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Benjamin Moore Hale Navy is Foolproof (See the Evidence!)

    If you love blue and you are shopping for paint, chances are you have already heard of Hale Navy!

    This moody blue not only works with most colors under the sun, it isn’t fussy about lighting or other factors.

    Most of the time, it just works.

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy swatch beside a Victorian Hale Navy living room

    Here I will show you Hale Navy inside and outside many homes, talk you through trim choices and color pairings, and finally share some alternatives!

    Grab a bevvy, and let’s go!

    What Color is Benjamin Moore Hale Navy (HC-154)

    Benjamin Moore says that Hale Navy is: โ€œA use-anywhere shade of navy with a classic maritime feel.โ€

    Hale Navy is a dark navy blue with a hint of charcoal. That extra bit of gray makes it super easy to match with a TON of other colors.

    Hale Navy brushstroke swatch

    LRV of Benjamin Moore Hale Navy

    The LRV (Light Reflectance Value) of Hale Navy is 8.36.

    The LRV of a color indicates on a scale of 0 – 100 how much light a color reflects (or doesn’t reflect). True black has an LRV of 0 and pure white has an LRV of 100.

    In the paint world, we are working in a range of about 3 – 93 because no paint color is purely black or completely white.

    8.36 is getting pretty dark, but it isn’t quite up there with black colors.

    What Are the Undertones of Hale Navy?

    While Hale Navy is not actually purple at all – it’s closer to cyan – it can sometimes look a little purple in comparison to other navy blues. I think that’s due to the extra smokiness it has.

    Swatch of Hale Navy over a background of a Hale Navy wall with a wood mantled fireplace

    On it’s own I would not say that it looks purple, but you will want to test it in your space, just to be sure.

    Is Hale Navy Warm or Cool

    All blues are technically cool, but Hale Navy is warmer than other navies and many blues.

    Hale Navy Coordinating Color Palette

    You don’t need a theme or any other excuse to have a place for navy in your home! It is a classic color that stands the test of time.

    That being said, it works very well in coastal or beachy color schemes.

    Here is an all-Benjamin-Moore coastal color palette that I came up with:

    Coastal Color palette featuring aegean teal

    Hale Navy and Chantilly Lace

    Chantilly Lace is my personal favorite white paint color! It’s a very clean white without any obvious undertone, and just a hint of warmth.

    Hale Navy and Gray Owl

    Gray Owl is a soft greige color from Benjamin Moore that can have a slightly green undertone. At first glance, it’s a nice sandy color if you are going for a beachy or coastal look with Hale Navy.

    Hale Navy and Gray Cashmere

    Gray Cashmere is a soft grayish green color. It has a beachy seagrass kind of vibe.

    Coastal Color palette featuring aegean teal and Hale navy with beach restaurant photo

    Hale Navy and Stratton Blue

    Stratton Blue is not all that blue, but it is a beautiful blue-green reminiscent of clear waters.

    Hale Navy with Aegean Teal

    Aegean Teal was Benjamin Moore’s “Color of the Year” back in 2021. This color is quite a subdued version of teal, which makes it easier to pair with other strong colors like Hale Navy.

    Other Coordinating Colors for Hale Navy

    When a color is as popular as Hale Navy is, we have the luxury of knowing what colors are most often paired with it.

    Here are some interior designers’ favorite Hale Navy combos:

    Hale Navy color dots with many other popular colors

    Hale Navy and Revere Pewter

    Revere Pewter is the OG neutral from Benjamin Moore. It’s super popular and does look great with Hale Navy.

    Hale Navy with White Dove

    White Dove is one of Benjamin Moore’s all-time most popular whites. It’s a warm almost off-white with a neutral beige undertone.

    Hale Navy with Cloud White

    Cloud White is another “most popular” white by Benjamin Moore. It used to be the top choice for trim and doors, but now it’s just in the mix.

    Cloud White is a warm white with a hint of creamy yellow. It’s kind of like a brighter antique white.

    Hale Navy with Sherwin Williams Sea Salt

    Sherwin Williams Sea Salt is a pale grayish green by Sherwin Williams that also fits very well into a beachy color scheme.

    I started noticing an awful lot of similar neutrals on this list with Hale Navy, so I made another palette to compare those:

    Hale Navy swatch with several neutral paint colors as discussed in the article

    Hale Navy and Classic Gray

    Classic Gray is pretty classic, but not all that gray! 9 times out of 10 when I have asked about Classic Gray, I actually thought it was a white.

