Battleship Gray (PPU18-04)
A cool, dark gray with minimal undertone. Named for the steel hulls of warships. Strong, serious, and commanding. Darker than Cathedral Gray, cooler than Anonymous.
About Behr Battleship Gray
Battleship Gray (PPU18-04) is a gray from Behr's collection with an LRV of 16 and cool dark gray undertones. A cool, dark gray with minimal undertone. Named for the steel hulls of warships. Strong, serious, and commanding. Darker than Cathedral Gray, cooler than Anonymous.
At an LRV of just 16, Battleship Gray is a dark, dramatic color that absorbs most of the light that hits it. This makes it perfect for creating bold, moody statements on accent walls, front doors, shutters, and exterior trim. It commands attention and creates a striking contrast with white or light-colored trim. Use it where you want real visual impact. In full room applications, generous lighting and light-colored furnishings prevent the space from feeling oppressive.
Light Reflectance Value (LRV)
Battleship Gray has an LRV of 16, placing it in the dark range on the 0-to-100 scale. LRV measures the percentage of visible light a color reflects. A pure black has an LRV of 0 and a pure white has an LRV of 100. Understanding a color's LRV helps you predict how it will feel in your space: higher LRV means brighter and more spacious, lower LRV means cozier and more intimate.
Undertone Analysis
Battleship Gray has cool dark gray undertones. Undertones are the subtle background colors that become visible in different lighting conditions. Even colors that look "neutral" in the store will reveal their undertones once they are on your walls and interacting with natural light, artificial light, and the colors around them.
A cool, dark gray with minimal undertone. Named for the steel hulls of warships. Strong, serious, and commanding. Darker than Cathedral Gray, cooler than Anonymous. Cool undertones like these pair naturally with other cool elements: gray-toned wood, chrome and silver hardware, white marble, and cool-toned textiles. They can feel disconnected from strongly warm elements like honey oak or brass, so consider your existing finishes before committing.
Lighting Behavior
Stays neutral and clean even at this dark depth. In bright light, reads as a solid cool gray. In dim rooms, approaches a sophisticated dark neutral. Does not pull warm or cool strongly.
Every paint color looks different depending on the light source in your room. South-facing rooms get warm, direct sunlight that brings out yellow and warm undertones. North-facing rooms get cool, indirect light that emphasizes blue and gray undertones. East-facing rooms are bright and warm in the morning, cooler in the afternoon. West-facing rooms are the opposite: cool morning, warm afternoon. Incandescent and warm LED bulbs push colors warmer, while cool-white LEDs and fluorescent tubes push colors cooler. To avoid surprises, always test Battleship Gray with a physical sample on your actual wall, and observe it at different times of day before committing.
Best Rooms for Battleship Gray
Behr recommends Battleship Gray for: accent wall, exterior, front door, cabinets, office.
On kitchen and bathroom cabinets, Battleship Gray offers a fresh, clean look. Cabinet colors are seen up close and under task lighting, so the undertones matter even more than on walls. On an accent wall, Battleship Gray creates a focal point that draws the eye and adds visual depth to the room. Pair it with a lighter color on the remaining walls for the best contrast. On a front door, Battleship Gray makes a strong first impression. Front door colors are seen in full outdoor light, so choose a finish with some sheen (satin or semi-gloss) for durability and visual impact.
Closest Matches in Other Brands
Find the closest equivalent to Behr Battleship Gray from other paint brands. Matches are calculated using Delta E (CIE2000), the industry standard for measuring perceptual color difference.
Sherwin Williams Matches
Online is warmer and greener. Battleship Gray is cooler and more neutral.
View all Sherwin Williams matches →Benjamin Moore Matches
Kendall Charcoal is greener. Battleship Gray is more neutral.
View all Benjamin Moore matches →Coordinating Colors
These colors pair beautifully with Battleship Gray for a cohesive palette. Use them for trim, accents, adjacent rooms, or furniture to create a well-designed space.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Sherwin Williams match for Behr Battleship Gray is Online (SW 7072) with a Delta E of 4.4, which rates as a "good match" match. Online is warmer and greener. Battleship Gray is cooler and more neutral. A Delta E under 2 means most people cannot tell the colors apart, while 2 to 4 means the difference is subtle.
Battleship Gray has cool dark gray undertones. A cool, dark gray with minimal undertone. Named for the steel hulls of warships. Strong, serious, and commanding. Darker than Cathedral Gray, cooler than Anonymous. Undertones become most visible when the color is on a large surface like a wall, and they shift depending on the light source in your room. Always test with a physical sample in your specific space to see how the undertones interact with your lighting, flooring, and furnishings.
Battleship Gray (PPU18-04) has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 16, which puts it in the dark range. LRV measures the percentage of light a color reflects on a scale from 0 (pure black) to 100 (pure white). At 16, this is a darker color that creates a cozy, intimate atmosphere. Pair it with bright white trim for the best contrast.
Battleship Gray leans cool. The cool dark gray undertones give it a crisp, fresh quality. It pairs well with chrome, silver, cool-toned wood, and white marble. In south-facing rooms with warm light, the cool undertones help keep the color from feeling too warm.
Color data sourced from manufacturer specifications. Match calculations use Delta E (CIE2000) computed from Lab color space conversion. Last reviewed: March 22, 2026.