Color spec
| Brand | Behr |
| Name | Optimum Blue |
| SKU | M540-7 |
| Hex | #2B50A2 |
| RGB | 43, 80, 162 |
| HSL | 221°, 58%, 40% |
| LRV | 9 |
| Undertone | cool blue tone |
| Family | Blue |
About Behr Optimum Blue
At LRV 9, Optimum Blue is about as dark as paint gets — it reads near-black on a wall and reveals its character only in direct daylight or under warm bulbs. 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. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Optimum Blue earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Blues calm a room, which makes them popular in bedrooms, bathrooms and home offices.
Closest matches by brand
11 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
Dunn-Edwards
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Portola Paints
Kompozit
Similar Behr colors
closest in the Behr deckThe nearest shades to Optimum 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 #2B50A2 in HSL space. Pair Optimum 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 Optimum Blue Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Optimum 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 M540-7 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Optimum Blue
Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Optimum Blue. The nearest is Frank Blue (SW 6967) at ΔE 4.55 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 9). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Frank Blue swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Optimum Blue
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Optimum Blue is Twilight Blue (2067-30) — very close at ΔE 2.33, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 9 vs 9) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Twilight Blue swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Optimum Blue
Valspar has no exact twin of Optimum Blue. The nearest is Miracle at Wrigley (8001-45G) at ΔE 4.81 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 9). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Miracle at Wrigley swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Optimum Blue
PPG / Glidden has no exact twin of Optimum Blue. The nearest is Florentine Lapis (PPG1244-7) at ΔE 4.12 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 9 vs 9). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Florentine Lapis swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Optimum Blue
Glidden has no exact twin of Optimum Blue. The nearest is Florentine Lapis (PPG1244-7) at ΔE 4.54 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 9 vs 9). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Florentine Lapis swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Optimum Blue
Dutch Boy has no exact twin of Optimum Blue. The nearest is Rich Cobalt (139-7DB) at ΔE 4.55 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 9). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Rich Cobalt swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Optimum Blue
Dunn-Edwards has no exact twin of Optimum Blue. The nearest is Blue Chip (DE5867) at ΔE 4.04 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 9 vs 9). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Blue Chip swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Optimum Blue
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Optimum Blue is Dancing Sea (0641) — very close at ΔE 2.54, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 9 vs 9) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Dancing Sea swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Optimum Blue
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Optimum Blue is Dancing Sea (0641) — very close at ΔE 3.48, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 10 vs 9) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Dancing Sea swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Optimum Blue
Portola Paints has no exact twin of Optimum Blue. The nearest is Cobalt (COBALT) at ΔE 3.9 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 9). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Cobalt swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Optimum Blue
At Kompozit, the closest color to Optimum Blue is Dancing Sea (0641) — very close at ΔE 3.48, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 9) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Dancing Sea swatch →