    Hale Navy and Balboa Mist

    Balboa Mist is another light greigey color that is popular for whole homes. It might be my favorite neutral with Hale Navy (besides white)!

    Hale Navy and Edgecomb Gray

    Edgecomb Gray is more beige than gray, but a nice sandy neutral with Hale Navy.

    Hale Navy and Sherwin Williams Repose Gray

    Can you tell greiges are still popular? Repose Gray is one of Sherwin Williams’ top picks.

    Interested in Repose Gray? You might like: Sherwin Williams Light French Gray VS Repose Gray – Solved!

    Hale Navy and Light French Gray

    I wanted to toss in Light French Gray even though it didn’t make the most popular combos list, because it’s closer to a true gray.

    Hale Navy has a reputation for going with absolutely anything. I have to say that’s pretty true! When I’m stuck for a color in a palette, Hale Navy very often fits the bill.

    At the very least, I haven’t found a color that it clashes with.

    Complementary Color

    The “official” complementary color for Hale Navy – meaning the color directly across from it on the color wheel – would be a deep orangey-brown color.

    A more palatable version of this would be a warm neutral like Benjamin Moore’s Kendall Charcoal, which is a dark gray with a hint of brown.

    Swatch of Hale Navy beside a swatch of Kendall Charcoal

    Lighter Alternatives to Hale Navy

    Like most dark colors, you may be wondering if there is a slightly lighter alternative to Hale Navy.

    Hale Navy lightened by 25% would have an LRV of approximately 29, but that is probably even lighter than what you were thinking!

    Benjamin Moore Black Pepper 2130-40

    Black Pepper has an LRV of 21.12.

    Swatch of Hale Navy beside a swatch of Black Pepper

    Hale Navy does not actually have a color strip, it’s one of Benjamin Moore’s standalone colors, but if it did, Black Pepper could be on it.

    If Black Pepper is lighter than what you were expecting for 25% lighter, you might like:

    Benjamin Moore Evening Dove (2128-30)

    Evening Dove is just a bit lighter than Hale Navy, with an LRV of 12.02. On the wall these two look very similar and could easily be confused.

    Here is Evening Dove with Benjamin Moore Carolina Gull:

    Carolina Gull on built ins in a study
    Photo credit: Maven Custom Carpentry

    If you are after Hale Navy, but just a smidge lighter, I’m pretty confident that you will like Evening Dove.

    Here is Hale Navy vs Evening Dove on a swatch:

    Closeup of Evening Dove on a card of Benjamin Moore navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    What Trim Colors Go With Benjamin Moore Hale Navy?

    First up, some white trim choices:

    White Paint that Goes with Hale Navy

    Here is a mock up of how Hale Navy would look with popular Benjamin Moore whites for trim:

    Graphic of Hale navy with 4 different white trim choices: Chantilly Lace, white dove, simply white, and cloud white

    Chantilly Lace and Simply White are the lighter and brighter options, while Swiss Coffee and White Dove are a little creamier.

    I like to show the graphic because a wall of each white would show obvious differences, but in small amounts like trim, the difference is subtle.

    Of course you could always choose this white:

    Hale navy living room with warm wood floors and white trim and wainscoting and glass chandelier
    Photo Credit: @chromacustompainting

    Don’t worry, I did the heavy lifting and wrestled the secret formula out of the painter.

    It’s Benjamin Moore….. drumroll… off the shelf. That’s right! No tint. It’s out of the can white.

    (Makes me feel less guilty about doing that on our exterior once upon a time!)

    Hale Navy with Wood Trim

    Hale Navy is an authentic historical color choice if you are trying to revitalize a heritage home, or make something look traditional.

    Naturally, that often involves wood trim! Here is Hale Navy with dark wood trim:

    Hale Navy Living room with wood trim
    Photo Credit: @1895stepler_house

    Delish!

    Here’s one more in different light:

    Hale Navy doorway with wood trim into white foyer
    Photo Credit: @1895stepler_house

    (Don’t worry, plenty more of this gorgeous house in just a minute!)

    Here is how Hale Navy would look with honey oak trim:

    wooden accent wall in Hale Navy
    Photo Credit: @retrorevivaldesign

    Yes, okay…it’s a headboard, but the illustration stands! I almost like the honey oak more than the darker wood.

    You won’t be surprised to know that Hale Navy is on my list of best paint colors for wood trim.

