Gray Palomino → Farrow & Ball
The closest Farrow & Ball matches for PPG Gray Palomino (PPG0998-3), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Farrow & Ball Equivalent for Gray Palomino
If you love PPG Gray Palomino 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.
Gray Palomino (PPG0998-3) is a medium greige with warm greige undertones. A warm, balanced light greige. PPG's version of the universal greige that every brand needs. Enough gray to feel modern, enough beige to feel warm. A reliable whole-house neutral. To find a good Farrow & Ball match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 52) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Gray Palomino 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 Drop Cloth (No.283) with a Delta E of 3.7, which is a "good match" level match. Drop Cloth 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 Gray Palomino
Drop Cloth is the closest F&B option. Similar character.
| Gray Palomino | Drop Cloth | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 52 | 53 |
| Hex | #C7C1B7 | #CCC2B2 |
| Undertone | Warm Greige | Warm Linen Beige |
| Family | Greige | Beige |
Undertone Comparison
Gray Palomino has warm greige undertones. A warm, balanced light greige. PPG's version of the universal greige that every brand needs. Enough gray to feel modern, enough beige to feel warm. A reliable whole-house neutral.
Drop Cloth has warm linen beige undertones. A warm, linen-like beige. The color of natural canvas. Organic and earthy.
These two colors share the same undertone family, which is a good sign for a cross-brand swap. The undertone similarity means they will behave similarly as lighting changes throughout the day, and they should coordinate well with the same accent colors, trim, and furnishings.
How These Colors Behave in Different Lighting
Gray Palomino in Your Room
Balanced and predictable. The greige character reads consistently across lighting conditions. In bright rooms, the gray dominates slightly. In warm light, the beige comes forward.
Drop Cloth in Your Room
Warm and natural. Reads as a warm, organic beige.
LRV and Brightness
Gray Palomino has an LRV of 52, while Drop Cloth has an LRV of 53. 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 Gray Palomino
PPG recommends Gray Palomino for: whole house, hallway, living room, bedroom, bathroom. With an LRV of 52, this is a medium 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.
Drop Cloth is recommended for: living room, bedroom, dining room, hallway, kitchen. 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.
Gray Palomino in Other Brands
Looking for Gray Palomino equivalents in other brands besides Farrow & Ball? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Farrow & Ball match for Gray Palomino (PPG0998-3) is Drop Cloth (No.283) with a Delta E of 3.7, which rates as a "good match" match. Drop Cloth 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. Gray Palomino is a PPG color with warm greige undertones and an LRV of 52. Drop Cloth is a Farrow & Ball color with warm linen beige undertones and an LRV of 53. With a Delta E of 3.7, 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 3.7, 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.