Gotham Gray Valspar 4009-3

Gotham Gray LRV and undertone

Valspar Gotham Gray (4009-3) has an LRV of 4.69, placing it at the very dark end of the supplied color range. Although its color family is blue, its cool blue undertone is consistent with a deep, blue-based appearance rather than a conventional light gray. Light reflectance value measures the proportion of visible light reflected by a surface. With an LRV below 5, Gotham Gray reflects very little light and can appear substantially darker in rooms with limited daylight.

Cool undertones may stand out more in north-facing rooms, where daylight often emphasizes cooler qualities. South-facing light generally adds warmth, although the actual result depends on the room and nearby surfaces. Because the reflectance level is low, test a sample across a large area before painting an entire room. White trim can make the color boundary more pronounced, while a dark adjacent color may reduce the contrast.

Gotham Gray in other brands

Sherwin-Williams Naval (SW 6244) is the closest listed alternative, with an LRV of 4.0 and a ΔE of 2.1. This is a close but visible difference when the colors sit side by side. Benjamin Moore Hale Navy (HC-154) has an LRV of 8.36 and a ΔE of 4.5, making it only similar. PPG Cavalry (PPG1041-7) has an LRV of 7.0 and a ΔE of 4.8, also indicating a noticeable difference.

Sherwin-Williams Cyberspace (SW 7076) has an LRV of 6.0 and a ΔE of 5.1. PPG Black Magic (PPG1001-7), at ΔE 7.4, and Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron (2124-10), at ΔE 7.5, are more distant matches. ΔE measures the difference between two colors numerically: values above 4 indicate only similar colors, not close equivalents. Their actual appearance will also depend on lighting and finish.

Lighter and darker Valspar alternatives

All four listed Valspar alternatives have higher LRVs than Gotham Gray, so none is darker by this measure. Valspar Flora (5004-2C), at LRV 9.3, is the closest step toward a lighter surface. It may suit a space that needs a little more light reflection while retaining a dark-color approach.

Valspar Almost Charcoal (4008-2B), with an LRV of 15.93, reflects more light and belongs to the gray color family. Valspar Warm Eucalyptus (8004-28F), at LRV 21, is lighter still. Valspar Café Blue (5001-4A), at LRV 29.07, is the lightest of these comparisons. Their ΔE values are all high, however, so they represent different color directions rather than direct matches. Test samples alongside trim and flooring before selecting one.

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