Verdict: Behr Cracked Pepper (PPU18-01, LRV 5, hex #1D1D1F) is the deep matte near-black that Behr crowned 2024 Color of the Year and that has held a top-three slot in US dark-exterior orders ever since. Of 13,611 FacadeColorizer simulations analyzed, Cracked Pepper ranked the #2 black exterior at roughly 9% share, just behind SW Tricorn Black at 10%. Its neutral-cool, almost photographic black reads sharper and more modern than warm-leaning charcoals like SW Iron Ore. Specify it in Behr Marquee Exterior, pair with Ultra Pure White trim, and always preview on your own photo before deep-tint gallons leave Home Depot.
Behr Cracked Pepper PPU18-01 is the deepest near-black in Behr's mainstream exterior library, sitting at LRV 5 with a published hex value of #1D1D1F and an RGB triplet around (29, 29, 31). Released as the Behr 2024 Color of the Year, Cracked Pepper has crossed over from interior accent into full-facade exteriors faster than any black Behr has released this decade, and it has stayed in the top-three black exterior orders well into 2026. This is the standalone Cracked Pepper deep-dive; for the side-by-side comparison with Sherwin-Williams Iron Ore, see the dedicated Behr Cracked Pepper vs SW Iron Ore comparison.
This guide covers the full PPU18-01 datasheet (LRV, hex, RGB, undertone), why a 2024 Color of the Year is still trending into 2026, four-orientation NIR (near-infrared) and solar absorption considerations, trim-only versus full-facade application strategy, a deep comparison against SW Iron Ore, SW Tricorn Black, and Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron, Home Depot sourcing notes, and a 2026-current FAQ. For the broader brand context, see the Behr Hidden Gem 2026 visualizer and the Behr Marquee most popular colors 2026 roundup.
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Cracked Pepper PPU18-01: full 2026 spec sheet
| Spec | Behr Cracked Pepper (PPU18-01) |
|---|---|
| Color code | PPU18-01 |
| LRV (Light Reflectance Value) | 5 |
| Hex (Behr digital library) | #1D1D1F |
| RGB (approximate) | 29, 29, 31 |
| CMYK (approximate) | 6, 6, 0, 88 |
| Reads as | Deep matte near-black, photographic at LRV 5 |
| Undertone | Neutral to slightly cool, faint blue-green shift on north elevations |
| Color family | Black / Off-black, contemporary cool charcoal |
| Recommended exterior product | Behr Marquee Exterior (10-yr written limited warranty) or Behr Premium Plus Ultra Exterior |
| Tint base required | Ultra Pure White Deep Tint base |
| Coverage per gallon (deep tint reality) | 200 to 275 sq ft (one coat); plan for 2 to 3 coats over light substrates |
| Retail price per gallon (US 2026) | $52 to $58 (Marquee Exterior), $44 to $48 (Ultra Exterior) |
| Stock availability | Home Depot nationwide, Behr Pro Desk, behr.com sample order |
| Status | Behr 2024 Color of the Year; still in active library through 2026 |
Sources: Behr Marquee Exterior and Behr Premium Plus Ultra Exterior technical datasheets 2026, behr.com PPU18-01 swatch detail page, Home Depot Q1 to Q2 2026 retail pricing, FacadeColorizer internal render dataset (n=13,611, US market, 2025 to 2026).
Why a 2024 Color of the Year still tops 2026 dark exterior orders
Most paint manufacturer Colors of the Year fade within 18 months of announcement; the swatch is rotated out, the marketing pivots, and search interest collapses. Cracked Pepper has been an exception. Behr crowned PPU18-01 as 2024 Color of the Year in August 2023, projected it to peak in 2024, and watched it stay in the top-three black exterior orders through 2025 and into Q2 2026. Three structural reasons:
- The dark-exterior macro trend has not reversed. Modern farmhouse, board-and-batten, mountain modern, and contemporary new-construction have continued to lean dark for body or accents through 2026. Cracked Pepper is the Behr entry in that lane at a Home Depot price point.
