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Special Gray SW 6277
On-screen approximation from the published RGB value. Order a physical sample before you decide.
Undertone: Subtle purple undertone
In CIELAB, Special Gray sits at L* 50.8, a* 2.1, b* -2.3. Its hue angle is 313° and its chroma is 3.2, so it leans purple only slightly — the undertone mostly shows next to whiter or grayer colors. It classifies as neutral-cool. Among Sherwin-Williams colors with a similar LRV (±5), it is warmer (more yellow) than 23%.
LRV 19.2: dark
Light Reflectance Value runs from 0 (absolute black) to 100 (perfect white). At 19.2, Special Gray is lighter than 24% of Sherwin-Williams colors. Absorbs most light. Good for accent walls, cabinets, doors and exteriors; needs good lighting indoors.
Closest Benjamin Moore match to Special 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tempest | AF-590 | 1.84 | Very close | |
| Sea Life | 2118-40 | 3.95 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Charcoal Linen | 2133-40 | 4.01 | Similar, clearly different |
Closest Behr match to Special 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stormy Gray | BXC-58 | 2.63 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Echo | PPU17-18 | 3.25 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Infamous | N540-5 | 3.91 | Close — difference visible side by side |
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
| Color | Code | ΔE2000 | How close | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sensuous Gray | SW 7081 | 2.93 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Before the Storm | SW 9564 | 3.96 | Close — difference visible side by side | |
| Exclusive Plum | SW 6263 | 4.06 | Similar, clearly different | |
| Westchester Gray | SW 2849 | 4.26 | Similar, clearly different | |
| Grapy | SW 7629 | 4.97 | Similar, clearly different | |
| Soulmate | SW 6270 | 5.14 | Similar, clearly different |
Lighter and darker versions
Colors from Sherwin-Williams with nearly the same hue and saturation, one step lighter or darker.
- Sensuous Gray SW 7081 · lighter, LRV 20.9
- Enigma SW 6018 · lighter, LRV 21.3
- Renwick Heather SW 2818 · lighter, LRV 21.5
- Gauntlet Gray SW 7019 · darker, LRV 17.4
- Exclusive Plum SW 6263 · darker, LRV 16.4
- Grapy SW 7629 · darker, LRV 16.4
Colors that go with Special Gray
Sherwin-Williams's own coordinating colors for Special Gray:
- Drift of Mist SW 9166
- Colonnade Gray SW 7641
- Original White SW 7077
Special Gray is too close to neutral (chroma 3.2) for hue-based pairings to be meaningful; pair it with any color that shares its purple lean, and use a crisper white for trim.
Special Gray vs popular colors
- Gauntlet Gray (Sherwin-Williams SW 7019, ΔE 6.1) is darker (LRV 17.4 vs 19.2), more yellow/warm, more green.
- Amherst Gray (Benjamin Moore HC-167, ΔE 7.7) is about as light, more yellow/warm, more green.
- Peppercorn (Sherwin-Williams SW 7674, ΔE 13.1) is darker (LRV 9.7 vs 19.2), more yellow/warm, more green, more muted.