Thunder → Valspar
The closest Valspar matches for Benjamin Moore Thunder (AF-685-2), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Valspar Equivalent for Thunder
If you love Benjamin Moore Thunder but need a Valspar 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 Valspar, your local store does not carry Benjamin Moore, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Thunder (AF-685-2) is a medium gray with warm greige undertones. A warm medium greige. Balanced and sophisticated. To find a good Valspar match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 48.22) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Thunder and every Valspar 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 good news: there is a strong Valspar match for Thunder. Magic Spell (VR092C) comes in with a Delta E of 2, which puts it in the "excellent match" range. Magic Spell is the closest Valspar option at LRV 48. Very close match.
Valspar Matches for Thunder
Magic Spell is the closest Valspar option at LRV 48. Very close match.
| Thunder | Magic Spell | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 48.22 | 48 |
| Hex | #C3BDB4 | #C0BEBA |
| Undertone | Warm Greige | Cool Neutral Gray |
| Family | Gray | Gray |
Undertone Comparison
Thunder has warm greige undertones. A warm medium greige. Balanced and sophisticated.
Magic Spell has cool neutral gray undertones. A balanced, cool-leaning mid-tone gray. Valspar's answer to the clean, modern gray trend. Minimal undertone pull means it stays gray in virtually all conditions.
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. Thunder's warm greige quality may read differently than Magic Spell's cool neutral 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
Thunder in Your Room
Warm and grounding. A reliable medium neutral.
Magic Spell in Your Room
Clean and neutral. One of the most dependable grays in the Valspar range. Does not pull pink, green, or purple. Under warm light, it reads as a balanced gray. Under cool light, it stays clean.
LRV and Brightness
Thunder has an LRV of 48.22, while Magic Spell has an LRV of 48. 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 Thunder
Benjamin Moore recommends Thunder for: living room, bedroom, office, hallway. With an LRV of 48.22, this is a medium color that is in the medium range, adding real depth and presence to a room. It works best in rooms with good natural light or as an accent wall color. In smaller or darker rooms, pair it with bright white trim to keep the space from feeling closed in.
Magic Spell is recommended for: bathroom, bedroom, office, hallway, living room. 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.
Thunder in Other Brands
Looking for Thunder equivalents in other brands besides Valspar? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Valspar match for Thunder (AF-685-2) is Magic Spell (VR092C) with a Delta E of 2, which rates as a "excellent match" match. Magic Spell is the closest Valspar option at LRV 48. Very close match. 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. Thunder is a Benjamin Moore color with warm greige undertones and an LRV of 48.22. Magic Spell is a Valspar color with cool neutral gray undertones and an LRV of 48. With a Delta E of 2, these are extremely close and most people will not spot the difference on a wall. 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 2, these colors are close enough to use in separate rooms of the same house without a jarring difference. However, avoid painting them on adjacent walls in the same room, as even subtle differences become apparent at a hard edge where two paints meet. For the smoothest result, use one brand consistently within each connected space and reserve the other brand for rooms that are visually separated.
There are several practical reasons to look for a Valspar equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Valspar. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Valspar 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.