Polar Bear → Benjamin Moore
The closest Benjamin Moore matches for Behr Polar Bear (PPU18-07-2), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Benjamin Moore Equivalent for Polar Bear
If you love Behr Polar Bear but need a Benjamin Moore alternative, you are not alone. This is one of the most common cross-brand paint matching searches, whether you are working with a painter who prefers Benjamin Moore, your local store does not carry Behr, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Polar Bear (PPU18-07-2) is a very light white with warm bright white undertones. A bright white with the slightest warm cream undertone. Behr's most popular warm bright white. Slightly warmer than Dove, slightly brighter than Painter's White. To find a good Benjamin Moore match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 87) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Polar Bear and every Benjamin Moore color using the CIE2000 Delta E formula, which measures how different two colors look to the human eye. A Delta E under 2 means most people cannot tell the colors apart. Between 2 and 4, you might notice a difference in certain lighting. Above 5, the difference is clearly visible side by side.
The good news: there is a strong Benjamin Moore match for Polar Bear. White Heron (OC-57) comes in with a Delta E of 2.8, which puts it in the "excellent match" range. White Heron is similar.
Benjamin Moore Matches for Polar Bear
White Heron is similar.
| Polar Bear | White Heron | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 87 | 89.12 |
| Hex | #F1EFE8 | #F3F1EB |
| Undertone | Warm Bright White | Warm Neutral |
| Family | White | White |
Undertone Comparison
Polar Bear has warm bright white undertones. A bright white with the slightest warm cream undertone. Behr's most popular warm bright white. Slightly warmer than Dove, slightly brighter than Painter's White.
White Heron has warm neutral undertones. A clean white with barely perceptible warm undertones. Brighter than White Dove, warmer than Chantilly Lace.
The undertone difference is worth paying attention to. While they are close in overall appearance, the different undertones mean they may diverge in certain lighting. Polar Bear's warm bright white quality may read differently than White Heron's warm neutral character, especially in rooms with strong directional light or colored accents that could pull out one undertone more than the other. Test a sample in your specific room before committing.
How These Colors Behave in Different Lighting
Polar Bear in Your Room
Clean and bright with barely-there warmth. In most rooms, reads as a bright white. The cream is only visible next to a true cool white.
White Heron in Your Room
Reads as a clean, fresh white with just enough warmth to avoid feeling cold. Very versatile.
LRV and Brightness
Polar Bear has an LRV of 87, while White Heron has an LRV of 89.12. These two colors reflect a very similar amount of light, so you should not notice a significant difference in room brightness when switching between them. The room will feel approximately the same in terms of light and space, which makes this a smoother transition.
Best Rooms for Polar Bear
Behr recommends Polar Bear for: trim, ceilings, cabinets, whole house, bathroom. With an LRV of 87, this is a very light color that reflects a lot of light and works well in any room, including smaller spaces where you want to maintain a bright, open feel. It is light enough for whole-house use without making rooms feel washed out or sterile.
White Heron is recommended for: trim, ceilings, cabinets, whole house, bathroom. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use White Heron in the same rooms you planned for Polar Bear.
Polar Bear in Other Brands
Looking for Polar Bear equivalents in other brands besides Benjamin Moore? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Benjamin Moore match for Polar Bear (PPU18-07-2) is White Heron (OC-57) with a Delta E of 2.8, which rates as a "excellent match" match. White Heron is similar. Delta E measures perceptual color distance on a scale where under 2 means nearly identical, 2 to 4 means close with subtle differences, and over 5 means clearly noticeable.
No, they are not identical. Polar Bear is a Behr color with warm bright white undertones and an LRV of 87. White Heron is a Benjamin Moore color with warm neutral undertones and an LRV of 89.12. With a Delta E of 2.8, the difference is subtle and mainly visible in direct side-by-side comparison. Paint formulations differ between brands, so even colors with similar values can look slightly different due to pigment concentration, binders, and finish.
With a Delta E of 2.8, these colors are close enough to use in separate rooms of the same house without a jarring difference. However, avoid painting them on adjacent walls in the same room, as even subtle differences become apparent at a hard edge where two paints meet. For the smoothest result, use one brand consistently within each connected space and reserve the other brand for rooms that are visually separated.
There are several practical reasons to look for a Benjamin Moore equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Benjamin Moore. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Benjamin Moore work, matching within the same brand gives you the best consistency for seamless results.
Match calculations use Delta E (CIE2000) computed from Lab color space conversion. Color data sourced from manufacturer specifications. Last reviewed: March 22, 2026.