    Hale Navy Home Interior

    I hope you’re ready for some Hale Navy goals, because I have them!

    Hale Navy in the Living Room

    This first home belongs to Sarah from @1895stepler_house. She is renovating her 1895 Victorian home in traditional style.

    Here is a shot of Hale Navy in her living room:

    Hale Navy in a living room with honey oak floors
    Photo Credit: @1895stepler_house

    In this first photo it looks quite dark.

    Here is how Hale Navy looks in direct daylight:

    Hale Navy in bright direct light living room
    Photo Credit: @1895stepler_house

    I would say that this is the absolute lightest Hale Navy would ever look.

    I can’t resist sharing a few more shots, because Sarah’s living room (should we be saying parlor?) is just sooo good.

    Hale Navy Victorian living room with plants and white couch and wood floors
    Photo Credit: @1895stepler_house
    Hale Navy with warm wood trim and a fireplace with mahogany mantle
    Photo Credit: @1895stepler_house

    This house makes me want a project!

    Hale Navy with Crisp White in a Living Room

    The navy and white look is absolutely classic, and nobody does it better than the team at Chroma Custom Painting. They knocked it out of the park with this transformation:

    Hale Navy living room with white wainscoting on lower walls and arched built ins
    Photo Credit: @chromacustompainting

    Why do I feel like a Bridgerton character should be greeting a suitor in here?

    Hale Navy living room with white wainscoting and fireplace
    Photo Credit: @chromacustompainting

    In case you missed it under trim choices, this is straight-outta-the-can Benjamin Moore white.

    Hale navy living room walls with white door, trim, and wainscoting
    Photo Credit: @chromacustompainting

    One more, because I honestly don’t see untinted white often:

    Hale navy living room walls with white door, trim, and wainscoting
    Photo Credit: @chromacustompainting

    There’s obviously a weird shadow on the door, so ignore how the white looks in the top half of the photo.

    Can You Use Hale Navy on the Ceiling?

    Two trends you might be considering when you are painting your home:

    • Painting the wall and ceiling the same (not white) color (aka color drenching)
    • Painting just the ceiling a bold color

    Painting the ceiling the same color as the walls, tends to bring the ceiling down and create a cozier vibe. If that is what you’re after, go for it!

    I would only do this in a smaller room, because it could be a lot in a larger space.

    I haven’t seen Hale Navy on walls and ceiling together, but here is a dark color called Cascades by Sherwin Williams to give you an idea:

    Sherwin Williams Cascades in a dark green mudroom.
    Photo Credit: @thenewlywedwards

    White trim and lots of natural light keeps the space feeling open.

    I would not personally put a color as dark as Hale Navy on my walls AND ceilings, because I live waaay up north where it’s dark all winter, so my house needs all the help it can get!

    I also don’t have examples of Hale Navy on just a ceiling (an accent ceiling?) but I do have something very similar! This is Sherwin Williams Cyberspace:

    Cyberspace shiplap ceiling in creamy white nursery with mustard accents
    Photo Credit: @in_vest_homes

    Marissa from @in_vest_homes actually used it on a few ceilings. You can see more in this post: Sherwin Williams Cyberspace (The Moodiest Charcoal Blue!).

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy Cabinets

    You already know I’m going to have Hale Navy cabinets galore for you!

    I’ll try to narrow it down to a few good ones, and maybe save the rest for future posts.

    Here is a kitchen with Hale Navy on the lower cabinets and island, with white countertops.

    Hale Navy lower cabinets and island with white uppers and white countertops
    Photo credit: @grcabinetpainting

    The upper cabinets in this kitchen are Sherwin Williams Extra White.

    Here is the pantry beside the fridge in different lighting:

    Tall Hale Navy pantry
    Photo credit: @grcabinetpainting

    This is one place where you get a glimpse of the purpley undertone that Hale Navy can have. Definitely wouldn’t say it looks purple, but this is what people are talking about.

    Here is another Hale Navy kitchen island with white perimeter cabinets:

    White cabinets with hale navy island and beige stone floors and countertops
    Photo credit: @grcabinetpainting

    The white in this kitchen is Sherwin Williams Alabaster.

    In this kitchen again, you can sometimes see that hint of purple. I think it is due to the warm lighting and reflections:

    Closeup of Hale Navy cabinet with beige granite countertop
    Photo credit: @grcabinetpainting

    You can also see how it looks a bit grayish, although I do think the brightness is turned up in the photo.

