Chestertown Buff → PPG
The closest PPG matches for Benjamin Moore Chestertown Buff (HC-9), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a PPG Equivalent for Chestertown Buff
If you love Benjamin Moore Chestertown Buff but need a PPG 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 PPG, your local store does not carry Benjamin Moore, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Chestertown Buff (HC-9) is a medium beige with warm golden buff undertones. A warm, golden buff from the Historical Collection. Richer and more golden than Grant Beige. Named for the Maryland colonial town. Earthy, warm, and distinctly American historical. To find a good PPG match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 54.11) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Chestertown Buff and every PPG 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 PPG match for Chestertown Buff. Warm Oatmeal (PPG1024-3) comes in with a Delta E of 2.1, which puts it in the "excellent match" range. Warm Oatmeal is the closest PPG option at LRV 55. Very close match.
PPG Matches for Chestertown Buff
Warm Oatmeal is the closest PPG option at LRV 55. Very close match.
| Chestertown Buff | Warm Oatmeal | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 54.11 | 55 |
| Hex | #CCBDA4 | #CDC5B7 |
| Undertone | Warm Golden Buff | Warm Oatmeal Beige |
| Family | Beige | Beige |
Undertone Comparison
Chestertown Buff has warm golden buff undertones. A warm, golden buff from the Historical Collection. Richer and more golden than Grant Beige. Named for the Maryland colonial town. Earthy, warm, and distinctly American historical.
Warm Oatmeal has warm oatmeal beige undertones. A warm, comforting beige with the soft, textured quality of oatmeal. Neither too yellow nor too gray, it sits in that perfectly neutral warm space that makes rooms feel lived-in and welcoming.
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. Chestertown Buff's warm golden buff quality may read differently than Warm Oatmeal's warm oatmeal beige 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
Chestertown Buff in Your Room
The golden warmth is rich and inviting. In south-facing rooms, it practically glows. In north-facing rooms, it still reads as warm and comforting.
Warm Oatmeal in Your Room
The warm beige quality is consistent and comforting. In bright rooms, it reads as a warm, light beige. In dim rooms, the warmth provides gentle coziness. A reliable, crowd-pleasing neutral.
LRV and Brightness
Chestertown Buff has an LRV of 54.11, while Warm Oatmeal has an LRV of 55. 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 Chestertown Buff
Benjamin Moore recommends Chestertown Buff for: living room, dining room, bedroom, hallway, study. With an LRV of 54.11, this is a medium color that is in the medium-light range, reflecting enough light to keep rooms feeling open while adding more color and depth than a white or off-white. It works well in living rooms, bedrooms, and hallways where you want warmth and character without darkness.
Warm Oatmeal is recommended for: living room, bedroom, dining room, hallway, whole house. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Warm Oatmeal in the same rooms you planned for Chestertown Buff.
Chestertown Buff in Other Brands
Looking for Chestertown Buff equivalents in other brands besides PPG? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest PPG match for Chestertown Buff (HC-9) is Warm Oatmeal (PPG1024-3) with a Delta E of 2.1, which rates as a "excellent match" match. Warm Oatmeal is the closest PPG option at LRV 55. 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. Chestertown Buff is a Benjamin Moore color with warm golden buff undertones and an LRV of 54.11. Warm Oatmeal is a PPG color with warm oatmeal beige undertones and an LRV of 55. With a Delta E of 2.1, 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 2.1, 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 PPG equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in PPG. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing PPG 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.