Kendall Charcoal Light → Valspar
The closest Valspar matches for Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal Light (HC-95), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Valspar Equivalent for Kendall Charcoal Light
If you love Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal Light 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.
Kendall Charcoal Light (HC-95) is a medium beige with warm sandy greige undertones. A warm, sandy greige from the Historical Collection. Named for the Texas coastal city. Warmer and sandier than most greiges, with a distinctly Southern coastal quality. To find a good Valspar match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 46.89) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Kendall Charcoal Light 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 Kendall Charcoal Light. Notre Dame (VR083B) comes in with a Delta E of 2.2, which puts it in the "excellent match" range. Notre Dame is the closest Valspar option at LRV 48. Very close match.
Valspar Matches for Kendall Charcoal Light
Notre Dame is the closest Valspar option at LRV 48. Very close match.
| Kendall Charcoal Light | Notre Dame | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 46.89 | 48 |
| Hex | #C0BAAE | #C3B9AA |
| Undertone | Warm Sandy Greige | Warm Sandy Beige |
| Family | Beige | Beige |
Undertone Comparison
Kendall Charcoal Light has warm sandy greige undertones. A warm, sandy greige from the Historical Collection. Named for the Texas coastal city. Warmer and sandier than most greiges, with a distinctly Southern coastal quality.
Notre Dame has warm sandy beige undertones. A warm, sandy medium beige with organic undertones. Named for the historic cathedral's stone. Earthy and grounding with a timeless quality that works in both traditional and transitional homes.
These two colors share the same undertone family, which is a good sign for a cross-brand swap. The undertone similarity means they will behave similarly as lighting changes throughout the day, and they should coordinate well with the same accent colors, trim, and furnishings.
How These Colors Behave in Different Lighting
Kendall Charcoal Light in Your Room
The sandy warmth is consistent and inviting. In bright rooms, the sand quality is visible. In dim rooms, it reads as a warm, grounding neutral. Pairs beautifully with natural wood and woven textures.
Notre Dame in Your Room
The sandy warmth is consistent and reliable. In bright rooms, it reads as a warm, natural beige. In dim rooms, it feels cozy without being dark. The earthy quality pairs well with natural materials like wood and stone.
LRV and Brightness
Kendall Charcoal Light has an LRV of 46.89, while Notre Dame 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 Kendall Charcoal Light
Benjamin Moore recommends Kendall Charcoal Light for: living room, bedroom, dining room, hallway, whole house. With an LRV of 46.89, 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.
Notre Dame is recommended for: living room, dining room, bedroom, hallway, study. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Notre Dame in the same rooms you planned for Kendall Charcoal Light.
Kendall Charcoal Light in Other Brands
Looking for Kendall Charcoal Light equivalents in other brands besides Valspar? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Valspar match for Kendall Charcoal Light (HC-95) is Notre Dame (VR083B) with a Delta E of 2.2, which rates as a "excellent match" match. Notre Dame 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. Kendall Charcoal Light is a Benjamin Moore color with warm sandy greige undertones and an LRV of 46.89. Notre Dame is a Valspar color with warm sandy beige undertones and an LRV of 48. With a Delta E of 2.2, 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 2.2, 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.