Soft Fern → Behr
The closest Behr matches for Benjamin Moore Soft Fern (2144-40), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Behr Equivalent for Soft Fern
If you love Benjamin Moore Soft Fern but need a Behr 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 Behr, your local store does not carry Benjamin Moore, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Soft Fern (2144-40) is a medium-dark green with soft fern green undertones. A muted fern green with gray undertones. Organic and calming. To find a good Behr match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 34.88) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Soft Fern and every Behr 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 results are decent but not perfect. The closest Behr option is Sage Green (PPU11-07) with a Delta E of 3.8, which is a "good match" level match. Sage Green is a solid match. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Behr Matches for Soft Fern
Sage Green is a solid match.
| Soft Fern | Sage Green | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 34.88 | 35 |
| Hex | #ACB7A5 | #ACB4A5 |
| Undertone | Soft Fern Green | Muted Sage |
| Family | Green | Green |
Undertone Comparison
Soft Fern has soft fern green undertones. A muted fern green with gray undertones. Organic and calming.
Sage Green has muted sage undertones. A muted sage green with gray undertones. Earthy and organic. Behr's take on the sage trend.
These two colors share the same undertone family, which is a good sign for a cross-brand swap. The undertone similarity means they will behave similarly as lighting changes throughout the day, and they should coordinate well with the same accent colors, trim, and furnishings.
How These Colors Behave in Different Lighting
Soft Fern in Your Room
The green is soft and natural. In dim rooms, reads as a green-tinged warm gray.
Sage Green in Your Room
The green is pleasant and natural. In bright light, it reads as a definite sage. In dim rooms, the gray takes over.
LRV and Brightness
Soft Fern has an LRV of 34.88, while Sage Green has an LRV of 35. 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 Soft Fern
Benjamin Moore recommends Soft Fern for: kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, living room, office. With an LRV of 34.88, this is a medium-dark color that is in the medium range, adding real depth and presence to a room. It works best in rooms with good natural light or as an accent wall color. In smaller or darker rooms, pair it with bright white trim to keep the space from feeling closed in.
Sage Green is recommended for: kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, living room, office. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Sage Green in the same rooms you planned for Soft Fern.
Soft Fern in Other Brands
Looking for Soft Fern equivalents in other brands besides Behr? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Behr match for Soft Fern (2144-40) is Sage Green (PPU11-07) with a Delta E of 3.8, which rates as a "good match" match. Sage Green is a solid match. 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. Soft Fern is a Benjamin Moore color with soft fern green undertones and an LRV of 34.88. Sage Green is a Behr color with muted sage undertones and an LRV of 35. With a Delta E of 3.8, 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 3.8, the difference is enough that they should not be used on adjacent walls in the same room. You can use them in separate rooms of the same house, but be aware that walking from one room to the other may reveal the difference, especially if the rooms have similar lighting. For the most consistent look, pick one brand for all connected living spaces and reserve the other brand for visually separate rooms like bathrooms or bedrooms behind closed doors.
There are several practical reasons to look for a Behr equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Behr. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Behr 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.