Steel Blue by RAL paint color
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Ref. #231A24 · 5011

Steel Blue

1%LRV Value
Cool (Violet)Undertone
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Steel Blue 5011 is a neutral paint color from RAL. It has a hex value of #231A24, LRV 1 and a cool (violet) undertone. Its closest cross-brand match is Velvet Cloak from Benjamin Moore (a visible but close match), with 49 more equivalents across other brands.

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Steel Blue Technical Profile

HEX Code#231A24
RGB35, 26, 36
LRV1.2
UndertoneCool (Violet)
Color Familyneutral
BrandRAL

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Steel Blue in Every Brand

The closest equivalent to Steel Blue in each major paint brand, ranked by how close the match reads. Always verify with a physical sample. How we calculate match accuracy →

RALSteel Blue
Visible difference
Benjamin MooreVelvet Cloak

Velvet Cloak

Benjamin Moore

Visible difference

Beetroot Purple

Kilz

Visible difference

Raisin

Sherwin-Williams

Visible difference

Rich Bordeaux

Behr

Visible difference

Nevermore

Valspar

Visible difference

Eleanor Ann

Vista Paint

Visible difference

Gracious Grape

Dutch Boy

Visible difference

Eleanor Ann

Hirshfield's

Visible difference

Bistre Pigment

Dunn-Edwards

Visible difference

Onyx Black

PPG

Visible difference

Pitch Black

Farrow & Ball

Visible difference

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 Steel Blue

Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall

Living room with applied paint colors

Side Walls

Steel Blue

#231A24

Accent Wall

Tonal Shift

A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.

#442D3B

Trim & Molding

Pure White

Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.

#FFFFFF

Customize in Room VisualizerExplore full palette →

Color Palettes for Steel Blue

Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.

Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast

Base

Steel Blue

Complement

Traffic Black

Steel Blue Room Palettes

Color schemes built around this color — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.

Walls

Telegrey 4

Trim

Signal White

Accent

This Color

Pop

Heather Violet

Warm & Inviting

Warm tones with cozy appeal — welcoming and comfortable

Walls

Light Grey

Trim

Traffic White

Accent

This Color

Pop

Sand Yellow

Cool & Calm

Cool hues with soft contrast — serene and restful

Walls

Light Grey

Trim

Traffic White

Accent

This Color

Pop

Yellow Green

Bold Contrast

Complementary hues with punch — dynamic and striking

Similar RAL Colors

Other RAL colors close to Steel Blue.

Black Brown

RAL · 8022

#212121

Traffic Black

RAL · 9017

#1E1E1D

Graphite Black

RAL · 9011

#1C1C1C

Olive Drab

RAL · 6022

#25221B

Black Blue

RAL · 5004

#18171C

Grey Blue

RAL · 5008

#26252D

More neutral colors from other brands

Cross-brand colors in the neutral family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.

Misted Meadow

Dutch Boy · 329-2DB

#C0D1C1

Habitat

Sherwin-Williams · 9608

#897D6D

Roseland

Hirshfield's · H0006

#926566

Blue Lullaby

PPG · 1143-2

#C8D7D2

Wonder Land

Hirshfield's · 0498

#92ADB2

Brickstone Red

Valspar · 1006-9B

#825E57

Steel Blue — Frequently Asked Questions

What undertone does Steel Blue have?
Steel Blue by RAL has a cool (violet) undertone and sits in the neutral color family. The undertone shifts with light — warmer under 2700K bulbs, cleaner and cooler under 4000K daylight — so sample Steel Blue in your own space before committing.
What colors match Steel Blue from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Steel Blue are Velvet Cloak by Benjamin Moore (a close match), Beetroot Purple by Kilz (a close match), Raisin by Sherwin-Williams (a close match) — the best options for getting Steel Blue'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 Steel Blue?
Steel Blue has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 1.2, on a scale where 0 is pure black and 100 is pure white — that makes it a deep, dramatic color best saved for accent walls, dining rooms, and cozy spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected light.

Explore More with Steel Blue

See It on a Wall

Preview this color in a real room

How Much Paint?

Calculate gallons for your project

Browse neutral Colors

Explore more shades in this family

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 Steel Blue's cool (violet) undertone matters more than its surface color — and how to read undertones in any paint chip.

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