Nº8 Earth Red (FS30117) vs Flat Brown

How close are they?

ΔE 11.8, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Flat Brown is more muted, cooler than Nº8 Earth Red (FS30117).

Can I use Flat Brown instead of Nº8 Earth Red (FS30117)?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 12). Flat Brown is more muted, cooler than Nº8 Earth Red (FS30117).

Can I use Nº8 Earth Red (FS30117) instead of Flat Brown?

The same difference applies the other way round: Nº8 Earth Red (FS30117) is more saturated, warmer.

ΔE is the colour difference between our two swatch estimates: under about 6 is close, over about 15 is loose. Real paints also differ in finish, coverage and how they thin, so test before you commit.