Newburyport Blue → Behr
The closest Behr matches for Benjamin Moore Newburyport Blue (HC-155), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Behr Equivalent for Newburyport Blue
If you love Benjamin Moore Newburyport Blue 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.
Newburyport Blue (HC-155) is a dark navy with blue-gray undertones. A dark, moody navy-blue with cool gray undertones. Slightly lighter and more blue than Hale Navy. Named after the historic Massachusetts seaport. To find a good Behr match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 6.39) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Newburyport Blue 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.
Honestly, Behr does not have a perfect equivalent for Newburyport Blue. The closest option is Midnight Blue (PPU15-18) with a Delta E of 5.8, but at that distance the difference will be visible. Midnight Blue is similar in depth but leans more purple. Newburyport stays truer blue-gray. If getting this exact color is critical, you may want to explore custom color matching at a Behr store.
Behr Matches for Newburyport Blue
Midnight Blue is similar in depth but leans more purple. Newburyport stays truer blue-gray.
| Newburyport Blue | Midnight Blue | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 6.39 | 5 |
| Hex | #3C4959 | #323C4B |
| Undertone | Blue-Gray | Blue-Purple |
| Family | Navy | Navy |
Undertone Comparison
Newburyport Blue has blue-gray undertones. A dark, moody navy-blue with cool gray undertones. Slightly lighter and more blue than Hale Navy. Named after the historic Massachusetts seaport.
Midnight Blue has blue-purple undertones. A deep, dramatic navy with subtle purple undertones. Rich and bold, with more purple lean than many navies.
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. Newburyport Blue's blue-gray quality may read differently than Midnight Blue's blue-purple 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
Newburyport Blue in Your Room
Shows its blue character in daylight. In dim rooms, reads as a sophisticated dark blue-gray. Stunning on front doors and accent walls.
Midnight Blue in Your Room
In bright light, the blue dominates. In dim rooms, the purple undertone becomes more apparent. Reads as a dramatic, moody navy in most settings.
LRV and Brightness
Newburyport Blue has an LRV of 6.39, while Midnight Blue has an LRV of 5. 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 Newburyport Blue
Benjamin Moore recommends Newburyport Blue for: front door, accent wall, office, powder room, exterior shutters. With an LRV of 6.39, this is a dark color that absorbs more light than it reflects. It makes a bold statement and works beautifully on accent walls, front doors, exterior trim, and features where drama is the goal. In a full room, make sure you have good lighting and bright white trim for contrast.
Midnight Blue is recommended for: accent wall, front door, powder room, office, bedroom. The recommended applications differ slightly between brands, but the color's properties should work in the same rooms regardless of which brand you choose. Trust the LRV and undertone data more than the specific room suggestions, and always test in your actual space.
Newburyport Blue in Other Brands
Looking for Newburyport Blue equivalents in other brands besides Behr? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Behr match for Newburyport Blue (HC-155) is Midnight Blue (PPU15-18) with a Delta E of 5.8, which rates as a "approximate" match. Midnight Blue is similar in depth but leans more purple. Newburyport stays truer blue-gray. 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. Newburyport Blue is a Benjamin Moore color with blue-gray undertones and an LRV of 6.39. Midnight Blue is a Behr color with blue-purple undertones and an LRV of 5. With a Delta E of 5.8, you will likely notice a difference, especially in bright or direct lighting. 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 5.8, 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.