Hale Navy (HC-154) from Benjamin Moore and Naval (SW 6244) from Sherwin-Williams are the two navies people compare most. Both are muted, livable blues, but they are not substitutes: one is noticeably darker and bluer than the other.
Side-by-side numbers
| Hale Navy | Naval | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Benjamin Moore | Sherwin-Williams |
| Code | HC-154 | SW 6244 |
| Hex | #434B56 | #2F3D4C |
| RGB | 67, 75, 86 | 47, 61, 76 |
| LRV | 8.4 (lighter) | 4.5 |
| Yellow–blue (b*) | −7.6 (warmer) | −11.0 |
| Green–red (a*) | −0.5 | −1.4 |
| Difference (ΔE) | 5.5 |
Hex, RGB and LRV from the manufacturers' color records. CIELAB values and ΔE (CIEDE2000) calculated from those hex values.
Hale Navy reflects about 8% of light and Naval under 5%, so Naval is clearly darker. The measured difference is 5.5, enough that side by side they look like two different navies rather than two versions of one.
Undertones: Hale Navy vs Naval
Naval is the bluer of the two, with a yellow–blue value of −11.0 against Hale Navy’s −7.6. Both lean very slightly green (−1.4 and −0.5), not purple. Hale Navy’s extra gray is what makes it look calm and steady in most light, while Naval reads as a more saturated, classic navy.
How they compare in each light
In north light and at night Naval goes close to black, while Hale Navy stays a readable dark blue-gray. In strong south or west sun Naval shows a rich, clear navy and Hale Navy a softer, grayer one. Warm bulbs deepen both; Hale Navy holds its color better in dim rooms.
Simulated from the manufacturer's color values. Always test samples in your own light.
Which one fits your room?
Choose Hale Navy if…
- You want navy on walls, including dimmer or north-facing rooms
- You prefer a softer, grayer navy that stays consistent
- You are pairing with Benjamin Moore whites such as White Dove
Choose Naval if…
- You want a deep, saturated, unmistakably blue navy
- The surface is a door, island, vanity or a bright room
- You are pairing with Sherwin-Williams whites such as Extra White
Where each one works
Front doors
Both are excellent door colors. Naval gives a deeper, more formal look; Hale Navy stays visibly blue from the street even in shade. Use satin or semi-gloss; our sheen guide explains the difference.
Kitchen islands and cabinets
For a full kitchen of navy cabinets, Hale Navy is easier to live with because it is lighter. For an island or a run of lower cabinets with white uppers, Naval gives stronger contrast and pairs beautifully with brass.
Exteriors and shutters
Hale Navy reads as a classic gray-navy house with white trim. Naval looks deeper and more saturated, which suits shutters and doors more than whole facades in strong sun.
Walls: dining rooms, offices and bedrooms
Hale Navy is the safer wall color, especially in rooms without much daylight. Naval suits rooms with large windows or rooms used at night, where its near-black depth feels deliberate.
Is Hale Navy too dark?
Not for most uses. At LRV 8.36 it is almost twice as reflective as Naval, so it keeps its color on walls where Naval would turn black. In a small, dim room it still reads very dark, so use it on one wall or the lower half of the room there.
Can you use Hale Navy and Naval together?
Not side by side. At 5.5 apart they look like two navies that almost match, which reads as a mistake. Pick one navy per house and pair it with whites, wood and a warm neutral instead.
Trim and colors to pair with each
Hale Navy pairs with White Dove, Glacier White, Coventry Gray and Lenox Tan, Benjamin Moore’s own coordinating colors. Naval pairs with Extra White or Pure White on trim, and Sherwin-Williams lists Icicle, Ramie and Roycroft Suede as its coordinating colors.
If neither is quite right
For a navy that leans charcoal, Charcoal Blue (SW 2739, LRV 5.7) is close to Hale Navy, 2.5 apart. For a near twin of Naval, In the Navy (SW 9178) is 1.9 apart. For a dark gray with only a hint of blue, Cyberspace (LRV 6.4). More options are on the dark gray paint colors page.
Read the full reviews
Hale Navy review · Naval review
Hale Navy vs Naval FAQs
Is Naval darker than Hale Navy?
Yes. Naval has an LRV of 4.5 against Hale Navy’s 8.36, so it reflects about half as much light and reads closer to black.
Which is bluer, Hale Navy or Naval?
Naval. Its yellow–blue value is −11.0 against Hale Navy’s −7.6. Hale Navy is the grayer, softer navy.
Is Hale Navy too dark?
Not for most rooms. It is lighter than Naval and keeps its color on walls; in small, dim rooms use it on one wall or the lower half.
Which is better for a front door?
Both work. Naval looks deeper and more formal; Hale Navy stays visibly blue in shade and on north-facing entries.
Which is better for kitchen cabinets?
Hale Navy for a full kitchen; Naval for an island or lower cabinets with white uppers.
Which Sherwin-Williams paint is similar to Hale Navy?
Charcoal Blue (SW 2739) is the closest in our data, 2.5 apart. Naval is darker and bluer, 5.5 apart.
What is the best Sherwin-Williams navy color?
It depends on depth: Naval for a deep, true navy, In the Navy for one slightly darker, and Charcoal Blue for a softer navy close to Hale Navy.
Can I use Hale Navy and Naval in the same house?
Only in rooms that are not seen together. Side by side, the 5.5 difference looks like a near-miss rather than a deliberate pair.