Pantone™ PMS 231 U

Pantone PMS 231 U is a color communication standard, not a shared paint formula. Most paint brands develop their own color palettes, pigments, and mixing systems, so an exact equivalent rarely exists.

Highly saturated Pantone colors like PMS 231 U are especially difficult to convert because pigment strength, base color, and finish all influence the final appearance. A visual match made to the Pantone reference is typically the correct approach, rather than relying on a named equivalent from another brand.

Ordering a standard match to Pantone PMS 231 U is appropriate when the Pantone reference itself is the approved color target. This is common for brand-facing applications like displays, signage, exhibits, prototypes, and marketing installations.

In these cases, visual alignment to the Pantone standard matters more than matching an existing painted surface or material. PMS 231 U should be used as the color goal, with the understanding that finish and substrate can influence how the color is perceived.

For retail and pop-up installations, evaluate Pantone PMS 231 U under the actual lighting where it will be displayed. Lighting type and intensity can noticeably change how saturated colors appear.

Because these environments are high visibility, it is recommended to test a sample on the intended substrate before full production. This helps confirm coverage, uniformity, and overall visual impact at scale.

When applying a Pantone PMS 231 U match to metal or previously powder-coated parts, surface preparation matters. Existing coatings, gloss level, and cleanliness can all affect how the color appears.

Saturated Pantone colors may require additional coats for even coverage, especially over dark or uneven bases. Sampling on the actual metal substrate is strongly recommended before committing to a full production run.

Unfortunately, no.

Some manufacturers specify Pantone colors as touch up for their products, but Pantone does not work well as a proxy for a touch-up solution (for a litany of reasons such as it doesn't include sheen and Pantone color tolerances are not tight enough for touch up). When we match Pantone colors we are matching to a swatch in a Pantone book - not to your product.

The only way we can provide a touch-up solution for your product is for you send us a part. We would use the part to create a touch-up grade match. Unfortunately, there isn't an effective way to 'spec' the color well enough to produce a touch up without the part.

Read more about using Pantone for touch-up.

Learn more about our paint color matching service.

To make spray paint matched to Pantone PMS 231 U. MyPerfectColor uses an acrylic enamel which is a fast-drying durable coating suitable for interior or exterior use. MyPerfectColor custom spray paint enables you to conveniently achieve a professional spray-smooth finish in any color in any sheen. It sticks well to most surfaces including metal, plastics, powder-coatings, cabinets and primed or previously painted wood.

The 11oz spray will cover about 20 square feet per coat. Keep in mind that it is difficult to gauge how much spray you'll need as it is highly dependent on how it is applied. It is better to have too much than run short.

While MyPerfectColor can provide PMS 231 U in paint, we don't provide any crossover information. We've found that every paint company offers its own unique selection of colors and rarely does a color have an exact equivalent in another company's color collection, especially for a color collection like Pantone which is designed for bright colors and inks.