Emerald Isle → Benjamin Moore
The closest Benjamin Moore matches for Sherwin Williams Emerald Isle (SW 6440), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Benjamin Moore Equivalent for Emerald Isle
If you love Sherwin Williams Emerald Isle but need a Benjamin Moore 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 Benjamin Moore, your local store does not carry Sherwin Williams, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Emerald Isle (SW 6440) is a dark green with rich emerald undertones. A rich, deep emerald green. Bold and dramatic. To find a good Benjamin Moore match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 10) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Emerald Isle and every Benjamin Moore 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, Benjamin Moore does not have a perfect equivalent for Emerald Isle. The closest option is Cabot Trail (CC-12) with a Delta E of 6.2, but at that distance the difference will be visible. Cabot Trail is grayer. This is greener and bolder. If getting this exact color is critical, you may want to explore custom color matching at a Benjamin Moore store.
Benjamin Moore Matches for Emerald Isle
Cabot Trail is grayer. This is greener and bolder.
| Emerald Isle | Cabot Trail | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 10 | 18.55 |
| Hex | #516B56 | #7F8F7F |
| Undertone | Rich Emerald | Forest Green-Gray |
| Family | Green | Green |
Undertone Comparison
Emerald Isle has rich emerald undertones. A rich, deep emerald green. Bold and dramatic.
Cabot Trail has forest green-gray undertones. A rich, muted forest green. More depth than sage, less bold than emerald. Earthy and sophisticated.
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. Emerald Isle's rich emerald quality may read differently than Cabot Trail's forest green-gray 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
Emerald Isle in Your Room
In bright light, vibrant emerald. In dim rooms, a deep, dark green. Statement-making.
Cabot Trail in Your Room
In bright light, distinctly green. In dim rooms, a moody dark gray-green. Dramatic and nature-inspired.
LRV and Brightness
Emerald Isle has an LRV of 10, while Cabot Trail has an LRV of 18.55. That means Cabot Trail reflects more light. If you switch from Emerald Isle to Cabot Trail, the room should feel slightly brighter and more open.
Best Rooms for Emerald Isle
Sherwin Williams recommends Emerald Isle for: accent wall, powder room, front door, office, dining room. With an LRV of 10, 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.
Cabot Trail is recommended for: accent wall, exterior, office, powder room, kitchen island. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Cabot Trail in the same rooms you planned for Emerald Isle.
Emerald Isle in Other Brands
Looking for Emerald Isle equivalents in other brands besides Benjamin Moore? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Benjamin Moore match for Emerald Isle (SW 6440) is Cabot Trail (CC-12) with a Delta E of 6.2, which rates as a "approximate" match. Cabot Trail is grayer. This is greener and bolder. 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. Emerald Isle is a Sherwin Williams color with rich emerald undertones and an LRV of 10. Cabot Trail is a Benjamin Moore color with forest green-gray undertones and an LRV of 18.55. With a Delta E of 6.2, 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 6.2, 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 Benjamin Moore equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Benjamin Moore. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Benjamin Moore 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.