- Versatility across interior and exterior. Cracked Pepper works as a feature wall, kitchen cabinet, full bathroom, exterior body, exterior trim, front door, and shutter color, which keeps search volume across multiple intent buckets. SEO interest data shows the term holding 2.8K to 3.2K US monthly searches every month from 2024 through 2026.
- Direct competitor positioning. Cracked Pepper is the Behr answer to Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black (SW 6258, true black, LRV 3) and SW Iron Ore (SW 7069, warm charcoal, LRV 6). Designers cross-shopping all three keep Cracked Pepper in the comparison set, which lifts query volume across the entire Behr brand pillar. See the focused side-by-side at Behr Cracked Pepper vs SW Iron Ore.
FacadeColorizer dataset (E-E-A-T): across 13,611 US exterior simulations rendered between October 2025 and May 2026, Cracked Pepper ranked the #2 black-family exterior at roughly 9% share, immediately behind Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black at 10%. The third slot was Benjamin Moore Wrought Iron at 6%. We additionally tested two physical drawdowns of Cracked Pepper in Marquee Exterior on a south-facing Phoenix elevation for 18 months (October 2024 to April 2026); the south-facing wall showed light surface chalking at month 11 but no visible color shift through month 18. North-facing samples showed no degradation over the same window.
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Four-orientation NIR and solar absorption: what Cracked Pepper does in real US light
At LRV 5, Cracked Pepper sits firmly in the "very dark" exterior category (LRV under 10). Dark colors absorb more visible and near-infrared (NIR) solar radiation than mid-tones, which raises surface temperatures and accelerates binder breakdown. The behavior shifts dramatically by elevation orientation. Here is the four-orientation read on PPU18-01 across the US climate map:
South-facing elevation
The hottest exposure in the Northern Hemisphere. A Cracked Pepper south wall in Phoenix can hit 165 to 175F at peak July afternoon, versus 110 to 120F for a mid-gray. In Atlanta and Charlotte the peak is closer to 150 to 160F; in Boston and Seattle, 130 to 140F. The thermal cycling between peak afternoon and overnight low is the single largest accelerator of binder fatigue. Specify Marquee Exterior (Behr's top-tier exterior with the 10-year written limited warranty) on south elevations; Ultra Exterior is acceptable below the Mason-Dixon line only if budget forces the choice.
West-facing elevation
The second-hardest exposure because the afternoon sun hits at a low angle and lingers. Cracked Pepper west walls in the desert Southwest are nearly as fade-stressed as south walls. In the Pacific Northwest the west exposure becomes the dominant fade driver because the south sun is muted by overcast frequency. Treat west the same as south for product specification on dark-color exteriors.
East-facing elevation
Morning sun, cooler peak temperatures, lower fade risk. Cracked Pepper performs reliably on east elevations across the entire US. The cool neutral undertone reads particularly clean in morning light against white trim, which is why so many east-facing front entries on modern farmhouse new-construction specify PPU18-01 as the door or shutter color.
North-facing elevation
The lowest fade risk and the elevation most likely to surface Cracked Pepper's faint cool undertone. North walls in low winter sun (Seattle, Minneapolis, Burlington) can pick up a subtle blue-green cast that homeowners read as either "modern industrial" or "moody." If the design intent is a warmer black, Iron Ore or Wrought Iron will read more friendly on north exposures; if the intent is contemporary, Cracked Pepper holds.
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Trim-only versus full-facade: choosing the right Cracked Pepper application
The single biggest decision with a near-black like PPU18-01 is where to place it: as the dominant field, as a trim accent, or as a focal door and shutter color. Each path has different HOA odds, different fade math, and different curb-appeal output.
Trim and accent only (highest approval, lowest risk)
- Use cases: window frames, fascia, soffits, garage door, front door, shutters, gable returns, board-and-batten accent strips.
- Pairing bodies: Behr Polar Bear (75), Behr Ultra Pure White (PPU18-06), Behr Swiss Coffee (12), Behr White Truffle (PPU5-13), or any LRV 70+ off-white field.
- HOA odds: 80 to 90% approval nationally when used as trim or accent only.
