Mouse's Back → Benjamin Moore
The closest Benjamin Moore matches for Farrow & Ball Mouse's Back (No.40), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Benjamin Moore Equivalent for Mouse's Back
If you love Farrow & Ball Mouse's Back but need a Benjamin Moore 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 Benjamin Moore, your local store does not carry Farrow & Ball, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Mouse's Back (No.40) is a medium-dark taupe with warm mouse-brown undertones. A warm, earthy brown-taupe with the subtle, organic quality of a field mouse. One of F&B's most beloved neutrals for its depth and warmth. Not a color that tries hard; it simply is. To find a good Benjamin Moore match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 22) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Mouse's Back and every Benjamin Moore 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 Benjamin Moore option is Kingsport Gray (HC-86) with a Delta E of 4.4, which is a "good match" level match. Kingsport Gray is less brown. Mouse's Back has more earthy warmth. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Benjamin Moore Matches for Mouse's Back
Kingsport Gray is less brown. Mouse's Back has more earthy warmth.
| Mouse's Back | Kingsport Gray | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 22 | 38.62 |
| Hex | #968D82 | #B4AC9F |
| Undertone | Warm Mouse-Brown | Warm Taupe |
| Family | Taupe | Taupe |
Undertone Comparison
Mouse's Back has warm mouse-brown undertones. A warm, earthy brown-taupe with the subtle, organic quality of a field mouse. One of F&B's most beloved neutrals for its depth and warmth. Not a color that tries hard; it simply is.
Kingsport Gray has warm taupe undertones. A warm taupe from the Historical Collection. Earthy and sophisticated.
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. Mouse's Back's warm mouse-brown quality may read differently than Kingsport Gray's warm taupe 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
Mouse's Back in Your Room
Warm and grounding. In bright rooms, a rich warm taupe. In dim rooms, cozy and intimate. Under candlelight, deeply atmospheric.
Kingsport Gray in Your Room
Warm and grounding. The taupe quality is organic and natural.
LRV and Brightness
Mouse's Back has an LRV of 22, while Kingsport Gray has an LRV of 38.62. That means Kingsport Gray reflects more light. If you switch from Mouse's Back to Kingsport Gray, the room should feel slightly brighter and more open.
Best Rooms for Mouse's Back
Farrow & Ball recommends Mouse's Back for: living room, dining room, bedroom, accent wall, study. With an LRV of 22, this is a medium-dark color that absorbs more light than it reflects. It makes a bold statement and works beautifully on accent walls, front doors, exterior trim, and features where drama is the goal. In a full room, make sure you have good lighting and bright white trim for contrast.
Kingsport Gray is recommended for: living room, dining room, bedroom, office, accent wall. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Kingsport Gray in the same rooms you planned for Mouse's Back.
Mouse's Back in Other Brands
Looking for Mouse's Back equivalents in other brands besides Benjamin Moore? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Benjamin Moore match for Mouse's Back (No.40) is Kingsport Gray (HC-86) with a Delta E of 4.4, which rates as a "good match" match. Kingsport Gray is less brown. Mouse's Back has more earthy warmth. 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. Mouse's Back is a Farrow & Ball color with warm mouse-brown undertones and an LRV of 22. Kingsport Gray is a Benjamin Moore color with warm taupe undertones and an LRV of 38.62. 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 Benjamin Moore equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Benjamin Moore. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Benjamin Moore 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.