Shale Stone works as a warm neutral anchor — pairs cleanly with most existing palettes and reads forgiving across lighting conditions. At LRV 28 it carries real depth without going dark — a good choice for accent walls, libraries, and rooms with abundant natural light. Skip it if you want a crisp, cool-modern look, or in rooms with heavy north light that can pull its warmth slightly muddy.
Ref. #968E85 · DEGR25
Shale Stone
28%LRV Value
Shale Stone Technical Profile
What color is Dunn-Edwards Shale Stone (DEGR25)? It's a deep warm gray — hex #968E85, LRV 28. The closest cross-brand equivalent to Shale Stone is Hirshfield's Sultry Castle — a near-identical match on the wall, with Sherwin-Williams Elephant Ear and Vista Paint Granite Cliff also close. Its LRV of 28 gives Shale Stone depth without going dark, which makes it a strong choice for accent walls, libraries, and rooms with abundant natural light. As a warm neutral, Shale Stone pairs with off-whites for trim, white oak or walnut floors, and brass or warm brushed nickel hardware. Deep green, navy, or terra-cotta all read well as accent colors. As a deeper neutral, Shale Stone reads as a confident anchor — strongest on accent walls, cabinetry, and moody whole rooms that get enough natural light to keep it from going flat. Warm neutrals come alive under 2700K bulbs, where their underlying yellow or peach undertones add visible warmth. Under 4000K daylight they read cleaner and slightly cooler. Deeper neutrals can read close to black in low light, so preview Shale Stone in the room's actual evening lighting, not just at midday.
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Colors Similar to Shale Stone
Closest digital match based on color values. Always verify with physical samples.
Sultry Castle
Hirshfield's
Nearly identical
Elephant Ear
Sherwin-Williams
Nearly identical
Granite Cliff
Vista Paint
Nearly identical
Tabby Cat Gray
Valspar
Nearly identical
Castle Wall Grey
PPG
Nearly identical
Camel's Hump
Dutch Boy
Nearly identical
Castle Gate
Benjamin Moore
Nearly identical
Country Club
Behr
Nearly identical
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With Shale Stone
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
Shale Stone
#968E85
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#ACAD85
Trim & Molding
Pure White
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for Shale Stone
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
Shale Stone 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 Dunn-Edwards Colors
Other Dunn-Edwards colors close to Shale Stone.
More gray colors from other brands
Cross-brand colors in the gray family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.
Shale Stone — Frequently Asked Questions
What colors match Shale Stone from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Shale Stone are Sultry Castle by Hirshfield's (a near-identical match), Elephant Ear by Sherwin-Williams (a near-identical match), Granite Cliff by Vista Paint (a near-identical match). These are ranked with the CIEDE2000 color-difference formula, which scores how similar two colors actually look to the eye rather than matching them by name — so they're the best options for getting Shale Stone's look in a brand your local store carries. Always confirm with a physical sample, since sheen and lighting shift the final result.
What is the LRV of Shale Stone?
Shale Stone has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 27.5, on a scale where 0 is pure black and 100 is pure white. That makes it a mid-depth color with real presence — strong on accent walls, libraries, and rooms with good natural light. LRV is the most reliable guide to how light or dark a paint will read in a real room — more dependable than the swatch on your screen, which varies by monitor.
Explore More with Shale Stone
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.
Paint Sheen Guide
Flat, eggshell, satin, or semi-gloss — the right finish for Shale Stone depends on the room. Here's how to choose.