Cracked Pepper → Sherwin Williams
The closest Sherwin Williams matches for Behr Cracked Pepper (PPU18-01-2), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Sherwin Williams Equivalent for Cracked Pepper
If you love Behr Cracked Pepper but need a Sherwin Williams 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 Sherwin Williams, your local store does not carry Behr, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Cracked Pepper (PPU18-01-2) is a dark gray with warm near-black undertones. Behr's 2024 Color of the Year. A warm, dark charcoal-black with the speckled warmth of freshly cracked pepper. Bold yet grounded by warm brown undertones. To find a good Sherwin Williams match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 7) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Cracked Pepper and every Sherwin Williams 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 results are decent but not perfect. The closest Sherwin Williams option is Iron Ore (SW 7069) with a Delta E of 4, which is a "good match" level match. Iron Ore is the closest match. Both are warm, rich near-blacks. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Sherwin Williams Matches for Cracked Pepper
Iron Ore is the closest match. Both are warm, rich near-blacks.
| Cracked Pepper | Iron Ore | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 7 | 6 |
| Hex | #52504D | #524C47 |
| Undertone | Warm Near-Black | Warm Brown-Black |
| Family | Gray | Black |
Undertone Comparison
Cracked Pepper has warm near-black undertones. Behr's 2024 Color of the Year. A warm, dark charcoal-black with the speckled warmth of freshly cracked pepper. Bold yet grounded by warm brown undertones.
Iron Ore has warm brown-black undertones. A warm, rich near-black with brown-charcoal undertones. The most popular dark paint color in America for good reason.
These two colors share the same undertone family, which is a good sign for a cross-brand swap. The undertone similarity means they will behave similarly as lighting changes throughout the day, and they should coordinate well with the same accent colors, trim, and furnishings.
How These Colors Behave in Different Lighting
Cracked Pepper in Your Room
In bright light, the warm brown shows through. In dim rooms, reads as a warm, sophisticated near-black. More alive than a flat black.
Iron Ore in Your Room
In bright light, the warm brown undertone is visible. In dim rooms, it reads as a sophisticated soft black. Warmer than a true black, which gives it depth.
LRV and Brightness
Cracked Pepper has an LRV of 7, while Iron Ore has an LRV of 6. 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 Cracked Pepper
Behr recommends Cracked Pepper for: front door, accent wall, exterior trim, cabinets, shutters. With an LRV of 7, 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.
Iron Ore is recommended for: front door, accent wall, exterior trim, cabinets, shutters. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Iron Ore in the same rooms you planned for Cracked Pepper.
Cracked Pepper in Other Brands
Looking for Cracked Pepper equivalents in other brands besides Sherwin Williams? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Sherwin Williams match for Cracked Pepper (PPU18-01-2) is Iron Ore (SW 7069) with a Delta E of 4, which rates as a "good match" match. Iron Ore is the closest match. Both are warm, rich near-blacks. 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. Cracked Pepper is a Behr color with warm near-black undertones and an LRV of 7. Iron Ore is a Sherwin Williams color with warm brown-black undertones and an LRV of 6. With a Delta E of 4, the difference is subtle and mainly visible in direct side-by-side comparison. 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 4, the difference is enough that they should not be used on adjacent walls in the same room. You can use them in separate rooms of the same house, but be aware that walking from one room to the other may reveal the difference, especially if the rooms have similar lighting. For the most consistent look, pick one brand for all connected living spaces and reserve the other brand for visually separate rooms like bathrooms or bedrooms behind closed doors.
There are several practical reasons to look for a Sherwin Williams equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Sherwin Williams. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Sherwin Williams 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.