Explorer Blue (Behr M470-5)
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Explorer Blue (Behr M470-5) is a deep, cool blue from Behr: LRV 31.5, so it reflects about 32 percent of the light that hits it.
Colors that go with Explorer Blue
Four Behr colors picked for Explorer Blue by this site's color math: a trim white, a deeper blue, a quiet contrast from another family, a dark accent. Behr did not choose these pairings.
Closest match in every other brand
Each brand's closest color to Explorer Blue, ranked by CIEDE2000 (deltaE): under 1.0 is indistinguishable, 1.0 to 2.3 very close, 2.3 to 5 noticeably different, over 5 clearly different.
| Brand | Closest color | Code | LRV | deltaE | How close |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams | Freshwater | SW 6774 | 32 | 2.7 | noticeably different |
| Benjamin Moore | Spa Day | CSP-635 | 33.4 | 0.9 | indistinguishable |
| Valspar | Gone Fishing | 5004-8A | 31 | 1.9 | very close |
| PPG Paints | Blue Calypso | 1235-5 | 33 | 1.4 | very close |
Lighter and darker in Behr
The Behr blue colors nearest to Explorer Blue (LRV 31.5 (estimated)) by LRV.
Lighter than Explorer Blue
Darker than Explorer Blue
Color data
| Brand | Behr |
|---|---|
| Color code | M470-5 |
| Hex | #57A3B3 |
| RGB | 87, 163, 179 |
| HSL | 190°, 38%, 52% |
| LRV (light reflectance value) | 31.5 (estimated from the hex) |
| Lab L*, a*, b* | 62.9, -19.1, -15.5 |
| Undertone | Cool Blue |
| Temperature | cool |
| Color family | Blue |
Same paint, two kinds of light
Explorer Blue (Behr M470-5), published as #57A3B3
#3A99B1
#70ADB3
These swatches and the rooms above are a simulation, not a measurement. How the visualizer works
Similar shades from Behr
More from Behr
Common questions
- What is the LRV of Explorer Blue (Behr M470-5)?
- Explorer Blue has an LRV of 31.5 (estimated from its hex value). LRV runs from 0 (black) to 100 (pure white) and measures the share of light a surface reflects, so Explorer Blue is a deep color.
- What is the closest match to Explorer Blue in another brand?
- Spa Day (BM CSP-635) from Benjamin Moore, at a deltaE of 0.9 (indistinguishable).
- Is Explorer Blue warm or cool?
- Behr lists Explorer Blue as cool, with a Cool Blue undertone. Its Lab b* value is -15.5; a higher b* is warmer and yellower, a lower one cooler and bluer.
Sources: hex as published by the manufacturer, via PaintDB (CC BY 4.0); LRV is not published by Behr for this color and is estimated here from the color's own hex value. Color differences are CIEDE2000 values computed by this site from the hex values (data snapshot 2026-10-01). Color names and codes belong to their manufacturers.