Hawthorne Yellow HC-4 is a yellow paint color from Benjamin Moore. It has a hex value of #F6E2A5, 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.
Ref. #F6E2A5 · HC-4
Hawthorne Yellow
71%LRV Value
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
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Hawthorne Yellow in Every Brand
The closest equivalent to Hawthorne Yellow in each major paint brand, ranked by how close the match reads. Always verify with a physical sample. How we calculate match accuracy →
Benjamin MooreHawthorne Yellow
Nearly identical
Sherwin-WilliamsOptimistic Yellow
Optimistic Yellow
Sherwin-Williams
Nearly identical
Lemon Filling
Hirshfield's
Nearly identical
Gold Strand
Vista Paint
Nearly identical
Gold Sand
Dunn-Edwards
Nearly identical
Kelsey's Curls
Valspar
Nearly identical
Wickerware
Behr
Nearly identical
Almost Ivory
Dutch Boy
Nearly identical
Yellow Duckling
PPG
Nearly identical
Aspire .02
Colorhouse
Nearly identical
Dayroom Yellow
Farrow & Ball
Nearly identical
Cream Gold
Kilz
Very similar
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.
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With Hawthorne Yellow
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
Pure 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. The undertone shifts with light — warmer under 2700K bulbs, cleaner and cooler under 4000K daylight — so sample Hawthorne Yellow in your own space before committing.
What colors match Hawthorne Yellow from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Hawthorne Yellow are Optimistic Yellow by Sherwin-Williams (a near-identical match), Lemon Filling by Hirshfield's (a near-identical match), Gold Strand by Vista Paint (a near-identical 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 Light Reflectance Value (LRV) 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.