    Here is one last kitchen. This one is also two-toned, with White Dove on the upper cabinets:

    White dove upper cabinets and hale navy lower cabinets
    Photo Credit: @headwaters_painting_llc

    I *think* the hardware in this last kitchen is copper or rose gold, but it’s really hard to tell. Otherwise all of these kitchens used silver hardware – either chrome or pewter.

    You could almost do any color of hardware with Hale Navy, but I do think black would get lost against it.

    I wrote a post about green kitchen cabinets and show some different hardware choices, and most of it would work for navy too, so you might want to check that out!

    Hale Navy in the Bedroom

    The bedroom is one place that Hale Navy was not super easy to find! I did finally manage to track one down, with this funky wood accent wall by Retro Revival Design:

    wooden accent wall in Hale Navy behind a honey oak bed and white bedding
    Photo Credit: @retrorevivaldesign

    Here you can see Hale Navy for the first time with no natural light:

    wooden accent wall in Hale Navy behind a honey oak bed and white bedding
    Photo Credit: @retrorevivaldesign

    This is about the darkest that it ever looks.

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy Exterior

    While I was working on this post, I learned that Hale Navy is a solid choice for exteriors of really any style.

    I think the best thing about Hale Navy is that what you see is generally what you get.

    Sure it can vary in some lighting, but it’s a recognizable color and it never does anything funky.

    This is especially true on exteriors, I have a few different homes to show you, and Hale Navy looks true to tone on all of them.

    This first house belongs to Rachel of @greatlakesgoldengirl. It’s the ultimate Hale Navy example home, because it has evolved a lot!

    It’s like one of those online tools where you can try out different colors on a picture.

    Hale Navy craftsman exterior with brown door
    Photo Credit: @greatlakesgoldengirl

    In the latest and greatest version of Rachel’s house, it sports a dark brown door.

    Here is the front of her two-tone color scheme with Sherwin Williams Keystone Gray (back when the door was orange!):

    Hale navy exterior with orange door and requisite gray shakes
    Photo Credit: @greatlakesgoldengirl

    Hale Navy Painted Brick

    When you’re considering painting brick, most people just think white, but Hale Navy actually looks pretty amazing on brick exteriors:

    Hale navy brick exterior with cedar decks and white trim
    Photo Credit: @headwaters_painting_llc
    Hale navy brick and siding exterior with cedar decks and white trim
    Photo Credit: @headwaters_painting_llc

    Here it is on another house:

    Hale Navy painted brick exterior with white soffit and pillars and red door
    Photo Credit: @headwaters_painting_llc

    I’m a believer!

    Hale Navy with Red Brick

    You might not want to paint your brick at all, in which case it would be nice to know if this color will work with your existing red brick.

    Unfortunately you will have to use your imagination a little bit.

    You can squint at this color scheme and pretend the orange is brick:

    Two tone Hale Navy exterior with orange
    Photo Credit: @greatlakesgoldengirl

    Or you could take inspiration from a similar color.

    This is Sherwin Williams Cyberspace again, on an exterior with red brick:

    Cyberspace on outside of historical home with White trim and brick
    Photo Credit: @headwaters_painting_llc

    These colors are very similar, and Hale Navy would be an equally good choice!

    Front Door Colors with Hale Navy

    Remember how Hale Navy goes with anything?

    You could choose from 101 front door colors and any of them could work with this versatile paint color. Here are a few ideas:

    Hale Navy with an Orange Door

    I’ll start with this one because you might have already spotted it, but here is Rachel’s house in a previous life.

    Once upon a time, it was two-toned navy and orange with a matching tropical orange front door:

    Hale Navy exterior with orange door and dormer
    Photo Credit: @greatlakesgoldengirl

    The orange was left from a previous owner, so we don’t know what it is. It’s kind of like a papaya color.

    Try A Yellow Door with Your Hale Navy Exterior

    I’m a pretty big fan of this bright yellow door with Hale Navy:

    Hale Navy exterior siding with yellow door and cedar deck
    Photo Credit: @headwaters_painting_llc

    This is a very bright sunshine color, but you could always choose a shade of mustard and it would also look great.

    A Red Front Door with Hale Navy

    Of course where would we be without the classic red door?

    Hale Navy painted brick exterior with white soffit and pillars and red door
    Photo Credit: @headwaters_painting_llc

    Red really pops against the navy with all of the fresh greens.

