Metropolitan → Behr
The closest Behr matches for Benjamin Moore Metropolitan (AF-690), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Behr Equivalent for Metropolitan
If you love Benjamin Moore Metropolitan but need a Behr alternative, you are not alone. This is one of the most common cross-brand paint matching searches, whether you are working with a painter who prefers Behr, your local store does not carry Benjamin Moore, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Metropolitan (AF-690) is a medium gray with warm taupe-gray undertones. BM's 2019 Color of the Year. A soft, warm gray with purple-taupe undertones. Sophisticated and calming. To find a good Behr match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 50.37) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Metropolitan and every Behr color using the CIE2000 Delta E formula, which measures how different two colors look to the human eye. A Delta E under 2 means most people cannot tell the colors apart. Between 2 and 4, you might notice a difference in certain lighting. Above 5, the difference is clearly visible side by side.
The results are decent but not perfect. The closest Behr option is Dolphin Fin (PPU26-06) with a Delta E of 4, which is a "good match" level match. Dolphin Fin is similar in depth and warmth. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Behr Matches for Metropolitan
Dolphin Fin is similar in depth and warmth.
| Metropolitan | Dolphin Fin | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 50.37 | 46 |
| Hex | #C4C0BB | #BAB5AE |
| Undertone | Warm Taupe-Gray | Warm Greige |
| Family | Gray | Gray |
Undertone Comparison
Metropolitan has warm taupe-gray undertones. BM's 2019 Color of the Year. A soft, warm gray with purple-taupe undertones. Sophisticated and calming.
Dolphin Fin has warm greige undertones. A warm medium gray with subtle beige undertones. Behr's answer to the greige trend. Balanced and versatile.
The undertone difference is worth paying attention to. While they are close in overall appearance, the different undertones mean they may diverge in certain lighting. Metropolitan's warm taupe-gray quality may read differently than Dolphin Fin's warm greige character, especially in rooms with strong directional light or colored accents that could pull out one undertone more than the other. Test a sample in your specific room before committing.
How These Colors Behave in Different Lighting
Metropolitan in Your Room
The purple-taupe warmth is gentle. In bright light, it reads as a soft warm gray. In dim rooms, the warmth provides a cozy feel.
Dolphin Fin in Your Room
Reads as a warm, balanced gray in most rooms. Neither too warm nor too cool. A safe, crowd-pleasing choice for any room.
LRV and Brightness
Metropolitan has an LRV of 50.37, while Dolphin Fin has an LRV of 46. These two colors reflect a very similar amount of light, so you should not notice a significant difference in room brightness when switching between them. The room will feel approximately the same in terms of light and space, which makes this a smoother transition.
Best Rooms for Metropolitan
Benjamin Moore recommends Metropolitan for: living room, bedroom, hallway, dining room, whole house. With an LRV of 50.37, this is a medium color that is in the medium-light range, reflecting enough light to keep rooms feeling open while adding more color and depth than a white or off-white. It works well in living rooms, bedrooms, and hallways where you want warmth and character without darkness.
Dolphin Fin is recommended for: living room, bedroom, hallway, office, whole house. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Dolphin Fin in the same rooms you planned for Metropolitan.
Metropolitan in Other Brands
Looking for Metropolitan equivalents in other brands besides Behr? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Behr match for Metropolitan (AF-690) is Dolphin Fin (PPU26-06) with a Delta E of 4, which rates as a "good match" match. Dolphin Fin is similar in depth and warmth. Delta E measures perceptual color distance on a scale where under 2 means nearly identical, 2 to 4 means close with subtle differences, and over 5 means clearly noticeable.
No, they are not identical. Metropolitan is a Benjamin Moore color with warm taupe-gray undertones and an LRV of 50.37. Dolphin Fin is a Behr color with warm greige undertones and an LRV of 46. With a Delta E of 4, the difference is subtle and mainly visible in direct side-by-side comparison. Paint formulations differ between brands, so even colors with similar values can look slightly different due to pigment concentration, binders, and finish.
With a Delta E of 4, the difference is enough that they should not be used on adjacent walls in the same room. You can use them in separate rooms of the same house, but be aware that walking from one room to the other may reveal the difference, especially if the rooms have similar lighting. For the most consistent look, pick one brand for all connected living spaces and reserve the other brand for visually separate rooms like bathrooms or bedrooms behind closed doors.
There are several practical reasons to look for a Behr equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Behr. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Behr work, matching within the same brand gives you the best consistency for seamless results.
Match calculations use Delta E (CIE2000) computed from Lab color space conversion. Color data sourced from manufacturer specifications. Last reviewed: March 22, 2026.