North Pole Blue vs RAL 660-3

North Pole BlueBehrvsRAL 660-3RAL EffectΔE 3.8Noticeable difference

North Pole Blue is a Behr color while RAL 660-3 comes from RAL Effect. These are both blues, so the question isn't which hue to choose — it's where within blue to land. With LRVs of 26 and 27, they'll behave almost identically in terms of how much light they reflect back into a room. At ΔE 3.8, the difference is perceptible but not dramatic — the two can work harmoniously in the same space. Below you'll find 6 real-room photo comparisons where both colors appear side by side, plus 5 simulated room previews.

North Pole Blue vs RAL 660-3 in Real Spaces

6 real rooms side by side. North Pole Blue and RAL 660-3 are close enough that the difference can be hard to judge from a chip alone — these photos show how each reads at scale, across different spaces and lighting conditions.

Living Room

Living rooms test a color across a full range of conditions — morning sun, afternoon shade, and evening lamp light all shift how both of these read. At this scale, the choice between them becomes clear in a way that a swatch alone can't communicate.

North Pole BlueBehr North Pole Blue living room interior

Visualization

RAL 660-3RAL Effect 660-3 living room interior

@visualization

Bedroom

Bedroom walls are often seen under warm artificial light, a context that shifts both colors from how they look on a chip. Side by side like this, the difference is easy to read — which is exactly why seeing them in a real space is more useful than comparing chips.

North Pole BlueBehr North Pole Blue bedroom

Visualization

RAL 660-3RAL Effect 660-3 bedroom

@visualization

Kitchen

Kitchen lighting tends to be bright and directional, which sharpens contrast and makes undertone differences more apparent. Side by side like this, the difference is easy to read — which is exactly why seeing them in a real space is more useful than comparing chips.

North Pole BlueBehr North Pole Blue kitchen painted backsplash

Visualization

RAL 660-3RAL Effect 660-3 kitchen painted backsplash

@visualization

Bathroom

Bathrooms amplify color — the enclosed space and reflective surfaces make what reads subtle elsewhere feel more present here. Side by side like this, the difference is easy to read — which is exactly why seeing them in a real space is more useful than comparing chips.

North Pole BlueBehr North Pole Blue bathroom

Visualization

RAL 660-3RAL Effect 660-3 bathroom

@visualization

House

At full exterior scale, the difference between these two colors becomes much easier to judge than from a small chip. Side by side like this, the difference is easy to read — which is exactly why seeing them in a real space is more useful than comparing chips.

North Pole BlueBehr North Pole Blue victorian house interior

Visualization

RAL 660-3RAL Effect 660-3 victorian house interior

@visualization

Kitchen Cabinets

On cabinetry, undertone and temperature become more pronounced against countertops and hardware. Side by side like this, the difference is easy to read — which is exactly why seeing them in a real space is more useful than comparing chips.

North Pole BlueBehr North Pole Blue kitchen cabinets

Visualization

RAL 660-3RAL Effect 660-3 kitchen cabinets

@visualization

Color Details

North Pole Blue
Behr · M480-5A
Hex#55a0b7
LRV26.5
BrandBehr
NumberM480-5A
UndertoneBlue
TemperatureCool
BrightnessMedium
RAL 660-3
RAL Effect · RAL 660-3
Hex#51A5B8
LRV27.3
BrandRAL Effect
NumberRAL 660-3
Undertone
Temperature
BrightnessMedium

North Pole Blue vs RAL 660-3 Simulated Comparison

5 simulated room previews — drag the slider on each to see North Pole Blue on one side and RAL 660-3 on the other.

Bathroom
Bedroom
House
Kitchen Cabinets
Living Room

Digital color is approximate. These simulations are generated from the manufacturer's hex values and overlaid on grayscale room photos — your screen's calibration, brightness, and viewing angle all affect how they render. Before committing to either color, test physical samples in your own space under the light you actually live with.

More North Pole Blue comparisons

See how North Pole Blue stacks up against other well-photographed colors across different brands and tones.

