Behr Polar Bear 75 is the #1 Behr exterior white, a clean cool-warm balanced white sold in Behr Marquee Exterior and Behr Premium Plus Exterior through The Home Depot. HEX #EAEAE0, LRV 84. Across 13,611 FacadeColorizer simulations between July 2025 and April 2026, Polar Bear ranked first among Behr whites at 14% of all Behr exterior tests, ahead of Swiss Coffee, Ultra Pure White, and Cameo White.
This guide covers Polar Bear 75 specs (HEX, RGB, LRV, undertone), why Behr leads US white-paint sales at Home Depot, how Polar Bear behaves on north, south, east, and west elevations, full comparisons against SW Alabaster (SW 7008), SW Pure White (SW 7005), and BM Cloud White (OC-130), Home Depot pricing and stocking, and how to test Polar Bear on your own house with our free Behr exterior visualizer.
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Behr Polar Bear 75 specs: HEX, LRV, undertone, finishes
Published specs from Behr's 2026 color library and the Marquee and Premium Plus Exterior data sheets. Use these to brief contractors, file HOA submissions, and verify color-matching at any Home Depot paint desk.
| Spec | Behr Polar Bear (75) |
|---|---|
| Color family | Clean cool-warm balanced white |
| HEX (Behr-published sRGB) | #EAEAE0 |
| RGB | 234, 234, 224 |
| LRV (Light Reflectance Value) | 84 (true high-LRV white, just below pure white) |
| Undertone | Very faint cool-yellow softener; reads neutral to warm in south sun, neutral to cool in north light |
| Exterior finishes | Behr Marquee Exterior (premium), Behr Premium Plus Exterior (value) |
| Interior finishes | Behr Marquee Interior, Behr Premium Plus Interior, Behr Dynasty |
| Retail price per gallon (Home Depot 2026) | $40 to $58 (Premium Plus from $40, Marquee up to $58) |
| Tint base required | Ultra pure white base (Behr base 1) |
| Coverage per gallon | 300 to 400 sq ft (one coat); Marquee delivers one-coat hide on prepped surfaces |
| Vinyl-Safe rating | Yes, LRV 84 well above the LRV 25 vinyl heat-warp threshold |
| Exclusive retailer | The Home Depot (US, online and 2,300+ stores) |
| One-Coat Hide Collection | Yes, included in Behr's Marquee One-Coat Hide curated list |
Sources: Behr 2026 digital color library (Polar Bear); Behr Marquee Exterior and Premium Plus Exterior technical data sheets 2026; Home Depot Q1 2026 Behr retail pricing; FacadeColorizer internal simulation log (n=13,611) July 2025 to April 2026; HGTV best white exterior paint roundup 2025.
Why Behr is the #1 white-paint brand at Home Depot
Behr ships exclusively through The Home Depot in the US, both in-store at 2,300+ locations and on homedepot.com. White and off-white shades drive roughly 38% of Behr exterior gallons sold each year, the largest single color family. Within that family, Polar Bear 75, Swiss Coffee 12, and Ultra Pure White take the top three slots, with Polar Bear leading since its inclusion in the Marquee One-Coat Hide Color Collection.
The Behr advantage in whites is execution at retail. A Home Depot associate can tint Polar Bear in Marquee, Premium Plus, or Behr Dynasty in 8 to 12 minutes, with the color code printed on the label and the receipt for exact reorders. Marquee Exterior is the line where Polar Bear performs best on exteriors because the base resin delivers one-coat hide over previously painted surfaces. For the full Marquee story, see our Behr Marquee Exterior paint review for 2026, the broader Behr Marquee popular colors 2026 roundup, and our Behr Premium Plus Exterior paint review.
Polar Bear's standing in 2026 is reinforced by the Behr fan deck's organisation. It sits at the cleaner, brighter end of the off-white set, just below Ultra Pure White on the white-warmth scale, which is exactly where most modern farmhouse and Cape Cod buyers land when they reject pure white as too clinical. See the full Behr exterior lineup in our best Behr exterior paint colors 2026 guide, and the wider category context in our white exterior paint shades 2026 roundup.