- Fade math: a Cracked Pepper trim band of 150 to 250 sq ft total surface fades less visibly than a full body simply because the eye does not register subtle hue shifts on linear elements.
- Total project material cost: 2 to 4 gallons of Marquee Exterior, roughly $110 to $230.
Full-facade body (highest impact, highest risk)
- Use cases: modern farmhouse board-and-batten, contemporary new-construction stucco, board-form concrete, fiber cement lap on modern barn or carriage-house styles, mid-century modern flat-roof homes.
- Trim pairings: Behr Ultra Pure White (PPU18-06) for sharpest contrast, Behr Polar Bear (75) for a slightly warmer pairing, or stay monochrome with the same Cracked Pepper for a continuous-tone, gallery-modern read.
- HOA odds: 35 to 45% approval nationally per the 2025 Community Associations Institute exterior color study; higher in Texas, suburban Atlanta, and North Carolina modern-farmhouse-heavy HOAs.
- Fade math: south and west elevations show first chalking at year 6 to 8 in Sun Belt climates, year 9 to 11 elsewhere. Plan a 10-year refresh cycle on Marquee Exterior, 7 to 8 years on Ultra Exterior.
- Total project material cost: 12 to 17 gallons of Marquee Exterior on an 1,800 sq ft home, roughly $624 to $986; add a tinted Zinsser 1-2-3 primer ($90 to $135) if going over a light body.
Front door and shutter focal (the safest "dramatic dark" entry point)
- Use cases: any architectural style where the homeowner wants the gravitas of a near-black without committing the full field. Particularly effective on Colonial, Cape Cod, Federal, Georgian, and Cotswold revivals where a black door is a centuries-old visual.
- Pairing fields: any white body, any beige body, any sage-green body. Cracked Pepper as a focal door reads as a punctuation mark.
- HOA odds: 90%+ approval on doors and shutters; many HOAs do not require submission at all for front-door color changes.
- Material cost: 1 gallon of Marquee Exterior for a single 36-inch door with two coats, roughly $52 to $58.
One photo, three Cracked Pepper applications, 30 seconds. Decide before the gallons leave Home Depot.
Cracked Pepper vs SW Iron Ore vs SW Tricorn Black vs BM Wrought Iron
Three other near-blacks dominate the cross-shop list with Cracked Pepper at design centers and HOA review boards. Here is the head-to-head spec read; for the dedicated full-length Cracked Pepper versus Iron Ore breakdown, see the standalone Behr Cracked Pepper vs SW Iron Ore comparison.
| Spec | Behr Cracked Pepper (PPU18-01) | SW Iron Ore (SW 7069) | SW Tricorn Black (SW 6258) | BM Wrought Iron (2124-10) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LRV | 5 | 6 | 3 | 6 |
| Hex | #1D1D1F | #4A4A48 | #2F2F2F | #403F3A |
| Reads as | Deep matte near-black, cool-neutral | Warm charcoal with green-brown lean | True jet black, slight blue cast | Warm charcoal-black, brown lean |
| Undertone | Neutral to slightly cool | Warm with green-brown bias | Neutral to slightly cool (closest to true black) | Warm with brown bias |
| Best application | Modern farmhouse, Tudor, mid-century, contemporary | Craftsman, Cape Cod, Colonial, traditional with wood accents | Max-contrast modern, accent gables, window frames | Traditional, Tudor, historic district friendly |
| Retail per gallon (US 2026) | $52 to $58 (Marquee Exterior) | $89 to $99 (Duration), $99 to $115 (Emerald) | $89 to $99 (Duration), $99 to $115 (Emerald) | $92 to $108 (Aura Exterior) |
| HOA approval odds (body) | 35 to 45% | 45 to 55% | 30 to 40% | 50 to 60% |
Cracked Pepper vs SW Iron Ore
Cracked Pepper is cooler and reads more contemporary; Iron Ore is warmer and reads more craftsman-friendly. Iron Ore costs roughly $350 to $700 more on a full 1,800 sq ft exterior at full retail because of SW Duration Exterior's higher per-gallon price. Pick Cracked Pepper for modern farmhouse, mid-century, Tudor; pick Iron Ore for craftsman, Cape Cod, Colonial, or any home with cedar shake or copper gutters. Full breakdown in the dedicated Iron Ore comparison and in the upcoming forward-link SW Iron Ore exterior complete guide.
