Dragon's Breath → Sherwin Williams
The closest Sherwin Williams matches for Benjamin Moore Dragon's Breath (1547), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Sherwin Williams Equivalent for Dragon's Breath
If you love Benjamin Moore Dragon's Breath but need a Sherwin Williams 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 Sherwin Williams, your local store does not carry Benjamin Moore, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Dragon's Breath (1547) is a dark brown with deep warm brown undertones. A deep, rich warm brown with the intensity its name suggests. Not a black-brown but a true chocolate-espresso tone. Bold and warming. To find a good Sherwin Williams match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 6.88) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Dragon's Breath and every Sherwin Williams 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 Sherwin Williams option is Urbane Bronze (SW 7048) with a Delta E of 4.4, which is a "good match" level match. Urbane Bronze is similar but more gray. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Sherwin Williams Matches for Dragon's Breath
Urbane Bronze is similar but more gray.
| Dragon's Breath | Urbane Bronze | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 6.88 | 8 |
| Hex | #53483F | #63584E |
| Undertone | Deep Warm Brown | Warm Bronze-Brown |
| Family | Brown | Brown |
Undertone Comparison
Dragon's Breath has deep warm brown undertones. A deep, rich warm brown with the intensity its name suggests. Not a black-brown but a true chocolate-espresso tone. Bold and warming.
Urbane Bronze has warm bronze-brown undertones. SW's 2021 Color of the Year. A warm, earthy dark brown with sophisticated depth. Richer and warmer than a dark gray, more refined than a chocolate.
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
Dragon's Breath in Your Room
In bright light, the rich brown is visible and appealing. In dim rooms, a warm near-black. Under warm light, the chocolate quality emerges.
Urbane Bronze in Your Room
In bright light, the warm bronze quality shines. In dim rooms, it reads as a rich, dark neutral. Stunning on front doors, accent walls, and exterior trim.
LRV and Brightness
Dragon's Breath has an LRV of 6.88, while Urbane Bronze has an LRV of 8. 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 Dragon's Breath
Benjamin Moore recommends Dragon's Breath for: front door, accent wall, exterior trim, cabinets, powder room. With an LRV of 6.88, this is a dark color that absorbs more light than it reflects. It makes a bold statement and works beautifully on accent walls, front doors, exterior trim, and features where drama is the goal. In a full room, make sure you have good lighting and bright white trim for contrast.
Urbane Bronze is recommended for: front door, accent wall, exterior, powder room, office. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Urbane Bronze in the same rooms you planned for Dragon's Breath.
Dragon's Breath in Other Brands
Looking for Dragon's Breath equivalents in other brands besides Sherwin Williams? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Sherwin Williams match for Dragon's Breath (1547) is Urbane Bronze (SW 7048) with a Delta E of 4.4, which rates as a "good match" match. Urbane Bronze is similar but more gray. 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. Dragon's Breath is a Benjamin Moore color with deep warm brown undertones and an LRV of 6.88. Urbane Bronze is a Sherwin Williams color with warm bronze-brown undertones and an LRV of 8. With a Delta E of 4.4, you will likely notice a difference, especially in bright or direct lighting. 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 4.4, 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 Sherwin Williams equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Sherwin Williams. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Sherwin Williams 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.