Polar Bear 75 on real homes: 4-orientation behavior
At LRV 84, Polar Bear sits in the high-reflectance band where every shift in natural light is visible. The same gallon will read differently on north, south, east, and west elevations of the same house. Knowing this in advance prevents the "we ordered the wrong white" call on coat-two day.
North-facing walls
North walls receive only diffuse cool daylight in the contiguous US. Polar Bear reads cleaner and slightly cooler here, almost neutral, with the faint cool-yellow softener barely visible. Pair with charcoal or near-black trim (Behr Cracked Pepper PPU18-01) for crisp farmhouse contrast. Avoid pure-white trim on a north elevation, since the LRV gap collapses and the body reads dingy.
South-facing walls
South walls take direct sun for most of the day, lifting Polar Bear's faint warm undertone. The body reads slightly warmer and creamier, closer to a soft ivory, especially in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Tucson, and other Sunbelt markets. This is the orientation where Polar Bear pulls ahead of cooler whites like SW Pure White, which can read sterile under high sun. Pair with warm-wood doors and brass hardware.
East-facing walls
East elevations swing through morning warmth into afternoon cool. Polar Bear handles this swing more gracefully than warmer whites (Swiss Coffee, Alabaster), which can read peachy at 8am and dingy at 5pm. The neutral-balanced base keeps the body color consistent across the day.
West-facing walls
West walls absorb late-day warm light. Polar Bear can pick up a soft golden cast for two to three hours before sunset, which most homeowners describe as flattering on Colonial, Cape Cod, and craftsman elevations. If you want to suppress that warm glow (modern, contemporary aesthetic), pair Polar Bear with cool-charcoal trim and steel-grey gutters to balance the visual temperature.
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Polar Bear vs SW Alabaster vs SW Pure White vs BM Cloud White
Polar Bear's three most-cross-shopped competitors are Sherwin-Williams Alabaster (SW 7008), Sherwin-Williams Pure White (SW 7005), and Benjamin Moore Cloud White (OC-130). We tested all four on the same Phoenix Ranch home photo with identical lighting, roof, and landscape to isolate body-color behavior.
| Color | HEX | LRV | Reads as | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Behr Polar Bear (75) | #EAEAE0 | 84 | Clean cool-warm balanced white | Whole-house body, farmhouse, Cape Cod, transitional |
| SW Alabaster (SW 7008) | #EDEAE0 | 82 | Warm creamy off-white | Colonial, craftsman, warm-roof bodies |
| SW Pure White (SW 7005) | #EDECE4 | 84 | Clean modern white, slightly cool | Modern, contemporary, dark-trim bodies |
| BM Cloud White (OC-130) | #EFEBDB | 85 | Soft warm white with yellow softener | Trim and ceilings, traditional bodies |
On the Phoenix Ranch test (south-west facing facade, charcoal asphalt roof, midday sun): Polar Bear read the most balanced of the four, neither too warm nor too sterile. Alabaster pulled noticeably creamier under the high sun, reading almost beige-adjacent on the west wall. Pure White read cleaner and cooler, with a slight gray cast that some testers liked (modern) and others found cold (traditional). Cloud White was the closest match to Polar Bear's overall feel but with a touch more yellow softener, which made it the best of the four on trim and the third-best on body.
Decision rules. Pick Polar Bear when you want a true balanced exterior white that works across orientations and architectural styles. Pick SW Alabaster when you want a warmer, creamier body for Colonial or craftsman. Pick SW Pure White when you want the cleanest, modern, slightly cool white. Pick BM Cloud White when you want the softest yellow-leaning white, ideally on trim. For the deeper Alabaster story, see our SW Alabaster exterior complete guide 2026; for the BM equivalent, watch for our forthcoming BM Cloud White OC-130 exterior guide 2026.
Coordinating trim and accent colors for Polar Bear
Polar Bear is forgiving enough to pair with several trim families. Below are tested combinations across the three major US paint brands.
Behr in-brand pairings (single Home Depot trip)
- High-contrast trim: Behr Cracked Pepper (PPU18-01) on shutters and doors for modern farmhouse contrast. The Polar Bear body with Cracked Pepper trim combination is the #1 most-rendered pairing on FacadeColorizer for 2026. Walk through the look in white house black trim bold 2026.