White Dove
North Pole Blue
White Dove
Benjamin Moore
White Dove
LRV 83

White Dove is the lighter choice

Ammonite
North Pole Blue
Ammonite
Farrow & Ball
Ammonite
LRV 69

Ammonite is the lighter choice

Iron Ore
North Pole Blue
Iron Ore
Sherwin-Williams
Iron Ore
LRV 6

North Pole Blue reads noticeably lighter

Purbeck Stone
North Pole Blue
Purbeck Stone
Farrow & Ball
Purbeck Stone
LRV 52

Purbeck Stone is the lighter choice

Evergreen Fog
North Pole Blue
Evergreen Fog
Sherwin-Williams
Evergreen Fog
LRV 30

Evergreen Fog reads slightly lighter

Mizzle
North Pole Blue
Mizzle
Farrow & Ball
Mizzle
LRV 52

Mizzle is the lighter choice

Agreeable Gray
North Pole Blue
Agreeable Gray
Sherwin-Williams
Agreeable Gray
LRV 60

Agreeable Gray is the lighter choice

Denim Drift
North Pole Blue
Denim Drift
Dulux
Denim Drift
LRV 27

Nearly identical in tone

Tranquil Dawn
North Pole Blue
Tranquil Dawn
Dulux
Tranquil Dawn
LRV 55

Tranquil Dawn is the lighter choice

Balboa Mist
North Pole Blue
Balboa Mist
Benjamin Moore
Balboa Mist
LRV 66

Balboa Mist is the lighter choice

Vintage Vogue
North Pole Blue
Vintage Vogue
Benjamin Moore
Vintage Vogue
LRV 12

North Pole Blue reads noticeably lighter

Pale Green
North Pole Blue
Pale Green
RAL ClassicClassic
Pale Green
LRV 31

Pale Green reads slightly lighter

Pine Needle
North Pole Blue
Pine Needle
Dulux
Pine Needle
LRV 7

North Pole Blue reads noticeably lighter

Cement grey
North Pole Blue
Cement grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Cement grey
LRV 24

Nearly identical in tone

Black grey
North Pole Blue
Black grey
RAL ClassicClassic
Black grey
LRV 6

North Pole Blue reads noticeably lighter

Piazza
North Pole Blue
Piazza
Tikkurila
Piazza
LRV 65

Piazza is the lighter choice

Humble Yellow
North Pole Blue
Humble Yellow
Jotun
Humble Yellow
LRV 57

Humble Yellow is the lighter choice

Windmill Lane
North Pole Blue
Windmill Lane
Little Greene
Windmill Lane
LRV 31

Windmill Lane reads slightly lighter

Senses
North Pole Blue
Senses
Jotun
Senses
LRV 41

Senses reads noticeably lighter

Lamp Black
North Pole Blue
Lamp Black
Little Greene
Lamp Black
LRV 3

North Pole Blue reads noticeably lighter

Washed Linen
North Pole Blue
Washed Linen
Jotun
Washed Linen
LRV 55

Washed Linen is the lighter choice

Tea with Florence
North Pole Blue
Tea with Florence
Little Greene
Tea with Florence
LRV 18

North Pole Blue reads slightly lighter

Thames Fog
North Pole Blue
Thames Fog
Valspar
Thames Fog
LRV 27

Nearly identical in tone

Ocean Abyss
North Pole Blue
Ocean Abyss
Behr
Ocean Abyss
LRV 7

North Pole Blue reads noticeably lighter

Classic Silver
North Pole Blue
Classic Silver
Behr
Classic Silver
LRV 48

Classic Silver reads noticeably lighter

Teton Blue
North Pole Blue
Teton Blue
Behr
Teton Blue
LRV 31

Teton Blue reads slightly lighter

RAL 110-2
North Pole Blue
RAL 110-2
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-2
LRV 72

RAL 110-2 is the lighter choice

RAL 110-1
North Pole Blue
RAL 110-1
RAL EffectEffect
RAL 110-1
LRV 80

RAL 110-1 is the lighter choice

Paper
North Pole Blue
Paper
Tikkurila
Paper
LRV 88

Paper is the lighter choice

Passageway
North Pole Blue
Passageway
Valspar
Passageway
LRV 14

North Pole Blue reads noticeably lighter