Wickham Gray → Behr
The closest Behr matches for Benjamin Moore Wickham Gray (HC-171), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Behr Equivalent for Wickham Gray
If you love Benjamin Moore Wickham Gray 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.
Wickham Gray (HC-171) is a light blue with cool blue-gray undertones. A light blue-gray with a soft, calming quality. More blue than Stonington Gray, more gray than a true blue. A popular nursery and bathroom color. To find a good Behr match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 62.67) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Wickham Gray 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 Wickham Gray. The closest option is Ocean Air (MQ3-20) with a Delta E of 6.3, but at that distance the difference will be visible. Ocean Air is greener. Wickham Gray stays bluer. Similar softness, different direction. If getting this exact color is critical, you may want to explore custom color matching at a Behr store.
Behr Matches for Wickham Gray
Ocean Air is greener. Wickham Gray stays bluer. Similar softness, different direction.
| Wickham Gray | Ocean Air | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 62.67 | 60 |
| Hex | #C7D2D5 | #C7D3CA |
| Undertone | Cool Blue-Gray | Soft Green-Blue |
| Family | Blue | Green |
Undertone Comparison
Wickham Gray has cool blue-gray undertones. A light blue-gray with a soft, calming quality. More blue than Stonington Gray, more gray than a true blue. A popular nursery and bathroom color.
Ocean Air has soft green-blue undertones. A soft, calming green-blue gray. Captures that spa-like serenity without committing to a strong green or blue.
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. Wickham Gray's cool blue-gray quality may read differently than Ocean Air's soft green-blue 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
Wickham Gray in Your Room
The blue is most pronounced in bright natural light. In warm artificial light, it reads as a soft cool gray. A versatile, calming color.
Ocean Air in Your Room
Shifts between green and blue depending on light. In bright light, the green is more apparent. In cool or dim rooms, the blue comes forward. A beautiful chameleon.
LRV and Brightness
Wickham Gray has an LRV of 62.67, while Ocean Air has an LRV of 60. 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 Wickham Gray
Benjamin Moore recommends Wickham Gray for: bathroom, bedroom, nursery, laundry room, hallway. With an LRV of 62.67, this is a light 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.
Ocean Air is recommended for: bathroom, bedroom, nursery, laundry room, spa-like spaces. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Ocean Air in the same rooms you planned for Wickham Gray.
Wickham Gray in Other Brands
Looking for Wickham Gray equivalents in other brands besides Behr? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Behr match for Wickham Gray (HC-171) is Ocean Air (MQ3-20) with a Delta E of 6.3, which rates as a "approximate" match. Ocean Air is greener. Wickham Gray stays bluer. Similar softness, different direction. 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. Wickham Gray is a Benjamin Moore color with cool blue-gray undertones and an LRV of 62.67. Ocean Air is a Behr color with soft green-blue undertones and an LRV of 60. With a Delta E of 6.3, 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 6.3, 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.