    How Hale Navy Looks with a Brown or Wood Front Door

    Here is a better shot of Rachel’s current front door. She kind faked the look of a natural wood tone by choosing a dark brown:

    Hale Navy siding with white trim and brown door
    Photo Credit: @greatlakesgoldengirl

    Such a nice solid door!

    Exterior Trim Colors to Use With Hale Navy

    You probably noticed that almost everybody opted for white trim with Hale Navy, but here are some favorite examples:

    Three story back of a hale navy house exterior with white trim
    Photo Credit: @greatlakesgoldengirl

    Looking crisp!

    Curious about the color?

    Well for the second time ever – both being in this post – Rachel also used off the shelf white for her trim, with no tint!

    This next home used Hale Navy with Sherwin Williams Pure White, and also went for a white door.

    Two Story hale navy home with pure white trim
    Photo Credit: @headwaters_painting_llc

    If you want to keep things fresh, go with white!

    I swear that I have also seen Kendall Charcoal with Hale Navy, but I could not find it again to show you.

    Roof Colors that go with Hale Navy

    You probably aren’t looking to replace your roof, so you may be wondering if Hale Navy will work with what you have.

    Hale Navy with Gray/Black Roof

    I noticed that most people either happened to have, or opted for, a dark gray roof with Hale Navy:

    Two tone Hale Navy craftsman exterior with orange
    Photo Credit: @greatlakesgoldengirl

    Different house, but almost identical roof color:

    Hale Navy two story exterior with white trim
    Photo Credit: @headwaters_painting_llc

    Hale Navy with a Brown Roof

    One of the most popular questions about Hale Navy exteriors, is whether or not it will work with a brown roof.

    Well if Rachel’s door is any indicator, then absolutely, Hale Navy will work perfectly with brown shingles.

    Here is an example in a lighter brown color:

    Hale navy bungalow with stone facade
    Photo Credit: @headwaters_painting_llc

    Look! Another yellow door!

    This is a kind of in-between gray brown color:

    Hale navy exterior siding with white trim and wood deck
    Photo Credit: @headwaters_painting_llc

    Because we already know that Hale Navy looks great with various shades of natural brown trim, and you can see several examples of cedar decks with it, I think it’s pretty safe to say that any shade of brown would work.

    Hale Navy Compared to Other Benjamin Moore Paint Colors

    I have got a lot of these comparisons, so I will try to get through them in just a sentence or two each!

    Don’t care about other Benjamin Moore navy blues? Feel free to skip.

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Blue Note (2129-30)

    Blue Note is super similar to Hale Navy! It is a negligible amount lighter with an LRV of 9.02. It also has a tiny bit more yellow.

    In real life you can tell the difference, Blue Note leans ever so slightly teal in comparison to Hale Navy.

    Closeup of Blue Note on a card of Benjamin Moore navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Champion Cobalt (2061-20)

    Champion Cobalt is a true saturated blue. It is actually “darker” than Hale Navy with an LRV of 7.76, but it reads brighter.

    Closeup of Champion Cobalt on a card of Benjamin Moore navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Cheating Heart (1617)

    Cheating Heart is more like a dark charcoal with a hint of blue than an actual navy. It is a touch darker than Hale Navy with an LRV of 6.89.

    Closeup of Cheating Heart on a card of Benjamin Moore navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Deep Royal (2061-10)

    Deep Royal is kind of like Champion Cobalt, it has a lower LRV than Hale Navy (5.36) but reads brighter because it is so much more saturated.

    Closeup of Deep Royal on a card of Benjamin Moore navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Read all about this color in my post: A Deep Dive into Benjamin Moore Deep Royal (Plus Dupes!)

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Evening Sky (833)

    Evening Sky is similar to Hale Navy, but you can see that it is slightly more red-toned (purple). Like Hale Navy, this color is still squarely in the blue, but it can read purpley.

    The LRV of Evening Sky is 5.35, so it is a bit darker than Hale Navy.

    Closeup of Evening Sky on a card of Benjamin Moore navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs French Beret (1610)

    French Beret is in a similar blue range to Hale Navy, but significantly more gray. The LRV of French Beret is 9.06, so it’s practically the same as Hale Navy.

    Closeup of French Beret on a card of Benjamin Moore navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Gentlemanโ€™s Gray (2062-20) & Washington Blue (CW-630)

    Gentleman’s Gray (formerly known as Washington Blue) is really not gray at all. It is a pretty saturated dark blue, bordering on cyan.

