CP

Dutch Boy Inky Blue241-7DB · #3B496D · LRV 7

Inky Blue reads as a cool blue tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover the color's details, what Dutch Boy 241-7DB actually looks like under different light, and the closest matches at competing US brands.

DUTCH BOY INKY BLUE
RGB 59, 73, 109LRV 7

Color spec

BrandDutch Boy
NameInky Blue
SKU241-7DB
Hex#3B496D
RGB59, 73, 109
HSL223°, 30%, 33%
LRV7
Undertonecool blue tone
FamilyBlue
See Dutch Boy Inky Blue on your own walls — upload a room photo.SEE IT IN YOUR ROOM →

About Dutch Boy Inky Blue

At LRV 7, Inky Blue 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.

Inky Blue 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 by brand

15 brands within ΔE 5

The 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

1,947 colors in deck · best ΔE 0
All blue at Sherwin-Williams →
SW 6538 · #3B496D · ΔE 0 · LRV 7
SW 6818 · #3E4371 · ΔE 3.84 · LRV 6

Behr

5,644 colors in deck · best ΔE 0.88
All blue at Behr →
MQ5-14 · #3B496A · ΔE 0.88 · LRV 7
T11-19 · #3B476B · ΔE 0.89 · LRV 6
PPU15-01 · #41496A · ΔE 2.15 · LRV 7
PPU15-1 · #41496A · ΔE 2.15 · LRV 7

Benjamin Moore

4,068 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.86
All blue at Benjamin Moore →
CC-966 · #40466D · ΔE 2.86 · LRV 8
826 · #414A62 · ΔE 4.02 · LRV 8
CC-870 · #414A62 · ΔE 4.02 · LRV 7

Valspar

2,858 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.42
All blue at Valspar →
8003-47G · #404565 · ΔE 3.42 · LRV 6
4010-8 · #2A436A · ΔE 3.78 · LRV 5.5

PPG / Glidden

2,132 colors in deck · best ΔE 0.76
All blue at PPG / Glidden →
PPG1168-7 · #3D496E · ΔE 0.76 · LRV 7
PPG1166-7 · #384874 · ΔE 1.98 · LRV 7
PPG1169-7 · #464B6B · ΔE 3.43 · LRV 7
PPG1164-7 · #384B67 · ΔE 3.65 · LRV 7

Glidden

3,101 colors in deck · best ΔE 0.67
All blue at Glidden →
PPG1168-7 · #3D496D · ΔE 0.67 · LRV 7
PPG1166-7 · #374874 · ΔE 2.05 · LRV 7
50BB 08/171 · #404D6B · ΔE 2.23 · LRV 8
PPG1164-7 · #384A66 · ΔE 3.37 · LRV 7
HGSW 2391 · #3B496D · ΔE 0 · LRV 7
HGSW 6538 · #3B496D · ΔE 0 · LRV 7
HGSW 1401 · #3E4371 · ΔE 3.84 · LRV 6
HGSW 6818 · #3E4371 · ΔE 3.84 · LRV 6

Dunn-Edwards

2,298 colors in deck · best ΔE 0.78
All blue at Dunn-Edwards →
DET574 · #3B4A6C · ΔE 0.78 · LRV 7

Magnolia Home

160 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.11
All blue at Magnolia Home →
JG-92 · #42526E · ΔE 4.11 · LRV 8

Farrow & Ball

302 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.69
All blue at Farrow & Ball →
NO. CB11 · #3F4666 · ΔE 2.69 · LRV 6
NO. 9919 · #414B67 · ΔE 2.71 · LRV 7
NO. 253 · #465172 · ΔE 3.06 · LRV 8

Diamond Vogel

1,386 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.51
All blue at Diamond Vogel →
0606 · #43487E · ΔE 4.51 · LRV 7
0620 · #404B61 · ΔE 4.79 · LRV 7

Hirshfield's

1,469 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.71
All blue at Hirshfield's →
0592 · #3A4A64 · ΔE 3.71 · LRV 9

C2 Paint

580 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.58
All blue at C2 Paint →
C2-774 · #3E4B67 · ΔE 2.58 · LRV 7
C2-775 · #43516E · ΔE 3.44 · LRV 8

Annie Sloan

31 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.32
All blue at Annie Sloan →
NAPOLEONIC BLUE · #2E3C5F · ΔE 4.32 · LRV 5

Kompozit

1,321 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.71
All blue at Kompozit →
0592 · #3A4A64 · ΔE 3.71 · LRV 7

Similar Dutch Boy colors

closest in the Dutch Boy deck

The nearest shades to Inky Blue within Dutch Boy's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.

