Color spec
| Brand | Behr |
| Name | Gulf Waters |
| SKU | MQ4-52 |
| Hex | #20A4BF |
| RGB | 32, 164, 191 |
| HSL | 190°, 71%, 44% |
| LRV | 31 |
| Undertone | cool blue-green tone |
| Family | Teal |
About Behr Gulf Waters
Gulf Waters sits in the mid-range at LRV 31, 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.
Gulf Waters is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Teals add character without shouting — good for a vanity, an island or a feature wall.
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 teal from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Kompozit
Similar Behr colors
closest in the Behr deckThe nearest shades to Gulf Waters 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 #20A4BF in HSL space. Pair Gulf Waters 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 Gulf Waters Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Gulf Waters 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 MQ4-52 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Gulf Waters
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Gulf Waters is Jamaica Bay (SW 6781) — very close at ΔE 2.48, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 30 vs 31) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Jamaica Bay swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Gulf Waters
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Gulf Waters is Dream I Can Fly (769) — very close at ΔE 2.44, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 31 vs 31) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Dream I Can Fly swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Gulf Waters
Valspar's nearest match is The Crowd Roars! (8001-38E), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.57). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 33 vs 31) and carries a cool blue-green undertone, so it substitutes for Gulf Waters without repainting risk. See the full The Crowd Roars! swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Gulf Waters
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Gulf Waters is Jamaican Sea (PPG1236-6) — very close at ΔE 2.39, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 31 vs 31) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Jamaican Sea swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Gulf Waters
At Glidden, the closest color to Gulf Waters is Jamaican Sea (PPG1236-6) — very close at ΔE 2.03, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 31 vs 31) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Jamaican Sea swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Gulf Waters
Dutch Boy has no exact twin of Gulf Waters. The nearest is Turquoise Waters (134-6DB) at ΔE 3.61 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 32 vs 31). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Turquoise Waters swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Gulf Waters
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Gulf Waters is Blue Bicycle (HGSW 1343) — very close at ΔE 2.48, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 30 vs 31) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Blue Bicycle swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Gulf Waters
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Gulf Waters. The nearest is Lobster (NO. CB7) at ΔE 4.01 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 33 vs 31). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Lobster swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Gulf Waters
Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Gulf Waters. The nearest is Charybdis (0661) at ΔE 4.47 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 32 vs 31). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Charybdis swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Gulf Waters
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Gulf Waters is Sarah's Garden (0674) — very close at ΔE 2.64, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 36 vs 31) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Sarah's Garden swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Gulf Waters
At Kompozit, the closest color to Gulf Waters is Sarah's Garden (0674) — very close at ΔE 2.64, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 33 vs 31) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Sarah's Garden swatch →