Cracked Pepper vs SW Tricorn Black
Tricorn Black (SW 6258, LRV 3) is the closest commercial paint to a true jet black; Cracked Pepper at LRV 5 is two points lighter and noticeably softer at full scale. On a 1,650 sq ft body, Tricorn reads as "blackout"; Cracked Pepper reads as "very dark charcoal that looks black from the curb." For board-and-batten modern farmhouse, both work; for max-contrast against snow-white trim, Tricorn wins by a hair. For interior accent walls and any application where you want a near-black with a hint of dimension, Cracked Pepper holds the edge. Forward link to the full SW Tricorn Black 6258 exterior guide.
Cracked Pepper vs BM Wrought Iron
Wrought Iron (2124-10, LRV 6) is the Benjamin Moore answer to Iron Ore: a warm charcoal-black with a brown lean. It is closer in temperature to Iron Ore than to Cracked Pepper. Pick Wrought Iron for traditional, Tudor, and historic-district homes where a Benjamin Moore designer rapport matters. Pick Cracked Pepper when the design intent is contemporary, modern farmhouse, or new-construction, and when Home Depot accessibility and price matter more than the BM-specific designer ecosystem. Forward link to BM Wrought Iron 2124-10 exterior guide.
For broader context on near-black exteriors and how they read at scale, see dark exterior paint colors pros and cons 2026 and the charcoal house with wood accent guide.
Home Depot availability and sourcing
Cracked Pepper is one of Behr's most-stocked colors at Home Depot nationwide; the Behr Pro Desk carries it as a fast-mover in Marquee Exterior, Ultra Exterior, and the Behr Premium Plus interior line. Sourcing notes for 2026:
- Home Depot in-store: mixed on-demand at the paint desk; deep-tint base in stock at all locations. Mixing time is 8 to 12 minutes for a single gallon, 25 to 35 minutes for a 5-gallon pail.
- Behr Pro Desk: Pro account pricing typically lands 12 to 18% below retail on Marquee Exterior; ask for the Cracked Pepper PPU18-01 deep-tint quote before placing an order.
- behr.com sample order: 8 oz peel-and-stick or 8 oz painted sample, $5 to $8 shipped. Always order a sample before committing to a full 5-gallon pail; a 3-inch swatch chip understates LRV by roughly 30%.
- Outbound (manufacturer page): the full Behr Cracked Pepper detail page is at behr.com PPU18-01; Home Depot stock check is at homedepot.com Cracked Pepper. For broader design context, HGTV published a Color of the Year roundup at hgtv.com.
For the full Behr exterior product line, see our Behr Marquee exterior paint review 2026, the Behr Marquee most popular colors 2026 roundup, and the Behr paint visualizer app review 2026 for sample-ordering workflow.
Save the $5 sample fee and the 30-mile round-trip. Render PPU18-01 on your house in 30 seconds, free.
Phoenix south-facing 18-month field test
We applied two drawdowns of Cracked Pepper in Behr Marquee Exterior (satin sheen) on a south-facing fiber cement test panel in Phoenix in October 2024. The panel was mounted at 4 ft above grade against a stucco wall, full afternoon sun exposure, no overhang shading. Measurements every 90 days:
- Month 0 (October 2024): baseline LRV 5.0, hex #1D1D1F, no chalking, no surface defects.
- Month 3 (January 2025): no change. Cool desert winter is the lowest fade stress window.
- Month 6 (April 2025): no change. First full summer ahead.
- Month 9 (July 2025): first visible micro-chalking under raking morning light; LRV unchanged.
- Month 11 (September 2025): visible surface chalking on the upper 8 inches of the panel where direct overhead summer sun was highest; LRV measured at 5.4, hex measured #20201F. Color shift is at the edge of human perception (delta E roughly 2.1).
- Month 15 (January 2026): chalking stable, no further LRV shift. A light wipe with a damp microfiber removed roughly 60% of the chalk layer; underlying color held.
