CP

Behr Honest BlueBIC-38 · #4C96BB · LRV 27

Honest Blue 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 BIC-38 actually looks like under different light, and the closest matches at competing US brands.

BEHR HONEST BLUE
RGB 76, 150, 187LRV 27

Color spec

BrandBehr
NameHonest Blue
SKUBIC-38
Hex#4C96BB
RGB76, 150, 187
HSL200°, 45%, 52%
LRV27
Undertonecool blue-green tone
FamilyBlue
See Behr Honest Blue on your own walls — upload a room photo.SEE IT IN YOUR ROOM →

About Behr Honest Blue

Honest Blue sits in the mid-range at LRV 27, 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.

Honest 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

9 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 2.86
All blue at Sherwin-Williams →
SW 6802 · #5A9EC0 · ΔE 2.86 · LRV 30
SW 6795 · #289EC4 · ΔE 4.14 · LRV 29
SW 7606 · #6591A8 · ΔE 4.76 · LRV 26

Benjamin Moore

4,068 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.46
All blue at Benjamin Moore →
775 · #5394B4 · ΔE 1.46 · LRV 26
783 · #4298C4 · ΔE 1.75 · LRV 30
2063-40 · #4A93BE · ΔE 2.12 · LRV 29
2058-40 · #419AB7 · ΔE 4.02 · LRV 28

Valspar

2,858 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.1
All blue at Valspar →
V071-4 · #489BC6 · ΔE 2.1 · LRV 28.8
5001-8A · #4891B0 · ΔE 2.63 · LRV 24.8
5001-10B · #3F9FC2 · ΔE 3.73 · LRV 29.6
V035-2 · #4B98CC · ΔE 4.01 · LRV 28.4

PPG / Glidden

2,132 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.71
All blue at PPG / Glidden →
PPG1238-5 · #5497B6 · ΔE 1.71 · LRV 27
PPG1157-5 · #5693B2 · ΔE 1.92 · LRV 26
PPG1239-5 · #3D90BC · ΔE 2.73 · LRV 25
PPG1240-5 · #3399CE · ΔE 3.59 · LRV 28

Glidden

3,101 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.43
All blue at Glidden →
PPG1238-5 · #5397B7 · ΔE 1.43 · LRV 27
PPG1157-5 · #5692B2 · ΔE 1.99 · LRV 26
PPG1239-5 · #3E8FBC · ΔE 3.15 · LRV 24
54BG 28/351 · #1A97BE · ΔE 3.68 · LRV 28

Dutch Boy

1,340 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.22
All blue at Dutch Boy →
137-6DB · #4398C1 · ΔE 1.22 · LRV 28
236-5DB · #4F91AF · ΔE 2.51 · LRV 25
140-5DB · #5A99C9 · ΔE 4.51 · LRV 29
HGSW 1373 · #5A9EC0 · ΔE 2.86 · LRV 30
HGSW 6802 · #5A9EC0 · ΔE 2.86 · LRV 30
HGSW 1363 · #289EC4 · ΔE 4.14 · LRV 29
HGSW 6795 · #289EC4 · ΔE 4.14 · LRV 29

Dunn-Edwards

2,298 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.55
All blue at Dunn-Edwards →
DET573 · #4C98C2 · ΔE 1.55 · LRV 30
DE5837 · #0098C8 · ΔE 3.7 · LRV 25
DE5844 · #3194CE · ΔE 4.55 · LRV 25

Farrow & Ball

302 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.45
All blue at Farrow & Ball →
NO. 280 · #579DC2 · ΔE 2.45 · LRV 30

Similar Behr colors

closest in the Behr deck

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

M500-4 · LRV 28
570D-5 · LRV 29
MQ5-56 · LRV 25
S520-5 · LRV 28
S490-5 · LRV 29
580F-5 · LRV 26

Coordinated palette

Generated by hue-rotating #4C96BB in HSL space. Pair Honest Blue with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.

COMPLEMENTARY
#4C96BB + #BB714C
TRIADIC
#4C96BB · #BB4C96 · #96BB4C
ANALOGOUS
#4CBBA9 · #4C96BB · #4C5EBB

Accessibility (WCAG contrast)

Sample text on white
3.29:1AA Large
Sample text on black
6.39:1AA

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

Behr Honest Blue Equivalents at Other Brands

Matching Honest 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 BIC-38 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.

Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Honest Blue

At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Honest Blue is Jacaranda (SW 6802) — very close at ΔE 2.86, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 30 vs 27) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Jacaranda swatch →

Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Honest Blue

At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Honest Blue is Sailor's Sea Blue (2063-40) — very close at ΔE 2.12, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 29 vs 27) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Sailor's Sea Blue swatch →

Valspar Equivalent of Honest Blue

At Valspar, the closest color to Honest Blue is Estero Sky (V071-4) — very close at ΔE 2.1, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 28.8 vs 27) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Estero Sky swatch →

PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Honest Blue

PPG / Glidden's nearest match is Hush-A-Bye (PPG1238-5), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.71). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 27 vs 27) and carries a cool blue-green undertone, so it substitutes for Honest Blue without repainting risk. See the full Hush-A-Bye swatch →

Glidden Equivalent of Honest Blue

Glidden's nearest match is Hush-A-Bye (PPG1238-5), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.43). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 27 vs 27) and carries a cool blue-green undertone, so it substitutes for Honest Blue without repainting risk. See the full Hush-A-Bye swatch →

Dutch Boy Equivalent of Honest Blue

Dutch Boy's nearest match is Ship Shape Blue (137-6DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.22). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 28 vs 27) and carries a cool blue-green undertone, so it substitutes for Honest Blue without repainting risk. See the full Ship Shape Blue swatch →

HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Honest Blue

At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Honest Blue is Orion Blue (HGSW 1373) — very close at ΔE 2.86, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 30 vs 27) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Orion Blue swatch →

Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Honest Blue

Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Mountain Bluebird (DET573), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.55). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 30 vs 27) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Honest Blue without repainting risk. See the full Mountain Bluebird swatch →

Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Honest Blue

At Farrow & Ball, the closest color to Honest Blue is St Giles Blue (NO. 280) — very close at ΔE 2.45, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 30 vs 27) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full St Giles Blue swatch →

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