Benjamin Moore Hale Navy review (HC-154)

What color is Hale Navy?

Hale Navy (HC-154) is a deep navy blue from Benjamin Moore's Historical Colors collection, which the brand describes as a use-anywhere navy with a classic maritime feel. With an LRV of 8.36 it is as dark as many soft blacks, which is why it can read as charcoal in low light and as a clear navy in daylight.

Hale Navy undertones

Measured, Hale Navy has a yellow–blue value of −7.6, clearly blue, and a green–red value of −0.5, a very slight green-gray lean. That gray softening is what separates it from brighter, more saturated navies: it looks calm and traditional rather than electric, and it sits easily beside wood, brass and white.

Is Hale Navy warm or cool?

Cool, as every navy is, but it is one of the softer cool colors. The slight gray in it (green–red −0.5) mutes the blue, so it does not feel icy. That is why it pairs comfortably with warm whites, oak and brass, which a brighter navy can fight with.

Is Hale Navy too dark?

At LRV 8.36 it is as dark as many soft blacks. On a door, island, vanity or exterior that depth is the point. On walls it suits rooms with good daylight or rooms you mostly use at night, such as dining rooms and libraries. In a small, dim room expect it to read nearly black.

Hale Navy LRV and light

In north light and at night Hale Navy can look nearly charcoal; in sun its blue comes through clearly. Warm bulbs make it look a little deeper and grayer.

Simulated from the manufacturer's color values. Always test a sample in your own light.

Best uses for Hale Navy

Front doors

Hale Navy is a classic front door color: dark enough to anchor the entry, but still visibly blue against white, gray, greige or brick. Use an exterior enamel in satin or semi-gloss; our paint sheen guide explains the difference.

Kitchen islands and cabinets

A Hale Navy island with white perimeter cabinets is one of the most reliable kitchen combinations. Brass and gold hardware glow against it; polished nickel looks crisp.

Dining rooms, libraries and offices

On walls it makes a rich, enveloping room, best with good light and white trim. In a small, dim room it will read almost black; our LRV guide explains why.

Exteriors and shutters

On siding or shutters it reads as a traditional navy with white trim. As with any dark color, check vinyl siding guidance first.

Bathroom vanities

A navy vanity with white tile and brass fixtures gives a bathroom color without committing the walls.

When to avoid Hale Navy

Avoid it on all four walls of a small room with little daylight, where it turns almost black. It also looks flat surrounded by other cool blue-grays; it needs contrast from white, wood or brass. If you want a brighter, more saturated navy, Hale Navy will feel too muted. If you want a dark neutral rather than a blue, look at Kendall Charcoal or Iron Ore.

Best sheen for Hale Navy

Hale Navy is a Benjamin Moore color code, so a store can tint it in the product and finish you choose. Dark colors show sheen differences more than light ones, so match the finish to the surface: matte or eggshell on walls to hide roller marks, satin on cabinets and vanities for wipeability, and satin or semi-gloss on front doors and trim. High gloss on a navy door looks striking but shows every brush mark and dent.

Hale Navy pros and cons

Pros

• A muted, classic navy that reads timeless rather than trendy.
• Works with warm and cool whites, wood, brass and nickel.
• Equally suited to doors, cabinets, walls and exteriors.

Cons

• Turns almost black in low light, so the blue can disappear in dim rooms.
• Shows dust and sheen flashing on large walls; careful application matters.
• Too muted if you want a bright, saturated navy.

Best white for Hale Navy

Benjamin Moore lists White Dove and Glacier White (OC-37) as coordinating colors. White Dove gives a soft, warm frame; for crisp contrast, Chantilly Lace is the brighter, cleaner choice.

Hale Navy hex code, RGB and LRV

Benjamin Moore lists Hale Navy (HC-154) as hex #434B56, RGB 67, 75, 86 and LRV 8.36.

Colors that go with Hale Navy

Benjamin Moore's own palette pairs Hale Navy with the light gray Coventry Gray (HC-169), White Dove, the soft tan Lenox Tan (HC-44) and Glacier White. In practice it works with warm wood, brass, crisp white and soft red accents.

Hale Navy vs Sherwin-Williams navies

Hale Navy vs Charcoal Blue

Charcoal Blue (SW 2739, LRV 5.7) is the closest Sherwin-Williams color we measured, 2.5 apart: a little darker, with almost the same blue-gray balance.

Hale Navy vs Naval

Naval (SW 6244, LRV 4.5), Sherwin-Williams’ 2020 Color of the Year, is darker and bluer, 5.5 apart. Choose Naval for a deeper, more obviously blue navy and Hale Navy for a softer, grayer one.

Hale Navy vs In the Navy

In the Navy (SW 9178, LRV 3.7) is much darker and more saturated, 7.4 apart. It reads as a true navy in almost any light.

Hale Navy vs Cyberspace

Cyberspace (SW 7076, LRV 6.4) is a near-black with only a hint of blue, 3.4 apart, for when Hale Navy looks too blue.

How to test Hale Navy

Test Hale Navy where it will be darkest. Paint a board with two coats and look at it in the evening under your normal bulbs: if it still reads as navy, it will work; if it reads black and you want blue, try a lighter navy. For a front door, look from the street in both morning and afternoon. Hold White Dove and Chantilly Lace samples beside it to choose the trim.

Colors similar to Hale Navy

Within Benjamin Moore, Mysterious (AF-565) is the closest, only 1.1 apart, followed by Blue Note (2129-30).

ΔE is the CIEDE2000 color difference between the two manufacturer colors: around 1 is barely visible; 2–3 is visible when the chips sit side by side.

Hale Navy FAQs