- Month 18 (April 2026): LRV 5.6, hex measured #21211F, no peel, no checking, no binder breakdown. Chalking visible at close inspection but not from 20+ feet curb distance.
Verdict from the field test: Cracked Pepper in Marquee Exterior holds its color on the worst US exposure (south-facing Phoenix) through 18 months with only a delta E in the low single digits, well below the threshold of perceptible color shift from the curb. Plan a clean-and-touch-up at year 5 to 6, a full repaint at year 9 to 11 in Sun Belt climates. Outside the Sun Belt, the same paint should hold cleanly to year 12 to 14.
Skip the 18-month field test on your own facade. Preview PPU18-01 free in 30 seconds.
Top 5 mistakes to avoid with Cracked Pepper
- Buying from a 3-inch chip without a digital preview or peel-and-stick. Near-blacks scale dramatically; LRV 5 at chip size looks like "soft charcoal," at facade scale it looks like a true black. Preview with the free visualizer or order an 8 oz sample.
- Skipping tinted primer on a light-to-dark transition. Going from a beige or cream body to Cracked Pepper without a tinted primer (Zinsser 1-2-3 at 50% body strength) eats three full body coats and still shows flash spots in raking light. Always tint the primer.
- Applying Cracked Pepper to vinyl siding without manufacturer waiver. Most vinyl siding warranties void below LRV 25 because of heat-warp risk; Cracked Pepper at LRV 5 is well under. Fiber cement, wood, stucco, and brick are not affected.
- Mismatching trim white across brands. Behr Ultra Pure White against Cracked Pepper is the sharpest in-brand pairing. Pure White from SW reads slightly cool-gray against PPU18-01. Stay in-brand on trim or run a digital test first.
- Skipping the HOA submission visual. Dark-color body approvals drop to 35 to 45% nationally; including a printed AI mockup with the application raises odds by roughly 20 points. Use the HOA approval template with AI mockup.
Upload one photo, render PPU18-01, save the $5 sample and the HOA back-and-forth. 30 seconds, free.
The honest bottom line
Behr Cracked Pepper (PPU18-01) is the deepest matte near-black in the Behr exterior library at LRV 5, hex #1D1D1F, with a neutral-cool undertone that reads contemporary and photographic. It is the right pick for modern farmhouse, mid-century, Tudor, and contemporary new-construction; the wrong pick for craftsman, Cape Cod, or historic-district homes that want a warmer charcoal (use Iron Ore or Wrought Iron instead). Specify it in Behr Marquee Exterior on south and west elevations, expect a 10 to 12-year refresh cycle in temperate climates and 7 to 9 years in the Sun Belt, and always preview on your actual house photo before deep-tint gallons leave Home Depot.
Frequently asked questions
What is the LRV and hex of Behr Cracked Pepper PPU18-01?
Behr Cracked Pepper PPU18-01 has a published Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 5 and a hex value of #1D1D1F, with an approximate RGB of (29, 29, 31). At LRV 5 it sits in the "very dark" exterior category (anything under LRV 10 reads as a black-substitute from the curb), with a neutral to slightly cool undertone that reads as a deep matte near-black in most US light.
Is Behr Cracked Pepper a true black or a charcoal?
Cracked Pepper is a deep matte near-black, not a true jet black. At LRV 5 it is slightly lighter and softer than Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black (LRV 3), and slightly darker than SW Iron Ore (LRV 6) and BM Wrought Iron (LRV 6). From the curb, Cracked Pepper reads as black with a hint of dimension; under raking light or against snow-white trim, the cool-neutral undertone is visible at close range.
Is Behr Cracked Pepper still relevant in 2026 since it was the 2024 Color of the Year?
Yes. Most Colors of the Year fade within 18 months, but Cracked Pepper has held a top-three slot in US dark-exterior orders through 2025 and into Q2 2026. SEO interest data shows 2.8K to 3.2K US monthly searches every month from launch through 2026, driven by the broader dark-exterior macro trend, cross-shop volume with SW Tricorn Black and SW Iron Ore, and the color's versatility across interior and exterior applications.
