Color spec
| Brand | Sherwin-Williams |
| Name | Inky Blue |
| SKU | SW 9149 |
| Hex | #4E7287 |
| RGB | 78, 114, 135 |
| HSL | 202°, 27%, 42% |
| LRV | 15 |
| Undertone | cool blue tone |
| Family | Blue |
About Sherwin-Williams Inky Blue
With an LRV of 15, Inky Blue 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.
Inky Blue 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
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 blue from that brand.
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Clare
Backdrop
Kompozit
Similar Sherwin-Williams colors
closest in the Sherwin-Williams deckThe nearest shades to Inky Blue 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 #4E7287 in HSL space. Pair Inky 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.
Sherwin-Williams 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 Sherwin-Williams SW 9149 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Inky Blue
At Behr, the closest color to Inky Blue is Nypd (N480-6) — very close at ΔE 2.36, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 15 vs 15) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Nypd swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Inky Blue
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Mozart Blue (1665), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.29). It runs slightly lighter (LRV 17 vs 15) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Inky Blue without repainting risk. See the full Mozart Blue swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Inky Blue
At Valspar, the closest color to Inky Blue is Veranda Blue (4004-6B) — very close at ΔE 2.13, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 15.3 vs 15) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Veranda Blue swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Inky Blue
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Inky Blue is Smoke Blue (PPG1156-5) — very close at ΔE 2.82, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 17 vs 15) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Smoke Blue swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Inky Blue
Dutch Boy's nearest match is Ahoy Blue (336-5DB), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.58). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 15 vs 15) and carries a cool blue-green undertone, so it substitutes for Inky Blue without repainting risk. See the full Ahoy Blue swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Inky Blue
The closest HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams equivalent of Inky Blue is Sea Creature (HGSW 3342). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 15 vs 15). If HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Sea Creature and you'll get the same color. See the full Sea Creature swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Inky Blue
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Inky Blue is San Miguel Blue (DET569) — very close at ΔE 2.45, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 17 vs 15) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full San Miguel Blue swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Inky Blue
At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Inky Blue is Blue Skies (JG-85) — very close at ΔE 3.28, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 15 vs 15) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Blue Skies swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Inky Blue
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Inky Blue. The nearest is Sloe Blue (NO. 87) at ΔE 4.99 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 18 vs 15). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Sloe Blue swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Inky Blue
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Inky Blue is Cape Cod Bay (0633) — very close at ΔE 2.33, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 17 vs 15) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Cape Cod Bay swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Inky Blue
Rodda has no exact twin of Inky Blue. The nearest is Evening Tide (R088) at ΔE 3.98 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 18 vs 15). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Evening Tide swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Inky Blue
The closest C2 Paint equivalent of Inky Blue is Salish Sea (C2-745). At ΔE 0.37 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 15 vs 15). If C2 Paint is your counter, order Salish Sea and you'll get the same color. See the full Salish Sea swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Inky Blue
Clare has no exact twin of Inky Blue. The nearest is Hyperlink (PNT100-MD-41) at ΔE 3.64 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 16 vs 15). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Hyperlink swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Inky Blue
Backdrop has no exact twin of Inky Blue. The nearest is Mom Jeans (BD-MJ) at ΔE 4.16 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 18 vs 15). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Mom Jeans swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Inky Blue
At Kompozit, the closest color to Inky Blue is Cape Cod Bay (0633) — very close at ΔE 2.33, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 15 vs 15) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Cape Cod Bay swatch →