Battleship Gray → PPG
The closest PPG matches for Behr Battleship Gray (PPU18-04), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a PPG Equivalent for Battleship Gray
If you love Behr Battleship Gray but need a PPG alternative, you are not alone. This is one of the most common cross-brand paint matching searches, whether you are working with a painter who prefers PPG, your local store does not carry Behr, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Battleship Gray (PPU18-04) is a dark gray with 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. To find a good PPG match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 16) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Battleship Gray and every PPG color using the CIE2000 Delta E formula, which measures how different two colors look to the human eye. A Delta E under 2 means most people cannot tell the colors apart. Between 2 and 4, you might notice a difference in certain lighting. Above 5, the difference is clearly visible side by side.
The good news: there is a strong PPG match for Battleship Gray. Porpoise Alt (PPG1010-5) comes in with a Delta E of 2, which puts it in the "excellent match" range. Porpoise Alt is the closest PPG option. Very close match.
PPG Matches for Battleship Gray
Porpoise Alt is the closest PPG option. Very close match.
| Battleship Gray | Porpoise Alt | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 16 | 16 |
| Hex | #868381 | #817E7A |
| Undertone | Cool Dark Gray | Warm Dark Ash |
| Family | Gray | Gray |
Undertone Comparison
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.
Porpoise Alt has warm dark ash undertones. A warm, dark ash gray. Between Up In Smoke and Thunderstorm. The warm brown gives it earthy character at a dark depth.
The undertone difference is worth paying attention to. While they are close in overall appearance, the different undertones mean they may diverge in certain lighting. Battleship Gray's cool dark gray quality may read differently than Porpoise Alt's warm dark ash character, especially in rooms with strong directional light or colored accents that could pull out one undertone more than the other. Test a sample in your specific room before committing.
How These Colors Behave in Different Lighting
Battleship Gray in Your Room
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.
Porpoise Alt in Your Room
Warm and grounding. In bright rooms, a warm dark gray. In dim rooms, approaching charcoal.
LRV and Brightness
Battleship Gray has an LRV of 16, while Porpoise Alt has an LRV of 16. These two colors reflect a very similar amount of light, so you should not notice a significant difference in room brightness when switching between them. The room will feel approximately the same in terms of light and space, which makes this a smoother transition.
Best Rooms for Battleship Gray
Behr recommends Battleship Gray for: accent wall, exterior, front door, cabinets, office. With an LRV of 16, this is a dark color that absorbs more light than it reflects. It makes a bold statement and works beautifully on accent walls, front doors, exterior trim, and features where drama is the goal. In a full room, make sure you have good lighting and bright white trim for contrast.
Porpoise Alt is recommended for: accent wall, exterior, cabinets, office, front door. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Porpoise Alt in the same rooms you planned for Battleship Gray.
Battleship Gray in Other Brands
Looking for Battleship Gray equivalents in other brands besides PPG? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest PPG match for Battleship Gray (PPU18-04) is Porpoise Alt (PPG1010-5) with a Delta E of 2, which rates as a "excellent match" match. Porpoise Alt is the closest PPG option. Very close match. Delta E measures perceptual color distance on a scale where under 2 means nearly identical, 2 to 4 means close with subtle differences, and over 5 means clearly noticeable.
No, they are not identical. Battleship Gray is a Behr color with cool dark gray undertones and an LRV of 16. Porpoise Alt is a PPG color with warm dark ash undertones and an LRV of 16. With a Delta E of 2, these are extremely close and most people will not spot the difference on a wall. Paint formulations differ between brands, so even colors with similar values can look slightly different due to pigment concentration, binders, and finish.
With a Delta E of 2, these colors are close enough to use in separate rooms of the same house without a jarring difference. However, avoid painting them on adjacent walls in the same room, as even subtle differences become apparent at a hard edge where two paints meet. For the smoothest result, use one brand consistently within each connected space and reserve the other brand for rooms that are visually separated.
There are several practical reasons to look for a PPG equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in PPG. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing PPG work, matching within the same brand gives you the best consistency for seamless results.
Match calculations use Delta E (CIE2000) computed from Lab color space conversion. Color data sourced from manufacturer specifications. Last reviewed: March 22, 2026.