Color spec
| Brand | Dutch Boy |
| Name | Inkstain |
| SKU | 238-7DB |
| Hex | #334C64 |
| RGB | 51, 76, 100 |
| HSL | 209°, 32%, 30% |
| LRV | 7 |
| Undertone | blue / cool |
| Family | Blue |
About Dutch Boy Inkstain
At LRV 7, Inkstain 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.
Inkstain 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 at every US brand
13 brands · top 5 each5 closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all blue from that brand.
Behr
PPG / Glidden
Dunn-Edwards
Valspar
Benjamin Moore
Magnolia Home
Sherwin-Williams
Backdrop
Kompozit
C2 Paint
Diamond Vogel
Farrow & Ball
Clare
Similar Dutch Boy colors
closest in the Dutch Boy deckThe nearest shades to Inkstain 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 #334C64 in HSL space. Pair Inkstain 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 Inkstain Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Inkstain 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 238-7DB directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Inkstain
The closest Behr equivalent of Inkstain is Rain Boots (HDC-FL14-12). At ΔE 0.9 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7). If Behr is your counter, order Rain Boots and you'll get the same color. See the full Rain Boots swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Inkstain
The closest PPG / Glidden equivalent of Inkstain is Blueberry Pie (PPG1163-7). At ΔE 0.99 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7). If PPG / Glidden is your counter, order Blueberry Pie and you'll get the same color. See the full Blueberry Pie swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Inkstain
The closest Dunn-Edwards equivalent of Inkstain is Still Waters Run Deep (DEFD60). At ΔE 0.99 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7). If Dunn-Edwards is your counter, order Still Waters Run Deep and you'll get the same color. See the full Still Waters Run Deep swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Inkstain
Valspar's nearest match is Blue Fedora (V111-6), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.74). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6.2 vs 7) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Inkstain without repainting risk. See the full Blue Fedora swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Inkstain
At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Inkstain is Signature (JG-91) — very close at ΔE 2.66, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Signature swatch →
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Inkstain
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Inkstain is Indigo Batik (SW 7602) — very close at ΔE 2.69, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 7) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Indigo Batik swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Inkstain
Kompozit has no exact twin of Inkstain. The nearest is Quiet Peace (0592) at ΔE 3.81 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Quiet Peace swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Inkstain
Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Inkstain. The nearest is Star-Studded (0620) at ΔE 4.93 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Star-Studded swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Inkstain
C2 Paint doesn't make a true equivalent of Inkstain — the nearest deck color, Cordon Bleu (C2-774), is clearly different (ΔE 5.47). For an exact match, any C2 Paint retailer can custom-tint Dutch Boy 238-7DB instead. See the full Cordon Bleu swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Inkstain
Farrow & Ball doesn't make a true equivalent of Inkstain — the nearest deck color, Hague Blue (NO. 30), is clearly different (ΔE 6.06). For an exact match, any Farrow & Ball retailer can custom-tint Dutch Boy 238-7DB instead. See the full Hague Blue swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Inkstain
Benjamin Moore doesn't make a true equivalent of Inkstain — the nearest deck color, Stunning (826), is clearly different (ΔE 6.25). For an exact match, any Benjamin Moore retailer can custom-tint Dutch Boy 238-7DB instead. See the full Stunning swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Inkstain
Backdrop doesn't make a true equivalent of Inkstain — the nearest deck color, Last Call (BD-LC), is clearly different (ΔE 7.78). For an exact match, any Backdrop retailer can custom-tint Dutch Boy 238-7DB instead. See the full Last Call swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Inkstain
Clare doesn't make a true equivalent of Inkstain — the nearest deck color, Blackish (PNT100-DP-54), is clearly different (ΔE 14.04). For an exact match, any Clare retailer can custom-tint Dutch Boy 238-7DB instead. See the full Blackish swatch →