Char Brown 2137-20 is a brown paint color from Benjamin Moore. It has a hex value of #5B5041, LRV 8 and a neutral undertone. Its closest cross-brand match is Bad Hair Day from Vista Paint (nearly identical), with 49 more equivalents across other brands.
Ref. #5B5041 · 2137-20
Char Brown
8%LRV Value
NeutralUndertone
Char Brown Technical Profile
Use this color
Get this color
Some sample and supply links are affiliate links — if you buy through them, Paint Color HQ may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep the site free.
Char Brown in Every Brand
The closest equivalent to Char Brown in each major paint brand, ranked by how close the match reads. Always verify with a physical sample. How we calculate match accuracy →
Benjamin MooreChar Brown
Nearly identical
Vista PaintBad Hair Day
Bad Hair Day
Vista Paint
Nearly identical
Afternoon Tea
PPG
Nearly identical
Brown Suede
Hirshfield's
Nearly identical
Tungsten
Sherwin-Williams
Nearly identical
Treemoss
Behr
Nearly identical
Old Footlocker
Dutch Boy
Nearly identical
Harvest Brown
Valspar
Very similar
Haberdashery
Dunn-Edwards
Very similar
Clay .06
Colorhouse
Very similar
Binoculars
Kilz
Very similar
Pearl Beige
RAL
Very similar
Reduced Green
Farrow & Ball
Visible difference
Seeing a close call? Order a peel-and-stick sample of Char Brown — or sample it next to its top matches — Samplize buy 8 peel-and-stick samples, get 2 free.
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With Char Brown
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
Char Brown
#5B5041
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#797C53
Trim & Molding
Pure White
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for Char Brown
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
Char Brown Room Palettes
Color schemes built around this color — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Warm & Inviting
Warm tones with cozy appeal — welcoming and comfortable
Cool & Calm
Cool hues with soft contrast — serene and restful
Bold Contrast
Complementary hues with punch — dynamic and striking
Similar Benjamin Moore Colors
Other Benjamin Moore colors close to Char Brown.
More brown colors from other brands
Cross-brand colors in the brown family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.
Char Brown — Frequently Asked Questions
What undertone does Char Brown have?
Char Brown by Benjamin Moore has a neutral undertone and sits in the brown color family. The undertone shifts with light — warmer under 2700K bulbs, cleaner and cooler under 4000K daylight — so sample Char Brown in your own space before committing.
What colors match Char Brown from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Char Brown are Bad Hair Day by Vista Paint (a near-identical match), Stony Field by Vista Paint (a near-identical match), Afternoon Tea by PPG (a near-identical match) — the best options for getting Char Brown's look from a brand your local store carries. Confirm with a physical sample, since sheen and lighting shift the final result.
What is the LRV of Char Brown?
Char Brown has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 8.3, on a scale where 0 is pure black and 100 is pure white — that makes it a deep, dramatic color best saved for accent walls, dining rooms, and cozy spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected light.
Explore More with Char Brown
Related Reading
How to Match Paint Colors Across Brands
The science behind Delta E and CIEDE2000 — find a Behr equivalent of any Sherwin-Williams shade, or a Benjamin Moore alternative when your store is out of stock.
Understanding Paint Color Undertones
Why Char Brown's neutral undertone matters more than its surface color — and how to read undertones in any paint chip.