Smoky Slate → Valspar
The closest Valspar matches for Behr Smoky Slate (PPU25-18), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Valspar Equivalent for Smoky Slate
If you love Behr Smoky Slate but need a Valspar 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 Valspar, your local store does not carry Behr, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Smoky Slate (PPU25-18) is a dark gray with cool dark charcoal undertones. A cool, dark charcoal with minimal undertone. Behr's cleanest dark gray. Serious and commanding without the warmth of Porpoise or the brown of Mineral. To find a good Valspar match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 8) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Smoky Slate and every Valspar 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 Valspar match for Smoky Slate. Night View (VR078A) comes in with a Delta E of 2.3, which puts it in the "excellent match" range. Night View is the closest Valspar option. Very close match.
Valspar Matches for Smoky Slate
Night View is the closest Valspar option. Very close match.
| Smoky Slate | Night View | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 8 | 6 |
| Hex | #5A5956 | #4A4C4B |
| Undertone | Cool Dark Charcoal | Cool Near-Black |
| Family | Gray | Gray |
Undertone Comparison
Smoky Slate has cool dark charcoal undertones. A cool, dark charcoal with minimal undertone. Behr's cleanest dark gray. Serious and commanding without the warmth of Porpoise or the brown of Mineral.
Night View has cool near-black undertones. A cool, nearly black gray. Valspar's darkest neutral. Clean and modern, without the warm brown lean of most near-blacks.
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
Smoky Slate in Your Room
In bright light, reads as a clean, cool dark gray. In dim rooms, approaches a sophisticated near-black. The cool lean keeps it sharp and modern.
Night View in Your Room
In bright light, reads as a very dark cool gray. In dim rooms, approaches black. The cool lean keeps it sharp and modern.
LRV and Brightness
Smoky Slate has an LRV of 8, while Night View 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 Smoky Slate
Behr recommends Smoky Slate for: front door, accent wall, exterior trim, shutters, cabinets. With an LRV of 8, 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.
Night View is recommended for: front door, accent wall, exterior trim, shutters, cabinets. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Night View in the same rooms you planned for Smoky Slate.
Smoky Slate in Other Brands
Looking for Smoky Slate equivalents in other brands besides Valspar? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Valspar match for Smoky Slate (PPU25-18) is Night View (VR078A) with a Delta E of 2.3, which rates as a "excellent match" match. Night View is the closest Valspar 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. Smoky Slate is a Behr color with cool dark charcoal undertones and an LRV of 8. Night View is a Valspar color with cool near-black undertones and an LRV of 6. With a Delta E of 2.3, 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 2.3, 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 Valspar equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Valspar. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Valspar 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.