Mole's Breath → Sherwin Williams
The closest Sherwin Williams matches for Farrow & Ball Mole's Breath (No.276), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Sherwin Williams Equivalent for Mole's Breath
If you love Farrow & Ball Mole's Breath 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 Farrow & Ball, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Mole's Breath (No.276) is a medium-dark taupe with warm mole taupe undertones. A warm taupe named for the underground creature. Lighter than Mouse's Back, deeper than Charleston Gray. Earthy, warm, and utterly F&B. To find a good Sherwin Williams match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 26) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Mole's Breath 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 Dovetail (SW 7018) with a Delta E of 4.4, which is a "good match" level match. Dovetail is grayer. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Sherwin Williams Matches for Mole's Breath
Dovetail is grayer.
| Mole's Breath | Dovetail | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 26 | 26 |
| Hex | #9F9991 | #9D9A94 |
| Undertone | Warm Mole Taupe | Warm Gray |
| Family | Taupe | Gray |
Undertone Comparison
Mole's Breath has warm mole taupe undertones. A warm taupe named for the underground creature. Lighter than Mouse's Back, deeper than Charleston Gray. Earthy, warm, and utterly F&B.
Dovetail has warm gray undertones. A warm, medium-dark gray with subtle beige undertones. Named for the woodworking joint, it carries a crafted, artisanal quality.
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. Mole's Breath's warm mole taupe quality may read differently than Dovetail's warm 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
Mole's Breath in Your Room
Warm and grounding. In bright rooms, a rich warm taupe. In dim rooms, cozy and intimate.
Dovetail in Your Room
Warm and substantial. Reads as a warm medium-dark gray in most conditions.
LRV and Brightness
Mole's Breath has an LRV of 26, while Dovetail has an LRV of 26. 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 Mole's Breath
Farrow & Ball recommends Mole's Breath for: living room, dining room, bedroom, accent wall, hallway. With an LRV of 26, this is a medium-dark 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.
Dovetail is recommended for: accent wall, exterior, cabinets, office, 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.
Mole's Breath in Other Brands
Looking for Mole's Breath equivalents in other brands besides Sherwin Williams? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Sherwin Williams match for Mole's Breath (No.276) is Dovetail (SW 7018) with a Delta E of 4.4, which rates as a "good match" match. Dovetail is grayer. 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. Mole's Breath is a Farrow & Ball color with warm mole taupe undertones and an LRV of 26. Dovetail is a Sherwin Williams color with warm gray undertones and an LRV of 26. 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.