Color spec
| Brand | Behr |
| Name | Empire Blue |
| SKU | MQ5-56 |
| Hex | #5A90B3 |
| RGB | 90, 144, 179 |
| HSL | 204°, 37%, 53% |
| LRV | 25 |
| Undertone | cool blue tone |
| Family | Blue |
About Behr Empire Blue
Empire Blue sits in the mid-range at LRV 25, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. Its blue 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.
Empire Blue 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 5The 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
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Farrow & Ball
Hirshfield's
C2 Paint
Kompozit
Similar Behr colors
closest in the Behr deckThe nearest shades to Empire Blue within Behr's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #5A90B3 in HSL space. Pair Empire Blue with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Accessibility (WCAG contrast)
WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.
Behr Empire Blue Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Empire Blue 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 MQ5-56 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Empire Blue
Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Empire Blue. The nearest is Blue Cruise (SW 7606) at ΔE 3.73 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 26 vs 25). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Blue Cruise swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Empire Blue
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Lazy Sunday (803), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.98). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 27 vs 25) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Empire Blue without repainting risk. See the full Lazy Sunday swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Empire Blue
At Valspar, the closest color to Empire Blue is Splendid Blue (4004-6A) — very close at ΔE 2.48, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 25.9 vs 25) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Splendid Blue swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Empire Blue
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Empire Blue is Vanity (PPG1157-5) — very close at ΔE 2.43, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 26 vs 25) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Vanity swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Empire Blue
Glidden's nearest match is Vanity (PPG1157-5), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.9). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 26 vs 25) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Empire Blue without repainting risk. See the full Vanity swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Empire Blue
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Empire Blue is Coastal Way (236-5DB) — very close at ΔE 3.31, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 25 vs 25) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Coastal Way swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Empire Blue
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Empire Blue. The nearest is Scanda (HGSW 1383) at ΔE 4.07 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 25 vs 25). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Scanda swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Empire Blue
Dunn-Edwards has no exact twin of Empire Blue. The nearest is Genteel Blue (DET589) at ΔE 4.17 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 27 vs 25). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Genteel Blue swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Empire Blue
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Empire Blue. The nearest is Cook's Blue (NO. 237) at ΔE 3.81 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 26 vs 25). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Cook's Blue swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Empire Blue
Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Empire Blue. The nearest is Heavenly Sky (0618) at ΔE 3.86 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 28 vs 25). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Heavenly Sky swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Empire Blue
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Empire Blue is Swallow Tail (C2-765) — very close at ΔE 2.57, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 26 vs 25) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Swallow Tail swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Empire Blue
Kompozit has no exact twin of Empire Blue. The nearest is Heavenly Sky (0618) at ΔE 3.86 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 26 vs 25). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Heavenly Sky swatch →