Anonymous → Sherwin Williams
The closest Sherwin Williams matches for Behr Anonymous (PPU18-15), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Sherwin Williams Equivalent for Anonymous
If you love Behr Anonymous but need a Sherwin Williams alternative, you are not alone. This is one of the most common cross-brand paint matching searches, whether you are working with a painter who prefers Sherwin Williams, your local store does not carry Behr, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Anonymous (PPU18-15) is a medium-dark gray with warm dark gray undertones. A warm dark gray. Behr's answer to Chelsea Gray or Gauntlet Gray. Substantial and grounding. To find a good Sherwin Williams match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 20) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Anonymous and every Sherwin Williams color using the CIE2000 Delta E formula, which measures how different two colors look to the human eye. A Delta E under 2 means most people cannot tell the colors apart. Between 2 and 4, you might notice a difference in certain lighting. Above 5, the difference is clearly visible side by side.
The results are decent but not perfect. The closest Sherwin Williams option is Gauntlet Gray (SW 7019) with a Delta E of 3.8, which is a "good match" level match. Gauntlet Gray is close. Both are warm dark grays. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Sherwin Williams Matches for Anonymous
Gauntlet Gray is close. Both are warm dark grays.
| Anonymous | Gauntlet Gray | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 20 | 17 |
| Hex | #928E89 | #8B847B |
| Undertone | Warm Dark Gray | Warm Brown-Gray |
| Family | Gray | Gray |
Undertone Comparison
Anonymous has warm dark gray undertones. A warm dark gray. Behr's answer to Chelsea Gray or Gauntlet Gray. Substantial and grounding.
Gauntlet Gray has warm brown-gray undertones. A dark, warm gray with strong brown undertones. Reads as a masculine, grounding neutral. Popular for exteriors and accent features.
The undertone difference is worth paying attention to. While they are close in overall appearance, the different undertones mean they may diverge in certain lighting. Anonymous's warm dark gray quality may read differently than Gauntlet Gray's warm brown-gray character, especially in rooms with strong directional light or colored accents that could pull out one undertone more than the other. Test a sample in your specific room before committing.
How These Colors Behave in Different Lighting
Anonymous in Your Room
Reads as a warm, solid dark gray. The warmth keeps it from feeling cold or industrial.
Gauntlet Gray in Your Room
The brown warmth is consistent across lighting conditions. In bright light, it reads as a warm dark gray. In dim rooms, it approaches a warm charcoal.
LRV and Brightness
Anonymous has an LRV of 20, while Gauntlet Gray has an LRV of 17. These two colors reflect a very similar amount of light, so you should not notice a significant difference in room brightness when switching between them. The room will feel approximately the same in terms of light and space, which makes this a smoother transition.
Best Rooms for Anonymous
Behr recommends Anonymous for: accent wall, cabinets, exterior, office, bathroom vanity. With an LRV of 20, this is a medium-dark color that absorbs more light than it reflects. It makes a bold statement and works beautifully on accent walls, front doors, exterior trim, and features where drama is the goal. In a full room, make sure you have good lighting and bright white trim for contrast.
Gauntlet Gray is recommended for: exterior, accent wall, office, cabinets, bathroom vanity. The recommended applications differ slightly between brands, but the color's properties should work in the same rooms regardless of which brand you choose. Trust the LRV and undertone data more than the specific room suggestions, and always test in your actual space.
Anonymous in Other Brands
Looking for Anonymous equivalents in other brands besides Sherwin Williams? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Sherwin Williams match for Anonymous (PPU18-15) is Gauntlet Gray (SW 7019) with a Delta E of 3.8, which rates as a "good match" match. Gauntlet Gray is close. Both are warm dark grays. Delta E measures perceptual color distance on a scale where under 2 means nearly identical, 2 to 4 means close with subtle differences, and over 5 means clearly noticeable.
No, they are not identical. Anonymous is a Behr color with warm dark gray undertones and an LRV of 20. Gauntlet Gray is a Sherwin Williams color with warm brown-gray undertones and an LRV of 17. With a Delta E of 3.8, the difference is subtle and mainly visible in direct side-by-side comparison. Paint formulations differ between brands, so even colors with similar values can look slightly different due to pigment concentration, binders, and finish.
With a Delta E of 3.8, the difference is enough that they should not be used on adjacent walls in the same room. You can use them in separate rooms of the same house, but be aware that walking from one room to the other may reveal the difference, especially if the rooms have similar lighting. For the most consistent look, pick one brand for all connected living spaces and reserve the other brand for visually separate rooms like bathrooms or bedrooms behind closed doors.
There are several practical reasons to look for a Sherwin Williams equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Sherwin Williams. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Sherwin Williams work, matching within the same brand gives you the best consistency for seamless results.
Match calculations use Delta E (CIE2000) computed from Lab color space conversion. Color data sourced from manufacturer specifications. Last reviewed: March 22, 2026.