Thundercloud
S520-5 · #70869D · LRV 23 — cool blue tone, dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs.
- 1Hale Navy8
- 2Waterloo13
- 3Thundercloud23
- 4Resolute Blue40
- 5Lost in the 80s51
What Color Is Thundercloud, Really?
Thundercloud reads as a cool blue tone — dark — high drama, needs strong daylight or warm bulbs. The notes below cover how Behr S520-5 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Thundercloud
Thundercloud works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Blues calm a room, which makes them popular in bedrooms, bathrooms and home offices.
How Lighting Changes Thundercloud
With an LRV of 23, Thundercloud is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. 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. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Most complaints about Thundercloud are a light mismatch. Upload a photo of your actual room and see it on your walls — then ask for the same wall in north light or evening lamps before you buy a single sample.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Behr S520-5 directly. If you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches, measured as ΔE2000. Under 2 is a difference you will not see on the wall.
| Brand | Closest color | ΔE | LRV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams | Sporty BlueSW 6522 · Sherwin-Williams | 2.9 | 24 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Stratford Blue831 · Benjamin Moore | 4.1 | 25 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Gray Lavender4005-4A · Valspar | 0.9 | 23 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | Silver BlueberryPPG1163-5 · PPG / Glidden | 1.9 | 21 | Color page → |
| Glidden | Shady Blue10BB 22/096 · Glidden | 3.3 | 22 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Brookside Blue338-5DB · Dutch Boy | 2.7 | 25 | Color page → |
Similar Behr Colors
The nearest shades to Thundercloud within Behr's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
WCAG 2.1: AA is 4.5 : 1 for normal text, 3 : 1 for large text, AAA is 7 : 1.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #70869D in HSL space. Pair Thundercloud with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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