Dover Gray → Farrow & Ball
The closest Farrow & Ball matches for PPG Dover Gray (PPG0998-5), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Farrow & Ball Equivalent for Dover Gray
If you love PPG Dover Gray but need a Farrow & Ball 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 Farrow & Ball, your local store does not carry PPG, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Dover Gray (PPG0998-5) is a medium-dark gray with warm medium gray undertones. A warm, medium gray named for the famous English cliffs. Warmer than Cool Concrete, lighter than Up In Smoke. A substantial, grounding neutral. To find a good Farrow & Ball match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 28) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Dover Gray and every Farrow & Ball 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 Farrow & Ball option is Mole's Breath (No.276) with a Delta E of 3.8, which is a "good match" level match. Mole's Breath is the closest F&B option. Similar character. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Farrow & Ball Matches for Dover Gray
Mole's Breath is the closest F&B option. Similar character.
| Dover Gray | Mole's Breath | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 28 | 26 |
| Hex | #A29F99 | #9F9991 |
| Undertone | Warm Medium Gray | Warm Mole Taupe |
| Family | Gray | Taupe |
Undertone Comparison
Dover Gray has warm medium gray undertones. A warm, medium gray named for the famous English cliffs. Warmer than Cool Concrete, lighter than Up In Smoke. A substantial, grounding neutral.
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.
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. Dover Gray's warm medium gray quality may read differently than Mole's Breath's warm mole 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
Dover Gray in Your Room
Warm and balanced. In bright rooms, a warm medium gray. In dim rooms, grounding warmth.
Mole's Breath in Your Room
Warm and grounding. In bright rooms, a rich warm taupe. In dim rooms, cozy and intimate.
LRV and Brightness
Dover Gray has an LRV of 28, while Mole's Breath 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 Dover Gray
PPG recommends Dover Gray for: living room, bedroom, exterior, office, accent wall. With an LRV of 28, 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.
Mole's Breath is recommended for: living room, dining room, bedroom, accent wall, hallway. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Mole's Breath in the same rooms you planned for Dover Gray.
Dover Gray in Other Brands
Looking for Dover Gray equivalents in other brands besides Farrow & Ball? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Farrow & Ball match for Dover Gray (PPG0998-5) is Mole's Breath (No.276) with a Delta E of 3.8, which rates as a "good match" match. Mole's Breath is the closest F&B option. Similar character. 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. Dover Gray is a PPG color with warm medium gray undertones and an LRV of 28. Mole's Breath is a Farrow & Ball color with warm mole taupe undertones and an LRV of 26. With a Delta E of 3.8, 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 3.8, 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 Farrow & Ball equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Farrow & Ball. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Farrow & Ball 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.