Updated May 5, 2026 Delta-E CIEDE2000 · 1,652 paints · 7 brands

Vallejo to Citadel / Warhammer Colour conversion: the closest equivalents

Q: Can you mix Vallejo and Citadel / Warhammer Colour paints?

Yes, both are water-based acrylics and are fully compatible. You can mix them directly on the palette, layer them over each other, and apply a Citadel shade over a Vallejo base coat without any adhesion issues.

Q: Are Vallejo paints better than Citadel for Warhammer?

Neither is strictly better — they have different strengths. Vallejo offers convenient dropper bottles and better ml-per-price value. Citadel has a colour system designed for Warhammer armies (Base, Shade, Layer, Contrast) and official GW recipes. Most experienced painters use both depending on what they need.

Q: What is the difference between Vallejo Model Color and Game Color?

Model Color is optimised for historical miniatures with more desaturated tones and a strong matte finish. Game Color is designed for fantasy miniatures (including Warhammer) with brighter, more saturated tones that are closer to Citadel. For Citadel equivalents, Game Color generally gives better Delta-E scores.

Q: How do you know if a Vallejo is close enough to a Citadel?

The practical rule: a Delta-E below 3 is imperceptible on a painted miniature. Between 3 and 5, the difference is subtle and acceptable for most projects. Above 8-10, test on a spare model before applying across a whole army. ChromaStack displays these scores directly on each equivalent page.

Q: What is the best Vallejo substitute for Agrax Earthshade?

Agrax Earthshade is notoriously difficult to match exactly — its particular warm brown-green tone is unique. The closest Vallejo equivalent by Delta-E stays around ΔE 8-10, which represents a visible difference. Vallejo Model Wash Brown or Sepia are reasonable alternatives as brown washes, but the flow behaviour remains different.

If you own a Vallejo Model Color collection and want to reproduce a community recipe in Citadel / Warhammer Colour — or the other way around — you need reliable matches. This guide lists the 30 most-used Vallejo paints in Warhammer miniature painting, with their closest Citadel equivalent measured by Delta-E CIEDE2000.

A Delta-E below 2 means a near-imperceptible match on a painted miniature. Between 2 and 5, the difference stays acceptable for most projects. Above 10, it is worth validating on a test model before using the equivalent across a whole army.

Vallejo base paints and their Citadel equivalents

Among the most-used Vallejo Model Color paints for Warhammer army base coats, Prussian Blue (70.965) finds its closest equivalent in Macragge Blue (ΔE ~4). Medium Blue (70.963) is very close to Caledor Sky (ΔE ~3.5). Flat Red (70.957) matches Mephiston Red (ΔE ~2.5).

For neutrals: Neutral Grey (70.992) is close to Administratum Grey (ΔE ~2). Black (70.950) matches Abaddon Black (ΔE < 1). White (70.951) is the direct equivalent of White Scar (ΔE < 1).

For greens: Flat Green (70.968) matches Death Guard Green (ΔE ~3.5). Uniform Green (70.922) is close to Waaagh! Flesh (ΔE ~4). Dark Green (70.893) matches Caliban Green (ΔE ~5).

Vallejo washes and their Citadel / Warhammer Colour equivalents

Vallejo Model Wash paints are often used as replacements for Citadel Shades. Black Wash matches Nuln Oil (ΔE ~3). Brown Wash is close to Agrax Earthshade (ΔE ~7 — visible difference but acceptable). Blue Wash matches Drakenhof Nightshade (ΔE ~5).

Important note: Citadel shades have a proprietary formula that encourages pooling in recesses. Vallejo washes behave differently in terms of flow. Test on a spare model before using across a full army.

Vallejo highlights and their Citadel Layer equivalents

For blue highlights: Sky Blue (70.961) matches Calgar Blue (ΔE ~3). Electric Blue (70.023) is close to Teclis Blue (ΔE ~4). Ice Blue (70.902) matches Lothern Blue (ΔE ~2.5).

For red highlights: Scarlet (70.817) is close to Evil Sunz Scarlet (ΔE ~3). Blood Red (70.926) matches Wild Rider Red (ΔE ~4).

For light greys: Light Grey (70.990) matches Ulthuan Grey (ΔE ~2). Off White (70.820) is close to Pallid Wych Flesh (ΔE ~3.5).

How to use ChromaStack for Vallejo-to-Citadel conversion

For each Vallejo paint in your collection, you can find its closest Citadel equivalent on ChromaStack by searching for the paint by name or by hex code.

The hex search is especially useful if you have a Vallejo pot's colour code: enter it in the colour picker on the homepage to see the 5 closest commercial paints across all brands.

Citadel equivalent pages now include both names (Citadel Colour and Warhammer Colour) to match the current Games Workshop naming.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you mix Vallejo and Citadel / Warhammer Colour paints?

Yes, both are water-based acrylics and are fully compatible. You can mix them directly on the palette, layer them over each other, and apply a Citadel shade over a Vallejo base coat without any adhesion issues.

Are Vallejo paints better than Citadel for Warhammer?

Neither is strictly better — they have different strengths. Vallejo offers convenient dropper bottles and better ml-per-price value. Citadel has a colour system designed for Warhammer armies (Base, Shade, Layer, Contrast) and official GW recipes. Most experienced painters use both depending on what they need.

What is the difference between Vallejo Model Color and Game Color?

Model Color is optimised for historical miniatures with more desaturated tones and a strong matte finish. Game Color is designed for fantasy miniatures (including Warhammer) with brighter, more saturated tones that are closer to Citadel. For Citadel equivalents, Game Color generally gives better Delta-E scores.

How do you know if a Vallejo is close enough to a Citadel?

The practical rule: a Delta-E below 3 is imperceptible on a painted miniature. Between 3 and 5, the difference is subtle and acceptable for most projects. Above 8-10, test on a spare model before applying across a whole army. ChromaStack displays these scores directly on each equivalent page.

What is the best Vallejo substitute for Agrax Earthshade?

Agrax Earthshade is notoriously difficult to match exactly — its particular warm brown-green tone is unique. The closest Vallejo equivalent by Delta-E stays around ΔE 8-10, which represents a visible difference. Vallejo Model Wash Brown or Sepia are reasonable alternatives as brown washes, but the flow behaviour remains different.

Check a Vallejo equivalent on ChromaStack

Vallejo-to-Citadel / Warhammer Colour conversion is simpler than it looks: for common base coats and highlights, equivalents with a Delta-E below 5 almost always exist. Washes need a bit more caution due to flow differences, but remain usable. Use ChromaStack to verify each substitute before applying it to your army.

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