale 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 Warm Shale Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Warm Shale 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 M219 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Warm Shale
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Warm Shale is Gray Matters (SW 7066) — very close at ΔE 2.6, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38.5) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Gray Matters swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Warm Shale
Behr's nearest match is Silver Gray (6694), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.35). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38.5) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Warm Shale without repainting risk. See the full Silver Gray swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Warm Shale
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Warm Shale is Platinum Gray (HC-179) — very close at ΔE 2.62, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 40 vs 38.5) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Platinum Gray swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Warm Shale
The closest PPG / Glidden equivalent of Warm Shale is Statue Garden (PPG0996-3). At ΔE 0.9 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38.5). If PPG / Glidden is your counter, order Statue Garden and you'll get the same color. See the full Statue Garden swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Warm Shale
The closest Glidden equivalent of Warm Shale is Statue Garden (PPG0996-3). At ΔE 0.88 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38.5). If Glidden is your counter, order Statue Garden and you'll get the same color. See the full Statue Garden swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Warm Shale
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Warm Shale is Ironed Gray (436-4DB) — very close at ΔE 2.06, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38.5) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Ironed Gray swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Warm Shale
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Warm Shale is Essex Grey (HGSW 1485) — very close at ΔE 2.6, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38.5) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Essex Grey swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Warm Shale
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Warm Shale is Distant Dusk (DEGR46) — very close at ΔE 2.57, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38.5) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Distant Dusk swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Warm Shale
At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Warm Shale is Weathered Windmill (JG-15) — very close at ΔE 2.94, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38.5) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Weathered Windmill swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Warm Shale
Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Warm Shale. The nearest is Shark Fin (0574) at ΔE 3.61 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38.5). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Shark Fin swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Warm Shale
Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Warm Shale. The nearest is In the Hills (0561) at ΔE 4.87 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38.5). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full In the Hills swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Warm Shale
Rodda has no exact twin of Warm Shale. The nearest is Bohemia (R110) at ΔE 4.8 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38.5). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Bohemia swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Warm Shale
C2 Paint's nearest match is Monday Morning (C2-987), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.71). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 40 vs 38.5) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Warm Shale without repainting risk. See the full Monday Morning swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Warm Shale
Backdrop has no exact twin of Warm Shale. The nearest is Nuevo (BD-NU) at ΔE 4.81 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 38.5). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Nuevo swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Warm Shale
Kompozit has no exact twin of Warm Shale. The nearest is In the Hills (0561) at ΔE 4.87 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 38.5). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full In the Hills swatch →