Earl Gray by PPG paint color
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Ref. #A6978A · 1020-5

Earl Gray

32%LRV Value
NeutralUndertone
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Earl Gray 1020-5 is a gray paint color from PPG. It has a hex value of #A6978A, LRV 32 and a neutral undertone. Its closest cross-brand match is Studio Taupe from Behr (nearly identical), with 49 more equivalents across other brands.

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Earl Gray Technical Profile

HEX Code#A6978A
RGB166, 151, 138
LRV32.1
UndertoneNeutral
Color Familygray
BrandPPG

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Earl Gray in Every Brand

The closest equivalent to Earl Gray in each major paint brand, ranked by how close the match reads. Always verify with a physical sample. How we calculate match accuracy →

PPGEarl Gray
Nearly identical
BehrStudio Taupe

Studio Taupe

Behr

Nearly identical

Sticks & Stones

Sherwin-Williams

Nearly identical

Rain Barrel

Hirshfield's

Nearly identical

Sorrel Felt

Dunn-Edwards

Nearly identical

Creekbed

Benjamin Moore

Nearly identical

Rain Barrel

Vista Paint

Nearly identical

Gray Stone

Dutch Boy

Nearly identical

Charleston Gray

Farrow & Ball

Very similar

Woodland Stone

Valspar

Very similar

Art Museum

Kilz

Very similar

Nourish .04

Colorhouse

Visible difference

Comparing these brands? Order peel-and-stick samples of your top matches — Samplize buy 8 peel-and-stick samples, get 2 free.

Recommended Pairings

Colors That Work With Earl Gray

Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall

Living room with applied paint colors

Side Walls

Earl Gray

#A6978A

Accent Wall

Tonal Shift

A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.

#ADAC85

Trim & Molding

Pure White

Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.

#FFFFFF

Customize in Room VisualizerExplore full palette →

Color Palettes for Earl Gray

Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.

Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast

Base

Cole Stone

Complement

Approaching Dusk

Earl Gray Room Palettes

Color schemes built around this color — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.

Walls

Canyon Echo

Trim

Delicate White

Accent

This Color

Pop

Copper Beech

Warm & Inviting

Warm tones with cozy appeal — welcoming and comfortable

Walls

Spring Thaw

Trim

Delicate White

Accent

This Color

Pop

Green Pear

Cool & Calm

Cool hues with soft contrast — serene and restful

Walls

Husky Grey

Trim

Delicate White

Accent

This Color

Pop

King Triton

Bold Contrast

Complementary hues with punch — dynamic and striking

Similar PPG Colors

Other PPG colors close to Earl Gray.

Winter Cocoa

PPG · PPG1000-4

#A1978B

Brushwood Tan

PPG · 20YY 31/106

#A39686

Khaki Green

PPG · 60YY 33/130

#A29D86

Driftwood Grey

PPG · 50YY 33/065

#A29D92

Steeped Tea

PPG · PPG0999-4

#999488

Neutral Wheat

PPG · 10YY 35/094

#AEA092

More gray colors from other brands

Cross-brand colors in the gray family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.

Galaxy

Benjamin Moore · 2117-20

#423E45

Charming Violet

Hirshfield's · 1221

#8C7281

Midnight in the Tropics

Vista Paint · 8309

#3F4341

Tibetan Temple

Behr · PPU1-03

#786466

Silver Peony

Benjamin Moore · 1475

#C7BFC3

Pebble Beach

Benjamin Moore · 1597

#C9CECE

Earl Gray — Frequently Asked Questions

What undertone does Earl Gray have?
Earl Gray by PPG has a neutral undertone and sits in the gray color family. The undertone shifts with light — warmer under 2700K bulbs, cleaner and cooler under 4000K daylight — so sample Earl Gray in your own space before committing.
What colors match Earl Gray from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Earl Gray are Studio Taupe by Behr (a near-identical match), Sticks & Stones by Sherwin-Williams (a near-identical match), Studio Taupe by Behr (a near-identical match) — the best options for getting Earl Gray'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 Earl Gray?
Earl Gray has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 32.1, 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.

Explore More with Earl Gray

See It on a Wall

Preview this color in a real room

How Much Paint?

Calculate gallons for your project

Browse gray Colors

Explore more shades in this family

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 Earl Gray's neutral undertone matters more than its surface color — and how to read undertones in any paint chip.

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