    The LRV of Gentleman’s Gray is 7.26.

    Closeup ofGentleman's Gray  on a card of Benjamin Moore navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Hudson Bay (1680 or CC-810)

    Hudson Bay is lighter than Hale Navy and has considerably less gray. The LRV is 9.77.

    Closeup of Hudson Bay on a card of Benjamin Moore navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Kensington Blue (840 or CC-780)

    Kensington Blue is lighter than Hale Navy, less gray, and more blue.

    The LRV of Kensington Blue is 11.97.

    Closeup of Kensington Blue on a card of Benjamin Moore navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Midnight Blue (1638)

    Midnight Blue is more gray and slightly more green than Hale Navy. It has a similar LRV of 8.22.

    Closeup of Midnight Blue on a card of Benjamin Moore navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Mysterious (AF-565)

    Mysterious is another very similar color to Hale Navy. It is a bit darker, with an LRV of 6.81. It also has a touch less yellow/green and more gray.

    Closeup of Mysterious on a card of Benjamin Moore navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Newburyport Blue (HC-155)

    Newburyport Blue is in the same blue range as Hale Navy, but lighter (LRV 10.31) and less gray.

    Closeup of Newburyport Blue on a card of Benjamin Moore navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs North Sea (CC-932)

    North Sea is also in the same blue region as Hale Navy, but it is darker and less gray.

    Closeup of North Sea on a card of Benjamin Moore navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Old Navy (2063-10)

    Old Navy is more of a true navy blue. It doesn’t have as much gray as Hale Navy, and it is closer to indigo than cyan. Old Navy is also darker, with an LRV of 3.11.

    Closeup of Old Navy on a card of Benjamin Moore navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Polo Blue (2062-10)

    Polo Blue looks more different than Hale Navy than it really is, it is essentially just darker, with an LRV of 5.67, but it does have a bit less gray.

    Closeup of Polo Blue on a card of Benjamin Moore navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Racoon Fur (2126-20)

    Racoon Fur does have the tiniest bit more yellow in it than Hale Navy, but it is mostly more charcoal. It is also slightly darker, with an LRV of 8.28.

    Closeup of Raccoon Fur on a card of Benjamin Moore navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Soot (2129-20) (Valspar Deep Space Echo)

    Soot is often regarded as one of Benjamin Moore’s “black” paint colors. It is darker than Hale Navy, and more gray, but is technically a blue. The LRV of Soot is 6.19.

    Closeup of Soot on a card of Benjamin Moore navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Read all about this color in my post: Step into Soot: Benjamin Mooreโ€™s Most Dramatic Charcoal

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Van Deusen Blue (HC-156)

    Van Deusen Blue is lighter than Hale Navy with an LRV of 11.97. It is also a lot less gray.

    In the swatch Van Deusen looks like a mid-toned blue, but in real life it does look quite navy still.

    Closeup of Van Deusen Blue on a card of Benjamin Moore navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Westcott Navy (1624)

    Westcott Navy is finally an actual navy blue that has more gray than even Hale Navy. It still reads “navy” very much. Westcott is also a bit lighter, with an LRV of 9.87.

    Closeup of Westcott Navy on a card of Benjamin Moore navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Witching Hour (2120-30)

    Witching Hour is waaaay deeper into the blues than Hale Navy (which is on the cyan end) and more gray. The LRV of Witching Hour is 8.71, so it is similar to Hale Navy in that regard.

    Closeup of Witching Hour on a card of Benjamin Moore navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Wrought Iron (2124-10)

    Wrought Iron is so gray that it almost doesn’t matter if it’s a blue, green, or any other color, because it’s “just gray.” Basically, it’s a charcoal color.

    Wrought Iron is often touted as a Benjamin Moore “black,” but as someone who has tried to use it as a black, can confirm: not black.

    The LRV of Wrought Iron is 6.16.

    Closeup of Wrought Iron on a card of Benjamin Moore navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Hale Navy Sherwin Williams Version

    Before I dive into comparing every popular Sherwin Williams navy, let’s talk dupes!

    The closest Sherwin Williams color matches to Hale Navy, are Charcoal Blue and Sea Serpent.

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Sherwin Williams Charcoal Blue (SW 2739)

    Sherwin Williams Charcoal Blue is a tiny bit cooler than Hale Navy, and a little bit darker, with an LRV of 6. Overall though, very similar!

