CP

Behr El CapitanMQ4-56 · #18A4DA · LRV 32

El Capitan reads as a cool blue-green tone — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover the color's details, what Behr MQ4-56 actually looks like under different light, and the closest matches at competing US brands.

BEHR EL CAPITAN
RGB 24, 164, 218LRV 32

Color spec

BrandBehr
NameEl Capitan
SKUMQ4-56
Hex#18A4DA
RGB24, 164, 218
HSL197°, 80%, 47%
LRV32
Undertonecool blue-green tone
FamilyBlue
See Behr El Capitan on your own walls — upload a room photo.SEE IT IN YOUR ROOM →

About Behr El Capitan

El Capitan sits in the mid-range at LRV 32, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Its teal undertone is the part to watch: it gets picked up by whatever sits next to it, so test it against your trim, floor and the room's main light before committing. South-facing rooms will pull it lighter and warmer, while north light cools it down.

El Capitan is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Blues calm a room, which makes them popular in bedrooms, bathrooms and home offices.

Closest matches by brand

12 brands within ΔE 5

The closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Only colors within ΔE 5 (close enough to substitute on a wall) are shown — brands with no real match are left off. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all blue from that brand.

Sherwin-Williams

1,947 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.49
All blue at Sherwin-Williams →
SW 6795 · #289EC4 · ΔE 4.49 · LRV 29

Benjamin Moore

4,068 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.81
All blue at Benjamin Moore →
2060-40 · #199FCC · ΔE 2.81 · LRV 29
790 · #3F9DD1 · ΔE 3.15 · LRV 33
2059-40 · #17A1C8 · ΔE 4.42 · LRV 30

Valspar

2,858 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.47
All blue at Valspar →
V033-2 · #47A8D8 · ΔE 2.47 · LRV 34.4
4007-10B · #339BCF · ΔE 3.1 · LRV 28.6
5001-10B · #3F9FC2 · ΔE 4.65 · LRV 29.6

PPG / Glidden

2,132 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.68
All blue at PPG / Glidden →
PPG1237-5 · #48A8CF · ΔE 3.68 · LRV 34
PPG1240-5 · #3399CE · ΔE 3.8 · LRV 28

Glidden

3,101 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.45
All blue at Glidden →
PPG1237-5 · #48A8D0 · ΔE 3.45 · LRV 34
89BG 37/353 · #51A7DD · ΔE 4.03 · LRV 37
PPG1240-5 · #3398CE · ΔE 4.2 · LRV 28
50BG 33/360 · #38A1C5 · ΔE 4.46 · LRV 33

Dutch Boy

1,340 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.55
All blue at Dutch Boy →
137-6DB · #4398C1 · ΔE 4.55 · LRV 28
138-6DB · #5BA0CE · ΔE 4.88 · LRV 32
HGSW 1363 · #289EC4 · ΔE 4.49 · LRV 29
HGSW 6795 · #289EC4 · ΔE 4.49 · LRV 29

Dunn-Edwards

2,298 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.13
All blue at Dunn-Edwards →
DE5837 · #0098C8 · ΔE 4.13 · LRV 25
DET573 · #4C98C2 · ΔE 4.86 · LRV 30

Farrow & Ball

302 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.76
All blue at Farrow & Ball →
NO. 280 · #579DC2 · ΔE 4.76 · LRV 30

Diamond Vogel

1,386 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.92
All blue at Diamond Vogel →
0661 · #38A5CB · ΔE 3.92 · LRV 32

Hirshfield's

1,469 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.1
All blue at Hirshfield's →
0661 · #16A3CB · ΔE 4.1 · LRV 34

Kompozit

1,321 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.1
All blue at Kompozit →
0661 · #16A3CB · ΔE 4.1 · LRV 31

Similar Behr colors

closest in the Behr deck

The nearest shades to El Capitan within Behr's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.

540B-7 · LRV 33
T12-8 · LRV 33
M520-5 · LRV 33
P490-6 · LRV 32
550D-6 · LRV 32
M500-4 · LRV 28

Coordinated palette

Generated by hue-rotating #18A4DA in HSL space. Pair El Capitan with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.

COMPLEMENTARY
#18A4DA + #DA4E18
TRIADIC
#18A4DA · #DA18A4 · #A4DA18
ANALOGOUS
#18DAAF · #18A4DA · #1843DA

Accessibility (WCAG contrast)

Sample text on white
2.85:1fail
Sample text on black
7.36:1AAA

WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.

Behr El Capitan Equivalents at Other Brands

Matching El Capitan from a different paint counter? Below is the single closest color in each major US deck and how close it really is. Remember that any paint store can also custom-tint Behr MQ4-56 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.

Benjamin Moore Equivalent of El Capitan

At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to El Capitan is Toronto Blue (2060-40) — very close at ΔE 2.81, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 29 vs 32) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Toronto Blue swatch →

Valspar Equivalent of El Capitan

At Valspar, the closest color to El Capitan is Blue Tango (4007-10B) — very close at ΔE 3.1, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 28.6 vs 32) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Blue Tango swatch →

PPG / Glidden Equivalent of El Capitan

PPG / Glidden has no exact twin of El Capitan. The nearest is Sorcerer (PPG1240-5) at ΔE 3.8 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 28 vs 32). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Sorcerer swatch →

Glidden Equivalent of El Capitan

At Glidden, the closest color to El Capitan is Mystic Blue (PPG1237-5) — very close at ΔE 3.45, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 34 vs 32) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Mystic Blue swatch →

Dutch Boy Equivalent of El Capitan

Dutch Boy has no exact twin of El Capitan. The nearest is Blue Morning Glory (138-6DB) at ΔE 4.88 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 32 vs 32). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Blue Morning Glory swatch →

HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of El Capitan

HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of El Capitan. The nearest is Something Borrowed (HGSW 1363) at ΔE 4.49 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 29 vs 32). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Something Borrowed swatch →

Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of El Capitan

Dunn-Edwards has no exact twin of El Capitan. The nearest is Pool Party (DE5837) at ΔE 4.13 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs noticeably darker (LRV 25 vs 32). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Pool Party swatch →

Farrow & Ball Equivalent of El Capitan

Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of El Capitan. The nearest is St Giles Blue (NO. 280) at ΔE 4.76 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 30 vs 32). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full St Giles Blue swatch →

Diamond Vogel Equivalent of El Capitan

Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of El Capitan. The nearest is Charybdis (0661) at ΔE 3.92 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 32 vs 32). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Charybdis swatch →

Hirshfield's Equivalent of El Capitan

Hirshfield's has no exact twin of El Capitan. The nearest is Charybdis (0661) at ΔE 4.1 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 34 vs 32). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Charybdis swatch →

Kompozit Equivalent of El Capitan

Kompozit has no exact twin of El Capitan. The nearest is Charybdis (0661) at ΔE 4.1 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 31 vs 32). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Charybdis swatch →

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