Color spec
| Brand | Dutch Boy |
| Name | Graduation Cap |
| SKU | 429-7DB |
| Hex | #2B3A40 |
| RGB | 43, 58, 64 |
| HSL | 197°, 20%, 21% |
| LRV | 4 |
| Undertone | cool blue-green tone |
| Family | Teal |
About Dutch Boy Graduation Cap
At LRV 4, Graduation Cap 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 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. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Graduation Cap earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Teals add character without shouting — good for a vanity, an island or a feature wall.
Closest matches by brand
8 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 teal from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Portola Paints
Annie Sloan
Rust-Oleum
Similar Dutch Boy colors
closest in the Dutch Boy deckThe nearest shades to Graduation Cap within Dutch Boy'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 #2B3A40 in HSL space. Pair Graduation Cap 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.
Dutch Boy Graduation Cap Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Graduation Cap 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 Dutch Boy 429-7DB directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Graduation Cap
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Graduation Cap is Dark Night (SW 6237) — very close at ΔE 2.21, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 4 vs 4) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Dark Night swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Graduation Cap
At Behr, the closest color to Graduation Cap is Night Shade (740F-7) — very close at ΔE 2.37, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 4 vs 4) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Night Shade swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Graduation Cap
Benjamin Moore has no exact twin of Graduation Cap. The nearest is Three-Piece-Suit (2062-10) at ΔE 4.4 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 6 vs 4). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Three-Piece-Suit swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Graduation Cap
At Valspar, the closest color to Graduation Cap is Pitch Cobalt (5010-2) — very close at ΔE 2.91, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 3.8 vs 4) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Pitch Cobalt swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Graduation Cap
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Graduation Cap is Dark Night (HGSW 3331) — very close at ΔE 2.21, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 4 vs 4) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Dark Night swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Graduation Cap
Portola Paints's nearest match is Ghost Tree (GHOST TREE), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.89). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 4 vs 4) and carries a cool blue-green undertone, so it substitutes for Graduation Cap without repainting risk. See the full Ghost Tree swatch →
Annie Sloan Equivalent of Graduation Cap
Annie Sloan has no exact twin of Graduation Cap. The nearest is Aubusson Blue (AUBUSSON BLUE) at ΔE 4.92 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 6 vs 4). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Aubusson Blue swatch →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Graduation Cap
Rust-Oleum has no exact twin of Graduation Cap. The nearest is Charcoal (285144) at ΔE 4.44 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 4 vs 4). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Charcoal swatch →