Behr El Capitan MQ4-56
| Code: | MQ4-56 |
| Name: | El Capitan |
| Brand: | Behr |
What color is Behr El Capitan?
The rich deep tones of Behr El Capitan (MQ4-56) exude a sense of sophisticated elegance in any space. This versatile color pairs beautifully with soft neutrals like ivory and taupe for a classic look, while also complementing bolder shades such as navy and emerald for a more dynamic aesthetic. The depth of El Capitan adds a sense of warmth and coziness to a room, making it an ideal choice for living rooms, bedrooms, or offices. Incorporating this color into your decor will instantly elevate the ambiance and create a space that feels both inviting and stylish.
Behr El Capitan reviews
View the photos of real spaces painted with this 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 El Capitan undertones?
The undertone of El Capitan can be accurately described as a Blue hue, as is apparent from the color space provided. By isolating the pure hue and eliminating any tints, tones, and shades, we were able to precisely determine its undertone. This approach has proven to be more accurate than traditional methods of defining undertones on a white background, which are now considered outdated.
HEX value
HEX value:
#2BA8DA
RGB code:
43, 168, 218
Is Behr El Capitan MQ4-56 cool or warm?
With a hue of 197° thisBluerefers cool paint shade according to HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness) on the color wheel.
MQ4-56 El Capitan HSL code: 197, 70%, 51%
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.
- Cooler hues have a calm and relaxation effect
- Cool blue shades make a room feel sleek, fresh, and modern, perfect for bedrooms, bathrooms, and home offices where a sense of calm and sophistication is desired.
- Using mid-tone cool colors like soft greys and muted blues can help create a calming and modern look in rooms like home offices, bathrooms, and bedrooms. But avoid using these shades in rooms without natural light, as they may look dull.
Act like a pro: Mixing warm and cool shades is a must have to get harmonius interior. Add accents that contrast with the primary color to create visual balance. If your walls are a warm color, don’t forget to add accent in cold colors (furniture, art, décor). A good practice is too use a complementary color scheme.
How light temperature affects El Capitan
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 El Capitan:
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
MQ4-56
El Capitan
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 El Capitan with a green hue, complementary colors are those with a red hue close to 17, such as Behr January Garnet and Moroccan Ruby.
LRV of El Capitan
El Capitan has an LRV of 24.94% and refers to Medium colors that reflect a lot of 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 24.94%, 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 | #2ba8da | |
| RGB Decimal | 43, 168, 218 | |
| RGB Percent | 16.86%, 65.88%, 85.49% | |
| HSV | Hue: 197° Saturation: 80.28% Value: 85.49% | |
| HSL | hsl(197, 70, 51) | |
| CMYK | Cyan: 80.28 Magenta: 22.94 Yellow: 0.0 Key: 14.51 | |
| YIQ | Y: 136.325 I: -90.555 Q: -10.882 | |
| XYZ | X: 27.648 Y: 33.577 Z: 71.335 | |
| CIE Lab | L:64.626 a:-16.233 b:-34.694 | |
| CIE Luv | L:64.626 u:-41.551 v:-52.822 | |
| Decimal | 2861274 | |
| Hunter Lab | 57.946, -16.238, -32.427 |
Color equivalents
2060-40
Toronto Blue
Benjamin Moore
P500-5
Peaceful River
Behr
782
Blue Belle Island
Benjamin Moore
790
Bayberry Blue
Benjamin Moore
2059-40
Yosemite Blue
Benjamin Moore
SW 6795
Major Blue
Sherwin Williams

























