Behr Big Surf M460-3
| Code: | M460-3 |
| Name: | Big Surf |
| Brand: | Behr |
What color is Behr Big Surf?
Imagine a room painted in Behr Big Surf, a refreshing and vibrant hue that invokes thoughts of clear ocean waters. This color pairs beautifully with soft neutrals like beige and ivory, providing a calming contrast to the lively Big Surf. Additionally, accents in warm tones such as terracotta or gold can complement this shade, adding depth and warmth to the space. The versatility of Big Surf allows for endless possibilities in creating a serene and inviting atmosphere.
Behr Big Surf reviews (23 photos)
View the photos of real spaces painted with this blue that were not included in specific categories.Close-ups, painted furniture, storages and dressers, hallways, stairs and ceilings.























Try before you buy

100% accurate
reusable paint samples
Peel, stick,
and repeat
Twice painted
with real paint
Next day
delivery
What are Behr Big Surf undertones?
Big Surf has a clear blue undertone based on its position in the color space. We identify undertones by isolating the pure hue (separating it from lightness and saturation), which avoids distortions caused by tints, tones, and shades.
This method is generally more reliable than judging undertones on a white background.
HEX value:
#96D0D1
RGB code:
150, 208, 209
Is Behr Big Surf M460-3 cool or warm?
At 181° on the HSL hue wheel, this Blue falls clearly in the cool range.
M460-3 Big Surf HSL code: 181, 39%, 70%
Hue - degree on a color wheel from 0 to 360. 0 is red, 120 is green, and 240 is blue.
Saturation is expressed as a percentage. At 0%, it appears as a shade of grey, and at 100%, it is in full color.
Lightness is also a percentage value. 0% is black, and 100% is white.
How light temperature affects Big Surf
Natural Lighting. During the day, natural light shifts from about 2000 K at sunrise/sunset to 5500–6500 K at noon.
In addition, natural‑light temperature depends on its direction:
| Direction of sunlight | Visible temp. | Hue | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| North | Cool | Bluish | All day |
| East | Warm | Yellow | Before noon |
| West | Warm | Orange‑red | After noon |
| South | Warm | Orange‑yellow | All day |
Artificial Lighting. When choosing bulbs, pay attention to their color‑temperature (Kelvins).
Use the slider to see how this Blue shade looks under different lighting:


4000K
Coordinating colors.
Colors that go with Behr Big Surf:
Monochromatic color scheme
This scheme consists of various shades, tints, and tones of a single color. While it offers a perfect combination of hues, without accent décor it may become monotonous.
Lighter shades
Darker shades
M460-3
Big Surf
Complementary color scheme
This color scheme is a combination of two shades that are opposite each other on the color wheel. The high contrast between these colors creates a vibrant and dynamic visual effect. For the color Big Surf with a green hue, complementary colors are those with a red hue close to 1, such as Behr Autumn Ashes and Piano Brown.
LRV of Big Surf
Big Surf has an LRV of 51.95% and refers to Light Medium colors that reflect half of the incident light. Why LRV is important?
Light Reflectance Value measures the amount of visible and usable light that reflects from a painted surface.
Simply put, the higher the LRV of a paint color, the brighter the room you will get.
The scale goes from 0% (absolute black, absorbing all light) to 100% (pure white, reflecting all light).
Act like a pro: When choosing paint with an LRV of 51.95%, pay attention to your bulbs' brightness. Light brightness is measured in lumens. The lower the paint's LRV, the higher lumen level you need. Every square foot of room needs at least 40 lumens. That means for a 200 ft2 living room you’ll need about 8000 lumens of light – e.g., eight 1000 lm bulbs.
Color codes
We have collected almost every possible color code you could ever need. To copy the code, just click the icon to the right of it.
| Format | Code | |
|---|---|---|
| HEX | #96d0d1 | |
| RGB Decimal | 150, 208, 209 | |
| RGB Percent | 58.82%, 81.57%, 81.96% | |
| HSV | Hue: 181° Saturation: 28.23% Value: 81.96% | |
| HSL | hsl(181, 39, 70) | |
| CMYK | Cyan: 28.23 Magenta: 0.48 Yellow: 0.0 Key: 18.04 | |
| YIQ | Y: 190.772 I: -34.884 Q: -11.958 | |
| XYZ | X: 46.638 Y: 56.197 Z: 68.694 | |
| CIE Lab | L:79.726 a:-18.242 b:-6.489 | |
| CIE Luv | L:79.726 u:-28.584 v:-6.973 | |
| Decimal | 9883857 | |
| Hunter Lab | 74.965, -20.138, -1.855 |
Color equivalents
SW 9045
Bora Bora Shore
Sherwin Williams

2049-50
Spectra Blue
Benjamin Moore

2050-50
Waterfall
Benjamin Moore
668
Lake Victoria
Benjamin Moore
738
Clearlake
Benjamin Moore
737
Sonoma Skies
Benjamin Moore

731
Surf City
Benjamin Moore
HDC-MD-14
Sky Watch
Behr
SW 9046
Gentle Aquamarine
Sherwin Williams
SW 6765
Spa
Sherwin Williams

MQ6-08
Aquifer
Behr
751
Sea Isle
Benjamin Moore
P470-2
Serene Thought
Behr
P460-2
Tropical Waterfall
Behr
669
Oceanic Teal
Benjamin Moore

