Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Denim |
| SKU | SW 6523 |
| Hex | #506B84 |
| RGB | 80, 107, 132 |
| HSL | 209°, 25%, 42% |
| LRV | 14 |
| Undertone | cool blue tone |
| Family | Blue |
About Sherwin-Williams Denim
With an LRV of 14, Denim is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. 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. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Denim works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Blues calm a room, which makes them popular in bedrooms, bathrooms and home offices.
Closest matches by brand
14 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.
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
C2 Paint
Backdrop
Rust-Oleum
Kompozit
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Denim within Sherwin-Williams'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 #506B84 in HSL space. Pair Denim 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.
Sherwin-Williams Denim Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Denim 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 Sherwin-Williams SW 6523 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Denim
Behr's nearest match is Dark Room (BNC-29), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.63). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 14) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Denim without repainting risk. See the full Dark Room swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Denim
At Valspar, the closest color to Denim is Aurora Borealis (P037) — very close at ΔE 2.31, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 13.5 vs 14) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Aurora Borealis swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Denim
PPG / Glidden has no exact twin of Denim. The nearest is Stained Glass (PPG1165-6) at ΔE 4.09 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 13 vs 14). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Stained Glass swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Denim
Glidden has no exact twin of Denim. The nearest is Midship Blue (30BB 14/173) at ΔE 3.72 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 14). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Midship Blue swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Denim
The closest Dutch Boy equivalent of Denim is Star Gazing (238-6DB). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 14). If Dutch Boy is your counter, order Star Gazing and you'll get the same color. See the full Star Gazing swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Denim
The closest HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Denim is Denim (HGSW 2382). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 14). If HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Denim and you'll get the same color. See the full Denim swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Denim
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Denim is Eames for Blue (DET564) — very close at ΔE 3.44, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 14 vs 14) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Eames for Blue swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Denim
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Denim is Honky Tonk Blue (0619) — very close at ΔE 3.21, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 15 vs 14) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Honky Tonk Blue swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Denim
Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Denim. The nearest is Cape Cod Bay (0633) at ΔE 4.52 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 17 vs 14). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Cape Cod Bay swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Denim
C2 Paint's nearest match is Treble (C2-746), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.44). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 15 vs 14) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Denim without repainting risk. See the full Treble swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Denim
Backdrop has no exact twin of Denim. The nearest is Mom Jeans (BD-MJ) at ΔE 3.7 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 18 vs 14). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Mom Jeans swatch →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Denim
At Rust-Oleum, the closest color to Denim is Coastal Blue (329207) — very close at ΔE 2.19, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 12 vs 14) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Coastal Blue swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Denim
Kompozit has no exact twin of Denim. The nearest is Cape Cod Bay (0633) at ΔE 4.52 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 15 vs 14). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Cape Cod Bay swatch →