Color spec
| Brand | Valspar |
| Name | Shale Blue |
| SKU | 8004-38D |
| Hex | #93A8B1 |
| RGB | 147, 168, 177 |
| HSL | 198°, 16%, 64% |
| LRV | 37 |
| Undertone | cool blue-green tone |
| Family | Gray |
About Valspar Shale Blue
Shale Blue sits in the mid-range at LRV 37, 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.
Shale 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
18 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
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Clare
Portola Paints
Backdrop
Kompozit
Similar Valspar colors
closest in the Valspar deckThe nearest shades to Shale Blue 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 #93A8B1 in HSL space. Pair Shale 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.
Valspar Shale Blue Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Shale 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 Valspar 8004-38D directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Shale Blue
Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Meditative (SW 6227), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.5). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 37) and carries a cool blue-green undertone, so it substitutes for Shale Blue without repainting risk. See the full Meditative swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Shale Blue
The closest Behr equivalent of Shale Blue is Down Pour (760F-4). At ΔE 0.72 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue-green undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 37). If Behr is your counter, order Down Pour and you'll get the same color. See the full Down Pour swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Shale Blue
Benjamin Moore has no exact twin of Shale Blue. The nearest is New Hope Gray (2130-50) at ΔE 4.03 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 39 vs 37). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full New Hope Gray swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Shale Blue
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Shale Blue is Dresden Dream (PPG1155-5) — very close at ΔE 3.28, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 37 vs 37) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Dresden Dream swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Shale Blue
At Glidden, the closest color to Shale Blue is Hazy Seacliff Teal (30BG 37/110) — very close at ΔE 2.91, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 37 vs 37) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Hazy Seacliff Teal swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Shale Blue
The closest Dutch Boy equivalent of Shale Blue is Whiskful (432-4DB). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue-green undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 37 vs 37). If Dutch Boy is your counter, order Whiskful and you'll get the same color. See the full Whiskful swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Shale Blue
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Groundwater (HGSW 3315), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.5). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 38 vs 37) and carries a cool blue-green undertone, so it substitutes for Shale Blue without repainting risk. See the full Groundwater swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Shale Blue
Dunn-Edwards has no exact twin of Shale Blue. The nearest is Stone Silver (DE5773) at ΔE 3.53 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 34 vs 37). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Stone Silver swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Shale Blue
At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Shale Blue is Winter Solstice (JG-89) — very close at ΔE 2.13, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 37 vs 37) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Winter Solstice swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Shale Blue
At Farrow & Ball, the closest color to Shale Blue is Kittiwake (NO. 307) — very close at ΔE 2.88, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 40 vs 37) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Kittiwake swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Shale Blue
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Shale Blue is Wonder Land (0498) — very close at ΔE 3.48, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 40 vs 37) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Wonder Land swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Shale Blue
Rodda's nearest match is Silver Lake (R080), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.75). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 37 vs 37) and carries a cool blue-green undertone, so it substitutes for Shale Blue without repainting risk. See the full Silver Lake swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Shale Blue
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Shale Blue is Bewilder (C2-732) — very close at ΔE 2.54, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 35 vs 37) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Bewilder swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Shale Blue
The closest Clare equivalent of Shale Blue is Good Jeans (PNT100-LT-38). At ΔE 0.99 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same cool blue-green undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 36 vs 37). If Clare is your counter, order Good Jeans and you'll get the same color. See the full Good Jeans swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Shale Blue
Portola Paints has no exact twin of Shale Blue. The nearest is Twin Peaks (TWIN PEAKS) at ΔE 4.07 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 33 vs 37). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Twin Peaks swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Shale Blue
At Kompozit, the closest color to Shale Blue is Wonder Land (0498) — very close at ΔE 3.48, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 39 vs 37) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Wonder Land swatch →