239-7DB · LRV 7
242-6DB · LRV 7
238-7DB · LRV 7
240-7DB · LRV 6
141-7DB · LRV 8
338-6DB · LRV 8

Coordinated palette

Generated by hue-rotating #3B496D in HSL space. Pair Inky Blue with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.

COMPLEMENTARY
#3B496D + #6D5F3B
TRIADIC
#3B496D · #6D3B49 · #496D3B
ANALOGOUS
#3B626D · #3B496D · #463B6D

Accessibility (WCAG contrast)

Sample text on white
8.9:1AAA
Sample text on black
2.36:1fail

WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.

Dutch Boy Inky Blue Equivalents at Other Brands

Matching Inky 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 Dutch Boy 241-7DB directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.

Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Inky Blue

The closest Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Inky Blue is Dignified (SW 6538). At ΔE 0 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 Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Dignified and you'll get the same color. See the full Dignified swatch →

Behr Equivalent of Inky Blue

The closest Behr equivalent of Inky Blue is Bon Nuit (MQ5-14). At ΔE 0.88 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 Bon Nuit and you'll get the same color. See the full Bon Nuit swatch →

Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Inky Blue

At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Inky Blue is Wizard (CC-966) — very close at ΔE 2.86, 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 Wizard swatch →

Valspar Equivalent of Inky Blue

At Valspar, the closest color to Inky Blue is Skyline (8003-47G) — very close at ΔE 3.42, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 7) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Skyline swatch →

PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Inky Blue

The closest PPG / Glidden equivalent of Inky Blue is Egyptian Violet (PPG1168-7). At ΔE 0.76 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 Egyptian Violet and you'll get the same color. See the full Egyptian Violet swatch →

Glidden Equivalent of Inky Blue

The closest Glidden equivalent of Inky Blue is Egyptian Violet (PPG1168-7). At ΔE 0.67 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 Glidden is your counter, order Egyptian Violet and you'll get the same color. See the full Egyptian Violet swatch →

HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Inky Blue

The closest HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Inky Blue is Courtly Blue (HGSW 2391). At ΔE 0 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 HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Courtly Blue and you'll get the same color. See the full Courtly Blue swatch →

Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Inky Blue

The closest Dunn-Edwards equivalent of Inky Blue is Jazz Age Blues (DET574). At ΔE 0.78 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 Jazz Age Blues and you'll get the same color. See the full Jazz Age Blues swatch →

Magnolia Home Equivalent of Inky Blue

Magnolia Home has no exact twin of Inky Blue. The nearest is Silos District (JG-92) at ΔE 4.11 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 7). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Silos District swatch →

Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Inky Blue

At Farrow & Ball, the closest color to Inky Blue is Blue Maize (NO. CB11) — very close at ΔE 2.69, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 7) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Blue Maize swatch →

Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Inky Blue

Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Inky Blue. The nearest is Star-Studded (0620) at ΔE 4.79 — 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 →

Hirshfield's Equivalent of Inky Blue

Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Inky Blue. The nearest is Quiet Peace (0592) at ΔE 3.71 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 9 vs 7). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Quiet Peace swatch →

C2 Paint Equivalent of Inky Blue

At C2 Paint, the closest color to Inky Blue is Cordon Bleu (C2-774) — very close at ΔE 2.58, 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 Cordon Bleu swatch →

Annie Sloan Equivalent of Inky Blue

Annie Sloan has no exact twin of Inky Blue. The nearest is Napoleonic Blue (NAPOLEONIC BLUE) at ΔE 4.32 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 5 vs 7). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Napoleonic Blue swatch →

Kompozit Equivalent of Inky Blue

Kompozit has no exact twin of Inky Blue. The nearest is Quiet Peace (0592) at ΔE 3.71 — 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 →

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