Pigeon Alt → Sherwin Williams
The closest Sherwin Williams matches for Farrow & Ball Pigeon Alt (No.47), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Sherwin Williams Equivalent for Pigeon Alt
If you love Farrow & Ball Pigeon Alt 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 Farrow & Ball, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Pigeon Alt (No.47) is a dark green with smoky green undertones. A smoky, muted green. Darker than Pigeon, with more green saturation. The color of green wood smoke rising against a gray sky. To find a good Sherwin Williams match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 18) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Pigeon Alt 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 Roycroft Pewter (SW 2848) with a Delta E of 3.8, which is a "good match" level match. Roycroft Pewter is similar. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Sherwin Williams Matches for Pigeon Alt
Roycroft Pewter is similar.
| Pigeon Alt | Roycroft Pewter | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 18 | 20 |
| Hex | #848C82 | #8B9186 |
| Undertone | Smoky Green | Muted Pewter-Green |
| Family | Green | Green |
Undertone Comparison
Pigeon Alt has smoky green undertones. A smoky, muted green. Darker than Pigeon, with more green saturation. The color of green wood smoke rising against a gray sky.
Roycroft Pewter has muted pewter-green undertones. A muted green-gray with a pewter quality. From SW's Roycroft Historic collection. Darker and more sophisticated than Comfort Gray. The kind of green found on Arts & Crafts era woodwork.
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
Pigeon Alt in Your Room
The smoky green is atmospheric. In bright rooms, the green is definite. In dim rooms, a moody dark gray-green.
Roycroft Pewter in Your Room
The pewter-green is muted and organic. In bright rooms, the green shows. In dim rooms, a warm, dark gray. Historic and grounding.
LRV and Brightness
Pigeon Alt has an LRV of 18, while Roycroft Pewter has an LRV of 20. 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 Pigeon Alt
Farrow & Ball recommends Pigeon Alt for: accent wall, kitchen, exterior, office, bedroom. With an LRV of 18, 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.
Roycroft Pewter is recommended for: exterior, accent wall, cabinets, office, dining room. 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.
Pigeon Alt in Other Brands
Looking for Pigeon Alt equivalents in other brands besides Sherwin Williams? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Sherwin Williams match for Pigeon Alt (No.47) is Roycroft Pewter (SW 2848) with a Delta E of 3.8, which rates as a "good match" match. Roycroft Pewter is similar. 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. Pigeon Alt is a Farrow & Ball color with smoky green undertones and an LRV of 18. Roycroft Pewter is a Sherwin Williams color with muted pewter-green undertones and an LRV of 20. 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 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.