Natural Gray Behr PPU18-10

Natural Gray LRV and undertone

Behr Natural Gray (PPU18-10) has an LRV of 53, placing it in the mid-tone range. Light reflectance value measures how much visible light a paint color reflects. At this level, Natural Gray can provide a balance between brightness and depth without the high reflectance of a light gray or white. Its greige color family combines characteristics of gray and beige, while its calculated undertone is subtly warm and yellow. This undertone can become more noticeable under lighting that emphasizes warm colors.

In a north-facing room, cooler daylight may make the gray component more apparent. South-facing light can bring out more of the warmth, although bulbs and surrounding finishes also influence the result. For trim, a lighter white can create contrast, while a coordinating mid-tone produces a more gradual transition. Test a sample on several walls before choosing a finish, because the room’s light can change the perceived balance between gray and beige.

Natural Gray in other brands

Several other manufacturers offer colors with measurable similarities to Natural Gray. The closest listed match is Sherwin-Williams Colonnade Gray (SW 7641), with an LRV of 53.0 and a ΔE of 2.3. Valspar Filtered Shade (4003-1B), at LRV 58.45, has a ΔE of 2.4. Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray (SW 7015) has an LRV of 58.0 and a ΔE of 3.1. PPG Ghost Writer (PPG1007-3) has an LRV of 48.0 and a ΔE of 3.4.

ΔE describes the measured difference between two colors: under 1 means near-identical, 1 to 2 means very close, 2 to 4 means close but visibly different side by side, and above 4 means only similar. These listed matches fall in the close-but-visible range. However, their LRVs show that they will not necessarily reflect the same amount of light.

Lighter and darker Behr alternatives

For a lighter alternative, consider Behr Chic Gray (PPU26-10), with an LRV of 60 and a ΔE of 3.2, or Behr Dolphin Fin (790C-3), with an LRV of 59 and a ΔE of 3.4. Behr Tranquil Gray (DC-007) also has an LRV of 60 and a ΔE of 3.9. These options reflect more light and may suit rooms where a brighter wall color is needed.

Behr Wheat Bread (720C-3) has an LRV of 56 and a ΔE of 3.9, making it a slightly lighter option by reflectance, though the difference is modest. Compare samples in the room at different times of day. The LRV helps establish relative brightness, while ΔE indicates color difference; neither measurement alone guarantees a visual match.

Before you buy, compare a physical sample with the swatch on Behr’s page for Natural Gray.