Tallow → Behr
The closest Behr matches for Farrow & Ball Tallow (No.203), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Behr Equivalent for Tallow
If you love Farrow & Ball Tallow but need a Behr 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 Behr, your local store does not carry Farrow & Ball, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Tallow (No.203) is a light cream with warm tallow cream undertones. A warm cream named for the rendered animal fat used in traditional candles. Rich and organic, with the warm, natural glow of candlelight. To find a good Behr match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 72) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Tallow and every Behr 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 Behr match for Tallow. Heavy Cream (PPU7-10) comes in with a Delta E of 2, which puts it in the "excellent match" range. Heavy Cream is the closest Behr option. Very close match.
Behr Matches for Tallow
Heavy Cream is the closest Behr option. Very close match.
| Tallow | Heavy Cream | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 72 | 72 |
| Hex | #E0DBD0 | #E2DAC8 |
| Undertone | Warm Tallow Cream | Warm Rich Cream |
| Family | Cream | Cream |
Undertone Comparison
Tallow has warm tallow cream undertones. A warm cream named for the rendered animal fat used in traditional candles. Rich and organic, with the warm, natural glow of candlelight.
Heavy Cream has warm rich cream undertones. A rich, warm cream. More depth than Swiss Coffee.
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. Tallow's warm tallow cream quality may read differently than Heavy Cream's warm rich cream 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
Tallow in Your Room
Warm and organic. In bright rooms, a warm off-white with visible cream. In dim rooms, cozy and inviting.
Heavy Cream in Your Room
The cream warmth is rich and cozy. Golden in south-facing rooms.
LRV and Brightness
Tallow has an LRV of 72, while Heavy Cream has an LRV of 72. 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 Tallow
Farrow & Ball recommends Tallow for: living room, bedroom, hallway, dining room, kitchen. With an LRV of 72, this is a light 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.
Heavy Cream is recommended for: living room, bedroom, dining room, hallway. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Heavy Cream in the same rooms you planned for Tallow.
Tallow in Other Brands
Looking for Tallow equivalents in other brands besides Behr? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Behr match for Tallow (No.203) is Heavy Cream (PPU7-10) with a Delta E of 2, which rates as a "excellent match" match. Heavy Cream is the closest Behr option. 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. Tallow is a Farrow & Ball color with warm tallow cream undertones and an LRV of 72. Heavy Cream is a Behr color with warm rich cream undertones and an LRV of 72. With a Delta E of 2, these are extremely close and most people will not spot the difference on a wall. 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, 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 Behr equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Behr. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Behr 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.