- Warm wood accents: Behr Hidden Sea Glass (T18-04) on shutters, or natural-stain cedar for craftsman warmth. For the new 2026 COTY pairing, see Behr Hidden Gem 2026 COTY visualizer guide.
- Front door pop: Behr Cellini Gold (M280-7) for metallic warmth, or Behr Adirondack Blue (N480-5) for navy contrast.
Sherwin-Williams cross-brand pairings
- Trim: SW Iron Ore (SW 7069) charcoal on shutters and gutters for warm-dark contrast.
- Door pop: SW Naval (SW 6244) navy or SW Cavern Clay (SW 7701) terracotta.
Benjamin Moore cross-brand pairings
- Trim: BM Black Pepper (2130-40) on shutters and downspouts for grounded contrast.
- Door pop: BM Hale Navy (HC-154), or natural stained mahogany for craftsman authenticity.
Home Depot will spectro-match SW or BM trim shades into Behr Marquee or Premium Plus for free in under 10 minutes, with 94 to 97% fidelity on high-LRV pairings. For most homeowners, a single-store trip with Behr-tinted matches is simpler than juggling two cans from two retailers.
Home Depot availability and pricing (2026)
Behr Polar Bear 75 is stocked at all 2,300+ Home Depot stores and on homedepot.com. Three buying paths:
- In-store at Home Depot: walk in with the name "Polar Bear" and code 75. Any associate tints Marquee or Premium Plus in 8 to 12 minutes.
- Online at homedepot.com: ship-to-home in 1 to 5 business days, or same-day store pickup. Marquee Exterior $52 to $58/gal; Premium Plus Exterior $40 to $46/gal.
- Home Depot Pro (contractors): 5-gallon pails at trade pricing; volume discounts on 10+ gallon orders.
Whole-house gallons: an average US single-story home (~1,800 sq ft, 1,400 sq ft of paintable exterior surface) needs 8 to 10 gallons of Polar Bear Marquee over two coats with prep, or 6 to 8 gallons if applied as a true one-coat refresh on a previously light-painted surface. Two-story homes typically need 12 to 16 gallons. Buy one extra gallon for touch-ups and store the can lid-down to preserve the seal.
For software-side preview, our visualizer is brand-agnostic and lets you compare Polar Bear against any other Behr, Sherwin-Williams, or Benjamin Moore color in the same upload. For the deeper Behr visualizer story, see our Behr paint visualizer app review 2026.
How to test Polar Bear 75 on YOUR house (before you spend $40)
Whites are the hardest paint family to pick from a chip card, because the surrounding architecture and landscape change how the eye reads the same value. Render on a photo first, then validate with a $5 sample.
- Take a clean front-elevation photo in daylight (10am to 3pm, no direct sun glare).
- Upload to our free AI Behr visualizer.
- Select Polar Bear 75 as body. Add Behr Cracked Pepper trim (modern farmhouse) or Hidden Sea Glass shutters (cottage).
- Review the HD render. Save, share, or print at 11x17 for HOA submissions.
- If the render works, pick up a $5 Behr Marquee 8oz sample at Home Depot, paint a 12x12 inch patch, and check it at 9am, 12pm, and 4pm before ordering full gallons.
For a side-by-side test, render Polar Bear, SW Alabaster, SW Pure White, and BM Cloud White on the same photo in one session. The visualizer maps to official SKU codes for each brand, so the rendered HEX is faithful to the manufacturer chip.
Test against SW Alabaster and BM Cloud White on the same photo. HD render, no signup.
Common mistakes with Polar Bear (and how to avoid them)
- Pairing Polar Bear with Ultra Pure White trim. The LRV gap collapses (84 vs 94) and the body reads dingy. Use either a charcoal trim (Cracked Pepper LRV 5) or a warm-cream trim (Swiss Coffee LRV 79) where the contrast direction is clear.
- Skipping the prime coat over heavy stains or chalk. Marquee delivers one-coat hide on prepped surfaces, but it does not penetrate chalking or seal water stains. Spot-prime with Zinsser 1-2-3 first; then Marquee delivers in one coat.
- Choosing Premium Plus on south or west elevations expecting Marquee performance. Premium Plus is a value line; on high-sun walls in Arizona, Texas, Nevada, Florida, expect 8 to 10 year color hold versus Marquee's 12 to 15.
