Imperial Purple vs Oxford Blue

How close are they?

ΔE 11.1, fair: the same colour family, but not a straight swap. Oxford Blue is a little darker, cooler than Imperial Purple.

Can I use Oxford Blue instead of Imperial Purple?

Only where an exact match doesn’t matter, such as a new unit or a highlight. Fair match (ΔE 11). Oxford Blue is a little darker, cooler than Imperial Purple.

Can I use Imperial Purple instead of Oxford Blue?

The same difference applies the other way round: Imperial Purple is a little lighter, warmer.

ΔE is the colour difference between our two swatch estimates: under about 6 is close, over about 15 is loose. Real paints also differ in finish, coverage and how they thin, so test before you commit.