Dusty Aqua Alt → Sherwin Williams
The closest Sherwin Williams matches for PPG Dusty Aqua Alt (PPG1035-5), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Sherwin Williams Equivalent for Dusty Aqua Alt
If you love PPG Dusty Aqua 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 PPG, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Dusty Aqua Alt (PPG1035-5) is a medium-dark gray with cool dark neutral undertones. A cool, dark neutral gray named for the famous Pittsburgh defensive line. Tough, solid, and reliable. One of PPG's most balanced dark grays. To find a good Sherwin Williams match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 22) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Dusty Aqua 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 Network Gray (SW 7073) with a Delta E of 4, which is a "good match" level match. Network Gray is warmer. Steel Curtain is cooler. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Sherwin Williams Matches for Dusty Aqua Alt
Network Gray is warmer. Steel Curtain is cooler.
| Dusty Aqua Alt | Network Gray | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 22 | 22 |
| Hex | #92928F | #94918C |
| Undertone | Cool Dark Neutral | Warm Dark Gray |
| Family | Gray | Gray |
Undertone Comparison
Dusty Aqua Alt has cool dark neutral undertones. A cool, dark neutral gray named for the famous Pittsburgh defensive line. Tough, solid, and reliable. One of PPG's most balanced dark grays.
Network Gray has warm dark gray undertones. A warm, dark gray. Deeper than Dorian Gray, less dark than Online. Named for the connections it creates between light and dark in a room. A solid, reliable dark neutral.
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. Dusty Aqua Alt's cool dark neutral quality may read differently than Network Gray's warm dark 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
Dusty Aqua Alt in Your Room
Neutral and solid. In bright rooms, a clean dark gray. In dim rooms, approaches a sophisticated medium-dark charcoal. Does not pull warm or cool.
Network Gray in Your Room
Warm and grounding. In bright rooms, reads as a warm medium-dark gray. In dim rooms, the depth provides drama without oppressiveness.
LRV and Brightness
Dusty Aqua Alt has an LRV of 22, while Network Gray has an LRV of 22. 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 Dusty Aqua Alt
PPG recommends Dusty Aqua Alt for: accent wall, exterior, office, cabinets, bathroom vanity. With an LRV of 22, this is a medium-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.
Network Gray is recommended for: accent wall, exterior, office, cabinets, bathroom vanity. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Network Gray in the same rooms you planned for Dusty Aqua Alt.
Dusty Aqua Alt in Other Brands
Looking for Dusty Aqua 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 Dusty Aqua Alt (PPG1035-5) is Network Gray (SW 7073) with a Delta E of 4, which rates as a "good match" match. Network Gray is warmer. Steel Curtain is cooler. 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. Dusty Aqua Alt is a PPG color with cool dark neutral undertones and an LRV of 22. Network Gray is a Sherwin Williams color with warm dark gray undertones and an LRV of 22. With a Delta E of 4, 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 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.