Color spec
| Brand | Benjamin Moore |
| Name | Celtic Blue |
| SKU | ES-31 |
| Hex | #A9B5BC |
| RGB | 169, 181, 188 |
| HSL | 202°, 12%, 70% |
| LRV | 45 |
| Undertone | cool blue tone |
| Family | Gray |
About Benjamin Moore Celtic Blue
Celtic Blue sits in the mid-range at LRV 45, 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.
Celtic Blue is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.
Closest matches by brand
17 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 gray from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Clare
Annie Sloan
Backdrop
Rust-Oleum
Kompozit
Similar Benjamin Moore colors
closest in the Benjamin Moore deckThe nearest shades to Celtic Blue within Benjamin Moore'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 #A9B5BC in HSL space. Pair Celtic 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.
Benjamin Moore Celtic Blue Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Celtic 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 Benjamin Moore ES-31 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Celtic Blue
Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Jubilee (SW 6248), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.86). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 45 vs 45) and carries a cool blue-green undertone, so it substitutes for Celtic Blue without repainting risk. See the full Jubilee swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Celtic Blue
Behr's nearest match is Calming Space (ICC-45), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.48). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 46 vs 45) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Celtic Blue without repainting risk. See the full Calming Space swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Celtic Blue
Valspar's nearest match is Bedside Manner (T671), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.72). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 45.1 vs 45) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Celtic Blue without repainting risk. See the full Bedside Manner swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Celtic Blue
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Celtic Blue is Smoke Screen (PPG1038-4) — very close at ΔE 2.04, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 46 vs 45) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Smoke Screen swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Celtic Blue
At Glidden, the closest color to Celtic Blue is Nautical Star (PPG1036-3) — very close at ΔE 2.49, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 45 vs 45) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Nautical Star swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Celtic Blue
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Celtic Blue is Tempest Wind (431-2DB) — very close at ΔE 2.96, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 46 vs 45) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Tempest Wind swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Celtic Blue
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Sea Island Cotton (HGSW 3365), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.86). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 45 vs 45) and carries a cool blue-green undertone, so it substitutes for Celtic Blue without repainting risk. See the full Sea Island Cotton swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Celtic Blue
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Yreka! (DET594), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.67). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 44 vs 45) and carries a cool blue-green undertone, so it substitutes for Celtic Blue without repainting risk. See the full Yreka! swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Celtic Blue
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Celtic Blue is Cystern (0511) — very close at ΔE 2.91, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 45 vs 45) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Cystern swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Celtic Blue
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Celtic Blue is Cystern (0511) — very close at ΔE 2.34, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 44 vs 45) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Cystern swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Celtic Blue
At Rodda, the closest color to Celtic Blue is Zinc (CA193) — very close at ΔE 2.83, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 44 vs 45) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Zinc swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Celtic Blue
C2 Paint's nearest match is Well Water (BD18), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.86). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 45 vs 45) and carries a cool blue-green undertone, so it substitutes for Celtic Blue without repainting risk. See the full Well Water swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Celtic Blue
Clare has no exact twin of Celtic Blue. The nearest is Cloud Watching (PNT100-MD-73) at ΔE 3.53 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 50 vs 45). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Cloud Watching swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Celtic Blue
At Backdrop, the closest color to Celtic Blue is Underdog (BD-UD) — very close at ΔE 2.25, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 41 vs 45) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Underdog swatch →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Celtic Blue
Rust-Oleum has no exact twin of Celtic Blue. The nearest is Aged Gray (285143) at ΔE 4.16 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 48 vs 45). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Aged Gray swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Celtic Blue
At Kompozit, the closest color to Celtic Blue is Cystern (0511) — very close at ΔE 2.34, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 43 vs 45) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Cystern swatch →