Leather Brown vs NATO Brown

How close are they?

ΔE 11.5, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. NATO Brown is a little darker, more muted than Leather Brown.

Can I use NATO Brown instead of Leather Brown?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 12). NATO Brown is a little darker, more muted than Leather Brown.

Can I use Leather Brown instead of NATO Brown?

The same difference applies the other way round: Leather Brown is a little lighter, more saturated.

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.