Color spec
| Brand | Valspar |
| Name | Emperor |
| SKU | 8003-48G |
| Hex | #40425A |
| RGB | 64, 66, 90 |
| HSL | 235°, 17%, 30% |
| LRV | 6 |
| Undertone | cool blue tone |
| Family | Blue |
About Valspar Emperor
At LRV 6, Emperor is about as dark as paint gets — it reads near-black on a wall and reveals its character only in direct daylight or under warm bulbs. 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. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Emperor earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. 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.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Benjamin Moore
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
C2 Paint
Backdrop
Kompozit
Similar Valspar colors
closest in the Valspar deckThe nearest shades to Emperor within Valspar'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 #40425A in HSL space. Pair Emperor 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.
Valspar Emperor Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Emperor 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 Valspar 8003-48G directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Behr Equivalent of Emperor
The closest Behr equivalent of Emperor is Manhattan Blue (MQ5-9). At ΔE 0.75 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6). If Behr is your counter, order Manhattan Blue and you'll get the same color. See the full Manhattan Blue swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Emperor
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Emperor is Blackberry Wine (2069-20) — very close at ΔE 3.04, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 8 vs 6) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Blackberry Wine swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Emperor
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Emperor is Victory Blue (PPG1165-7) — very close at ΔE 2.03, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 6) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Victory Blue swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Emperor
Glidden's nearest match is Victory Blue (PPG1165-7), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.94). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 6) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Emperor without repainting risk. See the full Victory Blue swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Emperor
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Emperor is Jellied (342-7DB) — very close at ΔE 2.48, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Jellied swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Emperor
At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Emperor is Purple Midnight (HGSW 2401) — very close at ΔE 3.05, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 6) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Purple Midnight swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Emperor
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Emperor is English Violet (DEFD03) — very close at ΔE 2.5, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full English Violet swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Emperor
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Emperor. The nearest is Bible Black (NO. 225) at ΔE 3.67 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Bible Black swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Emperor
Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Emperor. The nearest is Jazlyn (1285) at ΔE 4.05 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 8 vs 6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Jazlyn swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Emperor
C2 Paint has no exact twin of Emperor. The nearest is Baritone (C2-741) at ΔE 3.75 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Baritone swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Emperor
At Backdrop, the closest color to Emperor is Last Call (BD-LC) — very close at ΔE 2.59, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Last Call swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Emperor
Kompozit has no exact twin of Emperor. The nearest is Jazlyn (1285) at ΔE 4.05 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Jazlyn swatch →