Tidal Salt → Behr
The closest Behr matches for Sherwin Williams Tidal Salt (SW 9162), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Behr Equivalent for Tidal Salt
If you love Sherwin Williams Tidal Salt 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 Sherwin Williams, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Tidal Salt (SW 9162) is a light blue with soft blue-green undertones. A very light blue-green gray. Coastal and airy. To find a good Behr match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 66) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Tidal Salt 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 Ocean Air (MQ3-20) with a Delta E of 4.8, which is a "good match" level match. Ocean Air has more green. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Behr Matches for Tidal Salt
Ocean Air has more green.
| Tidal Salt | Ocean Air | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 66 | 60 |
| Hex | #D2D9D6 | #C7D3CA |
| Undertone | Soft Blue-Green | Soft Green-Blue |
| Family | Blue | Green |
Undertone Comparison
Tidal Salt has soft blue-green undertones. A very light blue-green gray. Coastal and airy.
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. Tidal Salt's soft blue-green 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
Tidal Salt in Your Room
Shifts between blue and green. Very light and calming.
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
Tidal Salt has an LRV of 66, while Ocean Air has an LRV of 60. That means Tidal Salt reflects noticeably more light. In the same room, Tidal Salt will make the space feel brighter and more open than Ocean Air. If you are switching to the Behr option, expect the room to feel slightly more intimate and cozy.
Best Rooms for Tidal Salt
Sherwin Williams recommends Tidal Salt for: bathroom, bedroom, nursery, hallway. With an LRV of 66, 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 Tidal Salt.
Tidal Salt in Other Brands
Looking for Tidal Salt equivalents in other brands besides Behr? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Behr match for Tidal Salt (SW 9162) is Ocean Air (MQ3-20) with a Delta E of 4.8, which rates as a "good match" match. Ocean Air has more green. 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. Tidal Salt is a Sherwin Williams color with soft blue-green undertones and an LRV of 66. Ocean Air is a Behr color with soft green-blue undertones and an LRV of 60. With a Delta E of 4.8, 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 4.8, 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.