Chestertown Buff → Sherwin Williams
The closest Sherwin Williams matches for Benjamin Moore Chestertown Buff (HC-9), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Sherwin Williams Equivalent for Chestertown Buff
If you love Benjamin Moore Chestertown Buff 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 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 Sherwin Williams 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 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 Canvas Tan (SW 7531) with a Delta E of 4.4, which is a "good match" level match. Canvas Tan is less golden. Chestertown Buff is richer. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Sherwin Williams Matches for Chestertown Buff
Canvas Tan is less golden. Chestertown Buff is richer.
| Chestertown Buff | Canvas Tan | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 54.11 | 59 |
| Hex | #CCBDA4 | #D1C7B7 |
| Undertone | Warm Golden Buff | Warm Sandy 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.
Canvas Tan has warm sandy beige undertones. A warm, sandy beige. Less gray than Accessible Beige, more golden. A classic warm neutral.
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 Canvas Tan's warm sandy 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.
Canvas Tan in Your Room
Consistently warm and sandy. A reliable, crowd-pleasing beige.
LRV and Brightness
Chestertown Buff has an LRV of 54.11, while Canvas Tan has an LRV of 59. 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.
Canvas Tan is recommended for: whole house, living room, bedroom, hallway, dining 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.
Chestertown Buff in Other Brands
Looking for Chestertown Buff equivalents in other brands besides Sherwin Williams? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Sherwin Williams match for Chestertown Buff (HC-9) is Canvas Tan (SW 7531) with a Delta E of 4.4, which rates as a "good match" match. Canvas Tan is less golden. Chestertown Buff is richer. 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. Canvas Tan is a Sherwin Williams color with warm sandy beige undertones and an LRV of 59. With a Delta E of 4.4, you will likely notice a difference, especially in bright or direct lighting. 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 4.4, 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.