BS 4800 → Earthborn conversion chart

This chart lists all 116 BS 4800 colours with their nearest Earthborn equivalent, ranked by colour distance (ΔE, CIEDE2000 — lower is closer). 34 of 116 have an equivalent within ΔE 5, which is close enough that the difference is hard to spot once paint’s on the wall. Where the nearest Earthborn colour is ΔE 8 or more there is no close equivalent — the nearest is still shown for reference, clearly labelled. Standard-system hex values are widely-cited sRGB approximations; physical reference chips remain authoritative for colour-critical work.

Neutrals

BS 4800 colour	Nearest Earthborn equivalent	Code	ΔE	Match quality
22 B 15 Pearl grey	Bunny Hop	—	1.0	near-identical
00 A 01 Ash grey	Cat’s Cradle	—	2.3	near-identical
18 B 17 Blue mink	Nellie	—	3.9	very close
22 B 17 Pale lavender	Kissing Gate	—	3.3	very close
10 A 03 Dawn grey	Kissing Gate	—	4.0	very close
00 A 05 Goose grey	Kissing Gate	—	5.9	close
14 C 35 Iceplant green	Grassy	—	6.4	close
18 B 21 Squirrel grey	Hippo Hooray	—	3.9	very close
12 B 21 Mineral green	Oliver Twig	—	5.9	close
00 A 09 Flint grey	Hippo Hooray	—	7.0	close
18 B 25 Dark admiralty grey	Mr Mole	—	5.2	close
10 A 11 Charcoal grey	Mr Mole full comparison →	—	1.3	near-identical
00 A 13 Storm grey	Hidey-Hole	—	3.4	very close
08 B 29 Bitter chocolate	Hidey-Hole	—	6.0	close
18 B 29 Raven	Hidey-Hole	—	8.8	no close equivalent
10 B 29 Vandyke brown	Hidey-Hole	—	6.4	close
14 C 40 Moss green	Hidey-Hole	—	9.8	no close equivalent
00 E 53 Black	Balloon Ride	—	14.0	no close equivalent

Warm Creams

BS 4800 colour	Nearest Earthborn equivalent	Code	ΔE	Match quality
04 B 15 Rosepetal	Paw Print	—	2.6	near-identical
08 B 17 Honey beige	Donkey Ride	—	3.2	very close
10 B 17 Oatmeal	Crocky Road	—	2.8	near-identical
08 B 21 Antelope	Muddy Boots	—	5.4	close
10 C 35 Wheat	Humpty Dumpty	—	8.6	no close equivalent

Yellows

BS 4800 colour	Nearest Earthborn equivalent	Code	ΔE	Match quality
00 E 55 White	Hopscotch	—	1.6	near-identical
10 B 15 Creamy white	Straw	—	2.8	near-identical
12 B 15 Sea foam	Gregory’s Den	—	2.9	near-identical
10 C 31 Ivory	Straw	—	4.1	very close
12 C 31 Light yellow	Ragdoll	—	4.7	very close
10 E 49 Pale primrose	Jemima	—	5.9	close
10 C 33 Vanilla	Crocky Road	—	4.5	very close
12 B 17 Green Mist	Ragdoll	—	4.1	very close
12 C 33 Green haze	Crocky Road	—	7.0	close
10 E 50 Light grapefruit	Daisy Chain	—	6.8	close
12 D 41 Green	Daisy Chain	—	10.4	no close equivalent
10 E 55 Canary Yellow	Three Bears	—	9.6	no close equivalent
12 E 51 Pale lime	Daisy Chain	—	10.7	no close equivalent
08 E 51 Golden yellow	Three Bears	—	7.0	close
10 E 53 Sunflower yellow	Three Bears	—	10.4	no close equivalent
12 D 43 Greengage	Oliver Twig	—	8.4	no close equivalent
12 C 37 Green	Oliver Twig	—	10.4	no close equivalent
12 D 45 Dark laurel	Secret Room	—	14.7	no close equivalent
12 C 39 Ivy green	Hidey-Hole	—	12.1	no close equivalent

Oranges

BS 4800 colour	Nearest Earthborn equivalent	Code	ΔE	Match quality
04 C 31 Pink	Paw Print	—	2.3	near-identical
08 B 15 Magnolia	Ballet Shoe	—	2.8	near-identical
08 C 31 Honeysuckle cream	Donkey Ride	—	4.0	very close
04 B 17 Dusty pink	Donkey Ride	—	7.0	close
06 C 33 Peach	Little Rascal	—	5.1	close
08 C 33 Beige	Little Rascal	—	3.6	very close
06 E 50 Mellow apricot	Humpty Dumpty	—	6.6	close
08 D 41 Yellow	Humpty Dumpty	—	3.8	very close
06 C 35 Light orange	Freckle	—	5.6	close
06 E 51 Mandarin orange	Freckle	—	8.4	no close equivalent
08 C 35 Fudge	Freckle	—	5.8	close
04 B 21 Sable	Flora's Tale	—	4.1	very close
08 E 55 Orange	Freckle	—	9.8	no close equivalent

