Online Alt → Farrow & Ball
The closest Farrow & Ball matches for PPG Online Alt (PPG0994-4), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Farrow & Ball Equivalent for Online Alt
If you love PPG Online Alt 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.
Online Alt (PPG0994-4) is a medium gray with cool silver gray undertones. A cool silver-gray. Between Thin Ice and Cool Concrete. PPG's most balanced mid-light gray. To find a good Farrow & Ball match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 45) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Online Alt 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 good news: there is a strong Farrow & Ball match for Online Alt. Pavilion Gray (No.242) comes in with a Delta E of 2.2, which puts it in the "excellent match" range. Pavilion Gray is the closest F&B option. Very close match.
Farrow & Ball Matches for Online Alt
Pavilion Gray is the closest F&B option. Very close match.
| Online Alt | Pavilion Gray | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 45 | 44 |
| Hex | #BCBBB7 | #BDB8B5 |
| Undertone | Cool Silver Gray | Warm Pink-Gray |
| Family | Gray | Gray |
Undertone Comparison
Online Alt has cool silver gray undertones. A cool silver-gray. Between Thin Ice and Cool Concrete. PPG's most balanced mid-light gray.
Pavilion Gray has warm pink-gray undertones. A medium gray with warm pink-mauve undertones. More substantial than Ammonite, with the subtle warmth Farrow & Ball is known for.
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. Online Alt's cool silver gray quality may read differently than Pavilion Gray's warm pink-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
Online Alt in Your Room
Cool and balanced. A reliable neutral gray at a versatile depth.
Pavilion Gray in Your Room
The pink-mauve shows in cooler light and north-facing rooms. In warm light, it reads as a balanced mid-gray. Elegant and sophisticated.
LRV and Brightness
Online Alt has an LRV of 45, while Pavilion Gray has an LRV of 44. 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 Online Alt
PPG recommends Online Alt for: bathroom, bedroom, hallway, office, living room. With an LRV of 45, 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.
Pavilion Gray is recommended for: living room, bedroom, dining room, hallway, office. 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.
Online Alt in Other Brands
Looking for Online Alt equivalents in other brands besides Farrow & Ball? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Farrow & Ball match for Online Alt (PPG0994-4) is Pavilion Gray (No.242) with a Delta E of 2.2, which rates as a "excellent match" match. Pavilion Gray is the closest F&B 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. Online Alt is a PPG color with cool silver gray undertones and an LRV of 45. Pavilion Gray is a Farrow & Ball color with warm pink-gray undertones and an LRV of 44. 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 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.