    Hale Navy vs Charcoal Blue on a wall

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Sherwin Williams Sea Serpent (SW 7615)

    Sherwin Williams Sea Serpent is a tiny bit more green, and a tiny bit less gray than Hale Navy.

    The LRV of Sea Serpent is 7, but Sherwin Williams rounds their numbers and Benjamin Moore does not, so I suspect the actual difference is less than the 1.36 it should be.

    Hale Navy vs Sea Serpent on a wall

    From here I will take you through the other popular Sherwin Williams navy colors you may have seen along the way.

    If you want, you can skip to Valspar & Behr dupes.

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Sherwin Williams Anchors Aweigh (SW 9179)

    Sherwin Williams Anchors Aweigh is a much more saturated and deeper navy.

    It has an LRV of 3, and it is also cooler than Hale Navy.

    Closeup of Anchors Aweigh on a card of Sherwin Williams navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    * Oopsies! Mis-spelled that one in the graphic. Please forgive <3

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Sherwin Williams Cyberspace (SW 7076)

    I have already mentioned Cyberspace a few times, but here they are side by side. You can see that is similar to Hale Navy, but more charcoal.

    The LRV of Cyberspace is 6, which makes sense, because in low light it can look close to black.

    Closeup of Cyberspace on a card of Sherwin Williams navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Sherwin Williams Dark Night (SW 6237)

    Dark Night is actually more similar to Anchors Aweigh than it is to Hale Navy. It is a saturated deep navy, but this time with a lot more green.

    The LRV of Dark Night is 4. (Super pretty color! I would love to see it in action!)

    Closeup of Dark Night on a card of Sherwin Williams navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Sherwin Williams Indigo Batik (SW 7602)

    Indigo Batik is kind of like it sounds: Indigo. It’s a very rich blue without much gray to it. Surprisingly Indigo Batik is almost the same color as Hale Navy, if it wasn’t for that difference in gray.

    The LRV of Indigo Batik is 8.

    Closeup of Indigo Batik on a card of Sherwin Williams navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Sherwin Williams Inkwell (SW 6992)

    Inkwell is almost black, as opposed to navy. It has an LRV way down at 4. It is also significantly more gray than Hale Navy, and a touch more green.

    Closeup of Inkwell on a card of Sherwin Williams navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Sherwin Williams In the Navy (SW 9178)

    In the Navy is another navy blue by Sherwin Williams that is just bolder and brighter than Hale Navy. It isn’t really warmer or cooler, just more saturated and a touch darker.

    In the Navy has an LRV of 4.

    Closeup of In the Navy on a card of Sherwin Williams navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Sherwin Williams Iron Ore (SW 7069)

    Iron Ore is a tricky one, because it technically isn’t blue at all, and you can see that on the swatch. It’s a warm charcoal.

    In real life though, Iron Ore can sometimes have a blueish hue to it, and be mistaken for a navy.

    I’m really not sure I will ever understand this one, but I have covered it a lot more in my post: Sherwin Williams Iron Ore: Five Stars? (Plus Dupes!)

    The LRV of Iron Ore is 7.

    Closeup of Iron Ore on a card of Sherwin Williams and Valspar navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Sherwin Williams Naval (SW 6244)

    Naval is pretty similar to Sherwin Williams In the Navy, and not so similar to Hale Navy. This is another brighter, in-your-face, navy. It is also darker, with an LRV of 4.

    Closeup of Naval on a card of Sherwin Williams and Valspar navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Read more about this color in my post: Sherwin Williams Naval Navy (Exteriors, Cabinets, and More!)

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Sherwin Williams Outerspace (SW 6251)

    Not to be confused with Cyberspace, Outerspace is quite a bit lighter than Hale Navy, with an LRV of 12. It is also more gray.

    Closeup of Outerspace on a card of Sherwin Williams and Valspar navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Sherwin Williams Salty Dog (SW 9177)

    Salty Dog is a tiny bit more green than Hale Navy, but mostly it is bags more pigmented. Its LRV is just 5, but it is such a bold color that it reads lighter.

    Closeup of Salty Dog on a card of Sherwin Williams and Valspar navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Sherwin Williams Gale Force (SW 7605)

    Gale Force compared to Hale Navy is:

    • More green
    • Darker (LRV of 6)
    • Less gray
    Closeup of Gale Force on a card of Sherwin Williams and Valspar navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Valspar Equivalent to Hale Navy

    Valspar doesn’t have the range of navy colors that you might expect. There really weren’t many popular colors to compare, and I found just one pretty close match: Royal Navy.

