Paint Color Lab Sarsaparilla PPG 1018-7
PPG Sarsaparilla (PPG1018-7) has an LRV of 8 and is closest to Sherwin-Williams Black Fox (SW 7020), with ΔE 4.5.
- LRV
- 8light reflectance, 0–100
- Undertone
- Warm (red)calculated from Lab
- Hex
- #5B4C44
- RGB
- 91, 76, 68
- CIE Lab
- 33.6 / 4.9 / 7.1D65, from hex
- Depth
- Dark
Closest matches to Sarsaparilla in other brands
Ranked by CIEDE2000 colour difference (ΔE). Under 1 is near-identical; under 2 is hard to tell apart on a wall.
| Color | Brand | LRV | ΔE 2000 | How close |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Fox SW 7020 | Sherwin-Williams | 7 | 4.5 | similar, clearly different |
| Status Bronze SW 7034 | Sherwin-Williams | 8 | 4.8 | similar, clearly different |
| Iron Mountain BM 2134-30 | Benjamin Moore | 10.96 | 7.3 | same family only |
| Wrought Iron BM 2124-10 | Benjamin Moore | 8.17 | 9.2 | same family only |
| Flora Valspar 5004-2C | Valspar | 9.3 | 13.0 | same family only |
| Midnight Blue Behr N480-7 | Behr | 9 | 14.6 | same family only |
| Almost Charcoal Valspar 4008-2B | Valspar | 15.93 | 16.1 | same family only |
| Adirondack Blue Behr N480-5 | Behr | 23 | 26.0 | same family only |
Matches come from the 190 colors in our database so far, not from every color each brand makes. Try the color matcher for any hex code.
Sarsaparilla on a wall
About Sarsaparilla
PPG Sarsaparilla (PPG1018-7) LRV and undertone
PPG Sarsaparilla (PPG1018-7) has an LRV of 8, which places it in the dark range. Light reflectance value measures how much visible light a painted surface reflects. With a low LRV, this color reflects little light and provides substantial visual depth. Its color family is brown, and its calculated undertone is warm red. That undertone distinguishes Sarsaparilla from neutral dark grays and can become more noticeable beside cooler whites or gray finishes.
Dark, warm colors can appear different as daylight changes. North-facing light often emphasizes cooler contrasts, while south-facing light may reinforce warmth. Check the color next to flooring, counters, and trim before selecting a room-wide application. Lighter trim can make the boundary more pronounced, while a darker neighboring finish may reduce contrast. A large sample helps reveal these relationships better than a small chip.
PPG Sarsaparilla in other brands
Sherwin-Williams Black Fox (SW 7020) has an LRV of 7 and a ΔE of 4.5. Sherwin-Williams Status Bronze (SW 7034) has an LRV of 8 and a ΔE of 4.8. Both are only similar to Sarsaparilla under the stated ΔE thresholds because each difference exceeds 4. The matching LRV of Status Bronze does not mean the colors are identical; LRV measures brightness, not the complete color difference.
Benjamin Moore Iron Mountain (2134-30) has an LRV of 10.96 and a ΔE of 7.3, so it is also only similar. Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron (2124-10), with an LRV of 8.17 and a ΔE of 9.2, differs more substantially by the same measure. Treat cross-brand suggestions as starting points for sample comparisons rather than exact substitutions.
Lighter and darker PPG alternatives
PPG Knight’s Armor (PPG1001-6) has an LRV of 11, making it lighter than Sarsaparilla. Its gray family and neutral undertone offer a different direction for rooms where a dark brown feels too warm. PPG Gooseberry (PPG1048-7) has an LRV of 9, providing a small increase in light reflection. Its LRV difference is only one point, so the brightness change may be subtle.
PPG Brick Dust (PPG1056-7) also has an LRV of 8, matching Sarsaparilla’s light-reflectance value. It is therefore neither lighter nor darker by LRV, despite being listed among the nearest same-brand colors. PPG Black Magic (PPG1001-7), at an LRV of 4, is darker and reflects less light. It may suit a surface where a deeper, lower-reflectance finish is required.
Before you buy, compare a physical sample with the swatch on PPG’s page for Sarsaparilla.
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Hex, RGB and LRV (as published) from PPG's page for this color, checked October 24, 2026. Lab, undertone and ΔE are our calculations. Not affiliated with PPG. See how we measure colors.