Color spec
| Brand | Benjamin Moore |
| Name | Steel Blue |
| SKU | 823 |
| Hex | #879EBF |
| RGB | 135, 158, 191 |
| HSL | 215°, 30%, 64% |
| LRV | 35 |
| Undertone | cool blue tone |
| Family | Blue |
About Benjamin Moore Steel Blue
Steel Blue sits in the mid-range at LRV 35, 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.
Steel 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
13 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
Behr
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
C2 Paint
Kompozit
Similar Benjamin Moore colors
closest in the Benjamin Moore deckThe nearest shades to Steel 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 #879EBF in HSL space. Pair Steel 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 Steel Blue Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Steel 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 823 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Steel Blue
Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Steel Blue. The nearest is Dahlia (SW 6816) at ΔE 4.91 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 32 vs 35). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Dahlia swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Steel Blue
The closest Behr equivalent of Steel Blue is Violet Shadow (620F-4). At ΔE 0.99 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and runs slightly darker (LRV 32 vs 35). If Behr is your counter, order Violet Shadow and you'll get the same color. See the full Violet Shadow swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Steel Blue
At Valspar, the closest color to Steel Blue is Violetta (V073-4) — very close at ΔE 2.36, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 35.8 vs 35) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Violetta swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Steel Blue
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Steel Blue is Alaskan Blue (PPG1162-4) — very close at ΔE 2.9, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 33 vs 35) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Alaskan Blue swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Steel Blue
Glidden's nearest match is New World Blue (30BB 33/187), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.2). It runs slightly darker (LRV 33 vs 35) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Steel Blue without repainting risk. See the full New World Blue swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Steel Blue
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Steel Blue is Neptune's Folly (240-4DB) — very close at ΔE 2.89, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 35 vs 35) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Neptune's Folly swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Steel Blue
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Steel Blue. The nearest is Purple Peonies (HGSW 1403) at ΔE 4.91 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 32 vs 35). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Purple Peonies swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Steel Blue
At Farrow & Ball, the closest color to Steel Blue is Bothy Blue (NO. G11) — very close at ΔE 3.21, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 32 vs 35) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Bothy Blue swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Steel Blue
Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Steel Blue. The nearest is Key West Zenith (0646) at ΔE 4.5 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 34 vs 35). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Key West Zenith swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Steel Blue
Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Steel Blue. The nearest is John's Blue (0617) at ΔE 4.18 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 36 vs 35). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full John's Blue swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Steel Blue
Kompozit has no exact twin of Steel Blue. The nearest is John's Blue (0617) at ΔE 4.18 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 35 vs 35). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full John's Blue swatch →