Pelican Gray → Behr
The closest Behr matches for Valspar Pelican Gray (VR084E), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Behr Equivalent for Pelican Gray
If you love Valspar Pelican 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 Valspar, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Pelican Gray (VR084E) is a medium gray with warm light gray undertones. A warm, light gray with subtle beige warmth. Named for the coastal bird. Light and airy with just enough warmth to feel inviting rather than cold. To find a good Behr match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 56) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Pelican 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.
The good news: there is a strong Behr match for Pelican Gray. Gentle Rain (PPU12-12) comes in with a Delta E of 2.2, which puts it in the "excellent match" range. Gentle Rain is the closest Behr option. Very close match.
Behr Matches for Pelican Gray
Gentle Rain is the closest Behr option. Very close match.
| Pelican Gray | Gentle Rain | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 56 | 55 |
| Hex | #CAC8C3 | #CCCAC4 |
| Undertone | Warm Light Gray | Cool Green-Gray |
| Family | Gray | Gray |
Undertone Comparison
Pelican Gray has warm light gray undertones. A warm, light gray with subtle beige warmth. Named for the coastal bird. Light and airy with just enough warmth to feel inviting rather than cold.
Gentle Rain has cool green-gray undertones. A cool, light gray with subtle green undertones.
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. Pelican Gray's warm light gray quality may read differently than Gentle Rain's cool 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
Pelican Gray in Your Room
Warm and clean. Reads as a warm light gray in most rooms. The beige prevents it from feeling sterile.
Gentle Rain in Your Room
The green is very subtle. Reads as a clean cool gray.
LRV and Brightness
Pelican Gray has an LRV of 56, while Gentle Rain has an LRV of 55. 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 Pelican Gray
Valspar recommends Pelican Gray for: bathroom, bedroom, hallway, living room, office. With an LRV of 56, 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.
Gentle Rain is recommended for: bathroom, bedroom, living room, hallway. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Gentle Rain in the same rooms you planned for Pelican Gray.
Pelican Gray in Other Brands
Looking for Pelican Gray equivalents in other brands besides Behr? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Behr match for Pelican Gray (VR084E) is Gentle Rain (PPU12-12) with a Delta E of 2.2, which rates as a "excellent match" match. Gentle Rain is the closest Behr option. Very close match. 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. Pelican Gray is a Valspar color with warm light gray undertones and an LRV of 56. Gentle Rain is a Behr color with cool green-gray undertones and an LRV of 55. With a Delta E of 2.2, 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 2.2, these colors are close enough to use in separate rooms of the same house without a jarring difference. However, avoid painting them on adjacent walls in the same room, as even subtle differences become apparent at a hard edge where two paints meet. For the smoothest result, use one brand consistently within each connected space and reserve the other brand for rooms that are visually separated.
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.