Naval → Behr
The closest Behr matches for Sherwin Williams Naval (SW 6244), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Behr Equivalent for Naval
If you love Sherwin Williams Naval but need a Behr 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 Behr, your local store does not carry Sherwin Williams, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Naval (SW 6244) is a dark navy with true blue undertones. A deep, saturated navy blue. Bolder and more distinctly blue than many navies, with less gray to soften it. To find a good Behr match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 4) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Naval and every Behr 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 Behr option is Midnight Blue (PPU15-18) with a Delta E of 4.5, which is a "good match" level match. Similar depth but Midnight Blue has a touch more purple. Both make a strong navy statement. You will want to test a sample before committing, as the difference may be noticeable in certain lighting.
Behr Matches for Naval
Similar depth but Midnight Blue has a touch more purple. Both make a strong navy statement.
| Naval | Midnight Blue | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 4 | 5 |
| Hex | #344150 | #323C4B |
| Undertone | True Blue | Blue-Purple |
| Family | Navy | Navy |
Undertone Comparison
Naval has true blue undertones. A deep, saturated navy blue. Bolder and more distinctly blue than many navies, with less gray to soften it.
Midnight Blue has blue-purple undertones. A deep, dramatic navy with subtle purple undertones. Rich and bold, with more purple lean than many navies.
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. Naval's true blue quality may read differently than Midnight Blue's blue-purple 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
Naval in Your Room
Reads as a rich, inky navy in all conditions. In direct sunlight you'll see the blue depth. In dim rooms, it approaches black. Dramatic and confident.
Midnight Blue in Your Room
In bright light, the blue dominates. In dim rooms, the purple undertone becomes more apparent. Reads as a dramatic, moody navy in most settings.
LRV and Brightness
Naval has an LRV of 4, while Midnight Blue has an LRV of 5. 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 Naval
Sherwin Williams recommends Naval for: accent wall, front door, powder room, office, bedroom. With an LRV of 4, 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.
Midnight Blue is recommended for: accent wall, front door, powder room, office, bedroom. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Midnight Blue in the same rooms you planned for Naval.
Naval in Other Brands
Looking for Naval equivalents in other brands besides Behr? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Behr match for Naval (SW 6244) is Midnight Blue (PPU15-18) with a Delta E of 4.5, which rates as a "good match" match. Similar depth but Midnight Blue has a touch more purple. Both make a strong navy statement. 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. Naval is a Sherwin Williams color with true blue undertones and an LRV of 4. Midnight Blue is a Behr color with blue-purple undertones and an LRV of 5. With a Delta E of 4.5, you will likely notice a difference, especially in bright or direct lighting. 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 4.5, 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 Behr equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Behr. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Behr 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.