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Proper Gray SW 6003
On-screen approximation from the published RGB value. Order a physical sample before you decide.
Undertone: Subtle orange undertone
In CIELAB, Proper Gray sits at L* 69.2, a* 1.2, b* 2.2. Its hue angle is 60° and its chroma is 2.5, so it leans orange only slightly — the undertone mostly shows next to whiter or grayer colors. It classifies as warm. Among Sherwin-Williams colors with a similar LRV (±5), it is warmer (more yellow) than 24%.
LRV 39.4: mid-tone
Light Reflectance Value runs from 0 (absolute black) to 100 (perfect white). At 39.4, Proper Gray is lighter than 49% of Sherwin-Williams colors. Reads clearly as a color. Best in rooms with good natural light, or as an accent wall; small dark rooms may feel smaller.
Closest Benjamin Moore match to Proper Gray
Ranked by CIEDE2000 color difference (ΔE) computed from published RGB values. Below 2 is hard to tell apart on the wall; above 4 is a different color.
| Color | Code | ΔE2000 | How close | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stormy Monday | 2112-50 | 1.51 | Very close | |
| Fusion | AF-675 | 2.14 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Elephant Gray | 2109-50 | 2.58 | Close — difference visible side by side |
Closest Behr match to Proper Gray
Ranked by CIEDE2000 color difference (ΔE) computed from published RGB values. Below 2 is hard to tell apart on the wall; above 4 is a different color. Behr does not publish LRV, so Behr values here are estimates.
| Color | Code | ΔE2000 | How close | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cathedral Grey | UL260-7 | 1.50 | Very close | |
| Cathedral Gray | PPU18-14 | 1.63 | Very close | |
| Smokey Wings | PPU26-07 | 1.83 | Very close |
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
| Color | Code | ΔE2000 | How close | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hibernate | SW 9573 | 2.14 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Mystical Shade | SW 6276 | 2.28 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Warm Pewter | SW 9572 | 2.51 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Quest Gray | SW 7080 | 2.59 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Ellie Gray | SW 7650 | 2.70 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Dorian Gray | SW 7017 | 3.20 | Close — difference visible side by side |
Lighter and darker versions
Colors from Sherwin-Williams with nearly the same hue and saturation, one step lighter or darker.
- Uncertain Gray SW 6234 · lighter, LRV 42.7
- Mineral Deposit SW 7652 · lighter, LRV 42.6
- Oyster Bay SW 6206 · lighter, LRV 44.1
- Downing Stone SW 2821 · darker, LRV 36.4
- Smooth Stone SW 9568 · darker, LRV 36.6
- Western Reserve SW 9597 · darker, LRV 36.2
Colors that go with Proper Gray
Sherwin-Williams's own coordinating colors for Proper Gray:
- Original White SW 7077
- Stunning Shade SW 7082
- Snowfall SW 6000
Proper Gray is too close to neutral (chroma 2.5) for hue-based pairings to be meaningful; pair it with any color that shares its orange lean, and use a crisper white for trim.
Proper Gray vs popular colors
- Dorian Gray (Sherwin-Williams SW 7017, ΔE 3.2) is about as light, more yellow/warm, more green, more saturated.
- Functional Gray (Sherwin-Williams SW 7024, ΔE 3.3) is darker (LRV 37.0 vs 39.4), more yellow/warm, more saturated.
- Sea Gull Gray (Benjamin Moore ES-72, ΔE 5.2) is about as light, more yellow/warm, more green, more saturated.