Color spec
| Brand | Valspar |
| Name | Whale Watching |
| SKU | 8004-46F |
| Hex | #636A74 |
| RGB | 99, 106, 116 |
| HSL | 215°, 8%, 42% |
| LRV | 14 |
| Undertone | cool blue tone |
| Family | Gray |
About Valspar Whale Watching
With an LRV of 14, Whale Watching is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Its blue 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.
Whale Watching 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.
Closest matches by brand
16 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
Backdrop
Kompozit
Similar Valspar colors
closest in the Valspar deckThe nearest shades to Whale Watching 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 #636A74 in HSL space. Pair Whale Watching 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 Whale Watching Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Whale Watching 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 8004-46F directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Whale Watching
Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Granite Peak (SW 6250), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.9). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 14) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Whale Watching without repainting risk. See the full Granite Peak swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Whale Watching
At Behr, the closest color to Whale Watching is Summer Storm (PPU26-22) — very close at ΔE 2.17, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 15 vs 14) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Summer Storm swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Whale Watching
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Whale Watching is Ashland Slate (1608) — very close at ΔE 2.89, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 16 vs 14) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Ashland Slate swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Whale Watching
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Whale Watching is Alley Cat (PPG1043-6) — very close at ΔE 2.75, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 14) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Alley Cat swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Whale Watching
At Glidden, the closest color to Whale Watching is Alley Cat (PPG1043-6) — very close at ΔE 2.75, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 14) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Alley Cat swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Whale Watching
Dutch Boy's nearest match is Stilled Night (433-6DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.84). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 14) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Whale Watching without repainting risk. See the full Stilled Night swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Whale Watching
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Sweeping Rock (HGSW 3362), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.9). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 14) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Whale Watching without repainting risk. See the full Sweeping Rock swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Whale Watching
Dunn-Edwards has no exact twin of Whale Watching. The nearest is Equinox (DET616) at ΔE 4.58 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 14). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Equinox swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Whale Watching
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Whale Watching. The nearest is Wine Dark (NO. 308) at ΔE 3.75 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 13 vs 14). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Wine Dark swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Whale Watching
Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Whale Watching. The nearest is Greybeard (0528) at ΔE 4.51 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 15 vs 14). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Greybeard swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Whale Watching
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Whale Watching is Deep Lagoon (0507) — very close at ΔE 3.21, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 17 vs 14) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Deep Lagoon swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Whale Watching
At Rodda, the closest color to Whale Watching is Anchor (CA201) — very close at ΔE 3.09, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 15 vs 14) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Anchor swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Whale Watching
C2 Paint has no exact twin of Whale Watching. The nearest is Vault (C2-966) at ΔE 4.91 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 14). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Vault swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Whale Watching
Backdrop has no exact twin of Whale Watching. The nearest is Mom Jeans (BD-MJ) at ΔE 4.91 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 18 vs 14). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Mom Jeans swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Whale Watching
At Kompozit, the closest color to Whale Watching is Deep Lagoon (0507) — very close at ΔE 3.21, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 14) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Deep Lagoon swatch →