Reds

BS 4800 colour	Nearest Earthborn equivalent	Code	ΔE	Match quality
04 E 49 Rose pink	Rosie Posie	—	6.2	close
02 C 33 Lupin pink	Rosie Posie	—	6.8	close
04 C 33 Orchid pink	Thimble Lane full comparison →	—	1.9	near-identical
04 E 51 Salmon red	Delilah	—	8.5	no close equivalent
02 C 37 Clover pink	Gosh Golly	—	8.3	no close equivalent
04 C 37 Autumn brown	Delilah	—	10.1	no close equivalent
04 E 55 Red	Flower Pot	—	8.2	no close equivalent
04 E 53 Poppy	Flower Pot	—	10.0	no close equivalent
04 D 44 Misty red	Can-Can	—	8.4	no close equivalent
04 E 56 Carnival red	Can-Can	—	7.9	close
04 D 45 Dark cherry	Lady Bug full comparison →	—	2.4	near-identical
02 C 39 Victoria plum	Lady Bug	—	9.2	no close equivalent
04 C 39 Brick red	Lady Bug	—	5.3	close
04 E 58 Purple	Lady Bug	—	8.0	no close equivalent
06 C 40 Brown	Hidey-Hole	—	10.0	no close equivalent

Pinks

BS 4800 colour	Nearest Earthborn equivalent	Code	ΔE	Match quality
24 C 33 Pale lilac	Rosie Posie	—	7.3	close
02 C 40 Deep plum	Hidey-Hole	—	12.8	no close equivalent

Purples

BS 4800 colour	Nearest Earthborn equivalent	Code	ΔE	Match quality
24 E 53 Purple	Trumpet	—	14.6	no close equivalent
24 C 39 Regal violet	Trumpet	—	9.5	no close equivalent

Blues

BS 4800 colour	Nearest Earthborn equivalent	Code	ΔE	Match quality
20 C 33 Porcelain blue	Dorothy	—	3.1	very close
22 D 41 Purple	Inglenook	—	13.3	no close equivalent
20 D 41 Powder blue	Dorothy	—	6.9	close
18 C 35 Corvette blue	Avery's Sky	—	4.3	very close
20 E 51 Cornflower blue	Polka Dot	—	9.2	no close equivalent
22 C 37 Purple heather	Trumpet	—	15.1	no close equivalent
20 C 37 Larkspur blue	Hippo Hooray	—	10.3	no close equivalent
18 E 51 Delphinium Blue	Polka Dot	—	6.0	close
20 E 53 Blue	Toy Soldier	—	14.2	no close equivalent
22 D 45 Deep purple	Trumpet	—	5.2	close
20 D 45 Sapphire blue	Toy Soldier	—	8.5	no close equivalent
20 E 56 Blue	Toy Soldier	—	7.8	close
18 C 39 Fathom blue	Toy Soldier	—	7.1	close
18 E 53 Tartan blue	Bobble Hat	—	12.5	no close equivalent
20 C 40 Duchess blue	Balloon Ride	—	6.7	close

Teals

BS 4800 colour	Nearest Earthborn equivalent	Code	ΔE	Match quality
18 E 49 Crystal blue	Shallows	—	4.0	very close
18 E 50 Ribbon blue	Milk Jug	—	4.0	very close
16 C 33 Duckegg	Nellie	—	7.2	close
16 E 50 Turquoise	Milk Jug	—	6.6	close
16 C 37 Reef green	Splashing	—	6.0	close
16 E 53 Aquamarine	Bobble Hat	—	6.3	close
16 D 45 Dark jade	Hobgoblin	—	7.7	close

Greens

BS 4800 colour	Nearest Earthborn equivalent	Code	ΔE	Match quality
18 C 31 Ice blue	Seagull	—	3.4	very close
14 C 31 Glacial green	Fiddlesticks	—	4.6	very close
14 E 49 Light green	Shallows	—	5.6	close
14 E 50 Green	Cricket	—	6.4	close
14 E 51 Bright green	Riverbank full comparison →	—	3.2	very close
12 E 53 Linden green	Oliver Twig	—	13.0	no close equivalent
12 E 55 Green	Oliver Twig	—	11.9	no close equivalent
14 E 53 Irish green	Riverbank	—	10.8	no close equivalent
14 C 39 Holly green	Hobby Wood full comparison →	—	3.7	very close

Browns & Earths

BS 4800 colour	Nearest Earthborn equivalent	Code	ΔE	Match quality
06 D 43 Mid tan	Freckle	—	7.7	close
06 C 37 Leather brown	Flower Pot	—	9.3	no close equivalent
10 D 43 Golden maize	Three Bears	—	8.1	no close equivalent
06 E 56 Maori brown	Flower Pot	—	6.0	close
08 C 37 Caramel	Flower Pot	—	13.7	no close equivalent
08 B 25 Beaver brown	Trilby	—	7.0	close
10 D 45 French mustard	Flower Pot	—	8.0	close
06 D 45 Teak	Flower Pot	—	8.0	close
10 B 25 Turtle green	Trilby	—	6.6	close
06 C 39 Saddle brown	Hidey-Hole	—	13.5	no close equivalent
10 C 39 Dark olive	Hidey-Hole	—	9.0	no close equivalent