    Closeup of Valspar Royal Navy on a card of Sherwin Williams and Valspar navy swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Valspar Royal Navy (4011-4)

    I feel like Valspar’s LRV estimates are a little off, or at least off compared to their competitors. The LRV of Royal Navy is supposed to be 3.366, but I don’t think it’s that much darker than Hale Navy (if at all).

    These two are nearly identical! On paper, Hale Navy is a hair more gray and a grain-of-sand more green than Royal Navy.

    Hale Navy vs Royal Navy on a wall

    Hale Navy Behr Equivalent (Home Depot)

    Behr doesn’t have any perfect doubles for Hale Navy, but they do have some decent dupes. The best I found were Midnight Blue and Starless Night.

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Behr Midnight Blue (N480-7)

    Midnight Blue is really similar to Hale Navy. It would be a good alternative if you are open to a navy that is just a touch lighter.

    The LRV of Midnight Blue is 9.

    Hale Navy vs Midnight Blue on a wall

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Behr Starless Night (PPU14-20)

    My second dupe from Behr is Starless Night. This color is a teeny tiny bit darker than Hale Navy, with an LRV of 6. It is also a little less gray.

    Hale Navy vs Starless Night on a wall

    That’s not it for popular Behr navy options though! Here are two more top choices:

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Behr Dark Night (PPF-58)

    Dark Night looks a lot more blue than Hale Navy, but technically it’s just less gray.

    The LRV of Dark Night is 7.

    Closeup of Dark Night on a card of Behr and Farrow and Ball Navy Swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Behr Very Navy (M500-7)

    Well, just like it sounds, Very Navy is very navy. It’s a lot more saturated than Hale Navy. The LRV of very navy is 6.

    Closeup of Very Navy on a card of Behr and Farrow and Ball Navy Swatches compared to Hale Navy

    All Hale Navy Dupes

    That was kind of an intense list of comparisons, so here are the Hale Navy dupes summarized:

    Hale navy with 5 dupes over a background of a hale navy sitting room

    Farrow & Ball Navy Blues Compared to Hale Navy

    I will preface this little Farrow & Ball comparison check, by saying that Farrow & Ball shares almost no information about their colors, not even the LRVs! So we are at the mercy of other online color directories.

    I used the hex codes from other tools to make my swatches, but I will tell you how the colors look to me.

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Farrow & Ball Hague Blue (30)

    Hague Blue is far more green and gray than Hale Navy. In real life, it looks like a dark teal color. It is a lot more similar to Valspar’s Nocturnal Green, which you can see in my Dark Green Paint Colors post.

    Now the LRV of Hague Blue was guesstimated to be around 7, but there’s just no way! I think it’s closer to the 3-5 range.

    Closeup of Hague Blue on a card of Behr and Farrow and Ball Navy Swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Farrow & Ball Railings (31)

    The LRV of Railings was listed as 6 on the third party color tool, but again that seems wrong. I would guess it is a 3, because it is truly almost black

    Railings has an interesting quality where it sometimes looks navy or dark gray, and sometimes looks black. Hale Navy is a true navy that always looks navy, so these colors are not too similar.

    Closeup of Railings on a card of Behr and Farrow and Ball Navy Swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Benjamin Moore Hale Navy vs Farrow & Ball Stiffkey Blue (281)

    I wouldn’t say that Stiffkey Blue is really a “navy.” It looks more like a saturated marine blue. The LRV of Stiffkey Blue is estimated to be around 10, which seems about right.

    Closeup of Stiffkey Blue on a card of Behr and Farrow and Ball Navy Swatches compared to Hale Navy

    Hale Navy Final Moody Musings

    Allow me to wrap this up as quickly as possible, because this has already been TMI!

    • Hale Navy is a navy blue that almost always looks how you expect
    • Use Hale Navy with crisp white for maximum contrast
    • Hale Navy should top your list of exterior paint color choices, or historical ones

    Here are a few other colors you might like:

    Benjamin Moore Soot Color Strip features from light to dark: Silver Cloud, Mt Rainier Gray, Winter Lake, Normandy, Blue Note, Soot, and Midnight Dream
    Tricorn Black Feature wall in foyer with round mirror labelled "Tricorn Black"
    Cyberspace Swatch over a living room with a cyberspace wall