Portsmouth Bay QE-52 is a gray paint color from Behr. It has a hex value of #A0ACAE, LRV 40 and a cool (blue) undertone. Its closest cross-brand match is Citadel Blue from Hirshfield's (nearly identical), with 49 more equivalents across other brands.
Ref. #A0ACAE · QE-52
Portsmouth Bay
40%LRV Value
Cool (Blue)Undertone
Portsmouth Bay Technical Profile
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Portsmouth Bay in Every Brand
The closest equivalent to Portsmouth Bay in each major paint brand, ranked by how close the match reads. Always verify with a physical sample. How we calculate match accuracy →
BehrPortsmouth Bay
Nearly identical
Hirshfield'sCitadel Blue
Citadel Blue
Hirshfield's
Nearly identical
Breezy
Sherwin-Williams
Nearly identical
Wool .03
Colorhouse
Nearly identical
Marinescape
Dunn-Edwards
Nearly identical
Waterby
Vista Paint
Nearly identical
Shaded Brook
PPG
Nearly identical
Pearl Gray
Valspar
Nearly identical
Nimbus Gray
Benjamin Moore
Nearly identical
Timber Wolf
Dutch Boy
Very similar
Sensual Silver
Kilz
Very similar
Sardine
Farrow & Ball
Very similar
Comparing these brands? Order peel-and-stick samples of your top matches — Samplize buy 8 peel-and-stick samples, get 2 free.
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With Portsmouth Bay
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
Portsmouth Bay
#A0ACAE
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#8593AD
Trim & Molding
Pure White
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for Portsmouth Bay
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
Portsmouth Bay Room Palettes
Color schemes built around this color — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Warm & Inviting
Warm tones with cozy appeal — welcoming and comfortable
Cool & Calm
Cool hues with soft contrast — serene and restful
Bold Contrast
Complementary hues with punch — dynamic and striking
Similar Behr Colors
Other Behr colors close to Portsmouth Bay.
More gray colors from other brands
Cross-brand colors in the gray family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.
Portsmouth Bay — Frequently Asked Questions
What undertone does Portsmouth Bay have?
Portsmouth Bay by Behr has a cool (blue) undertone and sits in the gray color family. The undertone shifts with light — warmer under 2700K bulbs, cleaner and cooler under 4000K daylight — so sample Portsmouth Bay in your own space before committing.
What colors match Portsmouth Bay from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Portsmouth Bay are Citadel Blue by Hirshfield's (a near-identical match), Beacon Fog by Hirshfield's (a near-identical match), Breezy by Sherwin-Williams (a near-identical match) — the best options for getting Portsmouth Bay's look from a brand your local store carries. Confirm with a physical sample, since sheen and lighting shift the final result.
What is the LRV of Portsmouth Bay?
Portsmouth Bay has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 40.0, on a scale where 0 is pure black and 100 is pure white — that makes it a mid-depth color with real presence — strong on accent walls, libraries, and rooms with good natural light.
Explore More with Portsmouth Bay
Related Reading
How to Match Paint Colors Across Brands
The science behind Delta E and CIEDE2000 — find a Behr equivalent of any Sherwin-Williams shade, or a Benjamin Moore alternative when your store is out of stock.
Understanding Paint Color Undertones
Why Portsmouth Bay's cool (blue) undertone matters more than its surface color — and how to read undertones in any paint chip.