Blue Arrow
5001-3C · #9BACAC · LRV 39.4 — cool blue-green tone, mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light.
- 1Pewter Green12
- 2Retreat21
- 3Blue Arrow39.4
- 4Upward57
- 5Sea Salt63
What Color Is Blue Arrow, Really?
Blue Arrow reads as a cool blue-green tone — mid-tone — versatile but shifts visibly with light. The notes below cover how Valspar 5001-3C behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Blue Arrow
Blue Arrow 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.
How Lighting Changes Blue Arrow
Blue Arrow sits in the mid-range at LRV 39.4, 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.
Most complaints about Blue Arrow are a light mismatch. Upload a photo of your actual room and see it on your walls — then ask for the same wall in north light or evening lamps before you buy a single sample.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Valspar 5001-3C directly. If you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches, measured as ΔE2000. Under 2 is a difference you will not see on the wall.
| Brand | Closest color | ΔE | LRV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams | Dutch Tile BlueSW 31 · Sherwin-Williams | 0.3 | 39 | Color page → |
| Behr | Portsmouth BayQE-52 · Behr | 2.5 | 40 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Silken BlueCSP-670 · Benjamin Moore | 1.5 | 41 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | PolarisPPG10-04 · PPG / Glidden | 1.6 | 40 | Color page → |
| Glidden | PolarisPPG10-04 · Glidden | 1.4 | 41 | Color page → |
| Dutch Boy | Explore The Shore426-5DB · Dutch Boy | 2.8 | 39 | Color page → |
Similar Valspar Colors
The nearest shades to Blue Arrow within Valspar's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
WCAG 2.1: AA is 4.5 : 1 for normal text, 3 : 1 for large text, AAA is 7 : 1.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #9BACAC in HSL space. Pair Blue Arrow with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
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