Color spec
| Brand | Hirshfield's |
| Name | Citadel Blue |
| SKU | H0045 |
| Hex | #9EABAD |
| RGB | 158, 171, 173 |
| HSL | 188°, 8%, 65% |
| LRV | 39 |
| Undertone | cool blue-green tone |
| Family | Gray |
About Hirshfield's Citadel Blue
Citadel Blue sits in the mid-range at LRV 39, so it shifts visibly through the day — lighter and more open in morning light, deeper and moodier after dark. 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. South-facing rooms will pull it lighter and warmer, while north light cools it down.
Citadel Blue is versatile enough for full rooms but has enough depth to anchor a space, so it suits living rooms, bedrooms and cabinetry alike. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.
Closest matches by brand
17 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 gray from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Diamond Vogel
Rodda
C2 Paint
Clare
Portola Paints
Backdrop
Kompozit
Similar Hirshfield's colors
closest in the Hirshfield's deckThe nearest shades to Citadel Blue within Hirshfield's'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 #9EABAD in HSL space. Pair Citadel 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.
Hirshfield's Citadel Blue Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Citadel 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 Hirshfield's H0045 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Citadel Blue
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Citadel Blue is Dutch Tile Blue (SW 31) — very close at ΔE 2.13, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 39) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Dutch Tile Blue swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Citadel Blue
The closest Behr equivalent of Citadel Blue is Portsmouth Bay (QE-52). At ΔE 0.54 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue-green undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 40 vs 39). If Behr is your counter, order Portsmouth Bay and you'll get the same color. See the full Portsmouth Bay swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Citadel Blue
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Citadel Blue is Pike's Peak Gray (2127-50) — very close at ΔE 3.31, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 39) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Pike's Peak Gray swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Citadel Blue
At Valspar, the closest color to Citadel Blue is Blue Arrow (5001-3C) — very close at ΔE 2.11, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39.4 vs 39) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Blue Arrow swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Citadel Blue
PPG / Glidden's nearest match is Polaris (PPG10-04), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.2). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 40 vs 39) and carries a cool blue-green undertone, so it substitutes for Citadel Blue without repainting risk. See the full Polaris swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Citadel Blue
At Glidden, the closest color to Citadel Blue is Winter Sky Grey (70BG 40/050) — very close at ΔE 2.59, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 40 vs 39) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Winter Sky Grey swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Citadel Blue
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Citadel Blue is Explore The Shore (426-5DB) — very close at ΔE 3.11, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 39) and carries a cool green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Explore The Shore swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Citadel Blue
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Citadel Blue. The nearest is Steel Piling (HGSW 1475) at ΔE 3.89 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 39). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Steel Piling swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Citadel Blue
The closest Dunn-Edwards equivalent of Citadel Blue is Mission Bay Blue (DET563). At ΔE 0.76 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue-green undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 39). If Dunn-Edwards is your counter, order Mission Bay Blue and you'll get the same color. See the full Mission Bay Blue swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Citadel Blue
The closest Diamond Vogel equivalent of Citadel Blue is Pale Slate (H045). At ΔE 0.41 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue-green undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 39). If Diamond Vogel is your counter, order Pale Slate and you'll get the same color. See the full Pale Slate swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Citadel Blue
At Rodda, the closest color to Citadel Blue is Ebb (R092) — very close at ΔE 2.87, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 42 vs 39) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Ebb swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Citadel Blue
C2 Paint has no exact twin of Citadel Blue. The nearest is Monday Morning (C2-987) at ΔE 4.84 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 40 vs 39). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Monday Morning swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Citadel Blue
Clare has no exact twin of Citadel Blue. The nearest is Mellow Mood (PNT100-DP-78) at ΔE 4.74 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 39). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Mellow Mood swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Citadel Blue
The closest Kompozit equivalent of Citadel Blue is Beacon Fog (0490). At ΔE 0.54 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue-green undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 39 vs 39). If Kompozit is your counter, order Beacon Fog and you'll get the same color. See the full Beacon Fog swatch →