Hawthorne Yellow HC-4 is a yellow paint color from Benjamin Moore. It has a hex value of #F6E2A5, estimated LRV 71 and a neutral undertone. Its closest cross-brand match is Optimistic Yellow from Sherwin-Williams (nearly identical), with 49 more equivalents across other brands.
Benjamin Moore · #F6E2A5 · HC-4
Hawthorne Yellow
71%Estimated LRV
NeutralUndertone
More about Hawthorne Yellow
Hawthorne Yellow is the soft, golden yellow people reach for when they want warmth and cheer without a high-energy primary. At LRV 71 it's light and buttery — sunny in a north-facing room but never acidic — which is why it's a long-running favorite for kitchens, entries, and traditional spaces.
Yellows read more golden under warm bulbs and truer in daylight; the higher LRV keeps it gentle rather than vivid. It pairs with crisp whites and warm wood. Its near-identical Sherwin-Williams match is Optimistic Yellow, with Behr Wickerware close behind.
Hawthorne Yellow Technical Profile
HEX Code#F6E2A5
RGB246, 226, 165
Estimated LRV71.3
UndertoneNeutral
Digital swatches and calculated matches are approximations. Catalog LRV values may be calculated estimates, not manufacturer measurements. Data and matching method. Check the brand reference and physical samples before purchase.
Color Familyyellow
BrandBenjamin Moore
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Place physical samples beside your flooring and trim. Check them in daylight and with your evening lights before buying paint.
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Compare alternatives to Hawthorne Yellow
Digital candidates from other paint brands, ranked by color similarity. Always verify with a physical sample. How we calculate match accuracy →
Optimistic Yellow
Sherwin-Williams
#F5E1A6
Close digital match
Lemon Filling
Hirshfield's
#F9E4A6
Close digital match
Gold Strand
Vista Paint
#F2DFA4
Close digital match
Gold Sand
Dunn-Edwards
#F7E5A9
Close digital match
Kelsey's Curls
Valspar
#F2E0A8
Close digital match
Wickerware
Behr
#FCE7A7
Close digital match
Almost Ivory
Dutch Boy
#F3E19E
Close digital match
Yellow Duckling
PPG
#F6DE9D
Close digital match
Aspire .02
Colorhouse
#FAE39F
Close digital match
Dayroom Yellow
Farrow & Ball
#F7E29D
Close digital match
Cream Gold
Kilz
#FDE9B4
Similar digital color
Seeing a close call? Order a peel-and-stick sample of Hawthorne Yellow — or sample it next to its top matches — Samplize buy 8 peel-and-stick samples, get 2 free.
Generated palette previews
Colors That Work With Hawthorne Yellow
These are generated digital colors, not named manufacturer paints. Use the palette tools to find paint candidates, then compare physical samples.
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
Hawthorne Yellow
#F6E2A5
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#B2CB67
Trim & Molding
Digital white
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for Hawthorne Yellow
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
Hawthorne Yellow 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 Hawthorne Yellow.
More yellow colors from other brands
Cross-brand colors in the yellow family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.
Hawthorne Yellow — Frequently Asked Questions
What undertone does Hawthorne Yellow have?
Hawthorne Yellow by Benjamin Moore has a neutral undertone and sits in the yellow color family. This is a digital classification, not a prediction of physical paint under every light. Compare samples in your own space.
What colors match Hawthorne Yellow from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Hawthorne Yellow are Optimistic Yellow by Sherwin-Williams (a close digital match), Lemon Filling by Hirshfield's (a close digital match), Gold Strand by Vista Paint (a close digital match) — the best options for getting Hawthorne Yellow'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 Hawthorne Yellow?
Hawthorne Yellow has a estimated lightness value of 71.3, on a scale where 0 is pure black and 100 is pure white — that makes it a light, reflective color that bounces plenty of light back into a room — well-suited to north-facing spaces, hallways, and smaller rooms that need to feel brighter.
Explore More with Hawthorne Yellow
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 Hawthorne Yellow's neutral undertone matters more than its surface color — and how to read undertones in any paint chip.