Swiss Coffee → Behr
The closest Behr matches for Valspar Swiss Coffee (VR086E), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Behr Equivalent for Swiss Coffee
If you love Valspar Swiss Coffee 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.
Swiss Coffee (VR086E) is a very light off-white with warm cream undertones. Valspar's Swiss Coffee is a warm, creamy off-white with yellow-cream undertones. Like its BM and Behr namesakes, it delivers a cozy warmth that avoids looking stark while still reading as a white in most rooms. To find a good Behr match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 83) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Swiss Coffee 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 Swiss Coffee (PPU5-12) with a Delta E of 3.4, which is a "good match" level match. Behr Swiss Coffee is close. Both are lighter and less creamy than BM's Swiss Coffee. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Behr Matches for Swiss Coffee
Behr Swiss Coffee is close. Both are lighter and less creamy than BM's Swiss Coffee.
| Swiss Coffee | Swiss Coffee | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 83 | 84 |
| Hex | #EFE9DC | #F0EADC |
| Undertone | Warm Cream | Warm Yellow-Cream |
| Family | Off-White | Off-White |
Undertone Comparison
Swiss Coffee has warm cream undertones. Valspar's Swiss Coffee is a warm, creamy off-white with yellow-cream undertones. Like its BM and Behr namesakes, it delivers a cozy warmth that avoids looking stark while still reading as a white in most rooms.
Swiss Coffee has warm yellow-cream undertones. Behr's version of the classic warm off-white. Remarkably similar to the Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee. A cozy, creamy neutral.
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. Swiss Coffee's warm cream quality may read differently than Swiss Coffee's warm yellow-cream 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
Swiss Coffee in Your Room
The cream warmth is consistent across lighting conditions. In south-facing rooms, the yellow undertone becomes more visible. In north-facing rooms, it reads as a warm neutral off-white. Under warm incandescent bulbs, the cream deepens. Under cool LEDs, it stays balanced and inviting.
Swiss Coffee in Your Room
Warm and inviting across all lighting conditions. Under cool north light, it settles into a pleasant warm neutral. Under warm light, the cream becomes more apparent.
LRV and Brightness
Swiss Coffee has an LRV of 83, while Swiss Coffee has an LRV of 84. 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 Swiss Coffee
Valspar recommends Swiss Coffee for: whole house, living room, bedroom, trim, cabinets. With an LRV of 83, this is a very light color that reflects a lot of light and works well in any room, including smaller spaces where you want to maintain a bright, open feel. It is light enough for whole-house use without making rooms feel washed out or sterile.
Swiss Coffee is recommended for: whole house, living room, bedroom, trim, cabinets. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Swiss Coffee in the same rooms you planned for Swiss Coffee.
Swiss Coffee in Other Brands
Looking for Swiss Coffee equivalents in other brands besides Behr? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Behr match for Swiss Coffee (VR086E) is Swiss Coffee (PPU5-12) with a Delta E of 3.4, which rates as a "good match" match. Behr Swiss Coffee is close. Both are lighter and less creamy than BM's Swiss Coffee. 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. Swiss Coffee is a Valspar color with warm cream undertones and an LRV of 83. Swiss Coffee is a Behr color with warm yellow-cream undertones and an LRV of 84. With a Delta E of 3.4, 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 3.4, 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.