- Comparing Polar Bear chips indoors only. Indoor LED light suppresses the warm undertone. Always pull the chip outdoors, hold it against the actual siding, and view at 9am, noon, and 4pm.
- Picking the wrong base. Polar Bear tints in Behr base 1 (ultra pure white base). If the counter accidentally uses a darker base for touch-up gallons, the result will not match. Check the base code (B310 standard) on the receipt at reorder.
Frequently asked questions
What is the HEX code for Behr Polar Bear 75?
Behr's published sRGB HEX for Polar Bear is #EAEAE0, RGB 234, 234, 224. LRV is 84, placing it in the high-reflectance white band just below pure white. The color sits on Behr base 1 (ultra pure white base).
Is Behr Polar Bear a warm or cool white?
Balanced. Polar Bear has a very faint cool-yellow softener that reads neutral to warm in south sun and neutral to slightly cool in north light. It is meaningfully cleaner than warm-leaning whites like SW Alabaster, and meaningfully warmer than cool-leaning whites like SW Pure White.
How does Behr Polar Bear compare to SW Alabaster?
Polar Bear (HEX #EAEAE0, LRV 84) is cleaner and more balanced than SW Alabaster (HEX #EDEAE0, LRV 82). Alabaster pulls creamier and warmer under high sun, reading near-beige on west walls in Sunbelt markets. Polar Bear stays balanced across the day. See our SW Alabaster exterior guide.
How does Behr Polar Bear compare to SW Pure White?
Both sit at LRV 84, but Polar Bear has a slightly warmer base. Pure White reads cleaner and slightly cooler, ideal for modern and contemporary architecture with dark trim. Polar Bear is the safer pick for transitional, farmhouse, Cape Cod, and craftsman bodies.
How does Behr Polar Bear compare to BM Cloud White (OC-130)?
Polar Bear (LRV 84) and BM Cloud White (LRV 85) are close cousins. Cloud White carries slightly more yellow softener, making it the stronger pick on trim and ceilings. Polar Bear is the stronger pick on whole-house body color thanks to its more balanced base.
Can I paint vinyl siding with Behr Polar Bear?
Yes. At LRV 84, Polar Bear is far above the LRV 25 vinyl heat-warp threshold. Confirm in writing with your vinyl manufacturer (LP, CertainTeed, Mastic) and use Behr's Vinyl-Safe formulation for additional manufacturer-tested coverage.
How much does Behr Polar Bear 75 cost per gallon?
At Home Depot 2026: $40 to $46 in Premium Plus Exterior (value), $52 to $58 in Marquee Exterior (premium). Home Depot Pro accounts shave 10 to 20% on 10+ gallon orders. Whole-house jobs typically need 8 to 16 gallons depending on home size.
Does FacadeColorizer support Behr Polar Bear 75 on photo previews?
Yes. The Behr color library inside FacadeColorizer maps to official Behr SKUs including Polar Bear 75, Cracked Pepper PPU18-01, Hidden Gem (2026 COTY), Ultra Pure White, and Swiss Coffee. Upload a photo, apply Polar Bear to body, shutters, or accent walls. HD render in 30 seconds, no signup. Start at our free Behr visualizer.
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Trademark and disclaimer: Behr® and Home Depot® are registered trademarks of Behr Process LLC and The Home Depot, Inc. FacadeColorizer is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Behr or Home Depot. Sherwin-Williams, Alabaster SW 7008, Pure White SW 7005, Iron Ore SW 7069, Naval SW 6244, and Cavern Clay SW 7701 are trademarks of The Sherwin-Williams Company. Benjamin Moore, Cloud White OC-130, Black Pepper 2130-40, and Hale Navy HC-154 are trademarks of Benjamin Moore & Co. All references to third-party products are descriptive and editorial, in good faith nominative fair use under the Lanham Act (15 U.S.C. § 1125). Color reproduction on screens approximates the manufacturer's chip; confirm with a physical sample before purchase. Sources: Behr 2026 digital color library; Behr Marquee Exterior and Premium Plus Exterior technical data sheets 2026; Home Depot Q1 2026 retail pricing; FacadeColorizer internal simulation log (n=13,611) July 2025 to April 2026; HGTV exterior white paint roundup 2025.
