Color spec
| Brand | Glidden |
| Name | Steel Blue |
| SKU | 30BB 33/163 |
| Hex | #8A9BB8 |
| RGB | 138, 155, 184 |
| HSL | 218°, 24%, 63% |
| LRV | 33 |
| Undertone | cool blue tone |
| Family | Blue |
About Glidden Steel Blue
Steel Blue sits in the mid-range at LRV 33, 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
12 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
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Kompozit
Similar Glidden colors
closest in the Glidden deckThe nearest shades to Steel Blue within Glidden'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 #8A9BB8 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.
Glidden 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 Glidden 30BB 33/163 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Steel Blue
Behr's nearest match is Periwinkle Blossom (PMD-13), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.25). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 32 vs 33) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Steel Blue without repainting risk. See the full Periwinkle Blossom swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Steel Blue
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Steel Blue is Steel Blue (823) — very close at ΔE 2.09, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 35 vs 33) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Steel Blue swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Steel Blue
Valspar has no exact twin of Steel Blue. The nearest is House of Owen (8003-47D) at ΔE 4.08 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 31 vs 33). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full House of Owen swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Steel Blue
PPG / Glidden has no exact twin of Steel Blue. The nearest is Alaskan Blue (PPG1162-4) at ΔE 4.77 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 33 vs 33). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Alaskan Blue swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Steel Blue
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Steel Blue is Purplelicious (241-4DB) — very close at ΔE 2.46, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 31 vs 33) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Purplelicious 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 4.6 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 32 vs 33). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Purple Peonies swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Steel Blue
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Steel Blue. The nearest is Bothy Blue (NO. G11) at ΔE 4.71 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 32 vs 33). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Bothy Blue swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Steel Blue
Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Steel Blue. The nearest is North Sea (0625) at ΔE 3.75 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 34 vs 33). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full North Sea swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Steel Blue
Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Steel Blue. The nearest is North Sea (0625) at ΔE 4.06 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 34 vs 33). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full North Sea swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Steel Blue
Kompozit has no exact twin of Steel Blue. The nearest is North Sea (0625) at ΔE 4.06 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 32 vs 33). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full North Sea swatch →