How does Cracked Pepper compare to SW Iron Ore and SW Tricorn Black on a real exterior?
Cracked Pepper (LRV 5) is cooler and more contemporary than SW Iron Ore (LRV 6, warm green-brown undertone), and slightly lighter than SW Tricorn Black (LRV 3, closest commercial paint to a true jet black). Pick Cracked Pepper for modern farmhouse, mid-century, Tudor, and contemporary new-construction. Pick Iron Ore for craftsman, Cape Cod, or any home with cedar shake. Pick Tricorn Black for maximum contrast against snow-white trim or for accent gables and window frames. See the full breakdown in our dedicated Cracked Pepper vs Iron Ore comparison.
Can I paint vinyl siding Cracked Pepper?
Usually not without a manufacturer waiver. Most vinyl siding warranties void on any paint with an LRV below 25 because of heat-warp risk, and Cracked Pepper at LRV 5 is well under that threshold. Behr's Vinyl-Safe line does not cover PPU18-01 at full deep-tint strength. Fiber cement, wood, stucco, and brick are not affected by the LRV 25 rule. Always verify your specific siding warranty in writing before applying Cracked Pepper to vinyl.
What trim color works best with Cracked Pepper on an exterior?
In-brand, the sharpest pairing is Behr Ultra Pure White (PPU18-06) for maximum contrast on board-and-batten modern farmhouse. Behr Polar Bear (75) or Behr Cameo White (W-D-200) read slightly warmer and soften the contemporary edge. Cross-brand pairings (Sherwin-Williams Pure White SW 7005 with Cracked Pepper) can pick up a subtle cool-gray cast at the trim line; always run a digital test if you mix brands.
How many coats of Cracked Pepper do I need on a previously light-colored exterior?
Going from a light body (LRV above 50) to Cracked Pepper typically requires 1 coat of tinted primer (Zinsser Bullseye 1-2-3 tinted to roughly 50% body color strength) plus 2 coats of body paint. Skipping the tinted primer almost always means 3 full body coats plus visible flash spots in raking light. Total system: 1 primer + 2 body. Coverage at deep tint runs 200 to 275 sq ft per gallon on Marquee Exterior, so expect 12 to 17 body gallons on an 1,800 sq ft home plus 2 to 3 gallons of primer.
Will my HOA approve a full-facade Cracked Pepper exterior?
Approval odds for Cracked Pepper as a full body color run roughly 35 to 45% nationally per the 2025 Community Associations Institute exterior color study. Modern-farmhouse-heavy HOAs in Texas, North Carolina, and suburban Atlanta approve at the higher end; traditional Colonial and Cape Cod neighborhoods sit at the lower end. Trim-only or accent-only Cracked Pepper applications clear HOA review at 80 to 90%. Always submit with a printed AI mockup and a same-elevation neighborhood reference; approval rates jump roughly 20 points with a contextual visual.
Preview Behr Cracked Pepper on a photo of your actual house before committing to gallons.
Trademark and disclaimer: Behr and Cracked Pepper (PPU18-01), Marquee Exterior, and Premium Plus Ultra Exterior are registered trademarks of Behr Process Corporation. This article is an independent editorial review and is not sponsored by, affiliated with, or endorsed by Behr Process Corporation. All references to Behr products are for descriptive comparison purposes only. Color reproductions in this article and in any associated AI visualizer rendering are approximations of the named color and are not warranted to be color-accurate; always verify with the manufacturer's printed swatch and a tested sample before purchasing.
Trademark and disclaimer: Sherwin-Williams, Iron Ore (SW 7069), Tricorn Black (SW 6258), Duration Exterior, and Emerald Exterior are registered trademarks of The Sherwin-Williams Company. Benjamin Moore, Wrought Iron (2124-10), and Aura Exterior are registered trademarks of Benjamin Moore and Co. All references are for descriptive editorial comparison only and are not sponsored by or endorsed by either company.
Sources: Behr Marquee Exterior and Behr Premium Plus Ultra Exterior technical datasheets 2026, behr.com PPU18-01 swatch detail page, Home Depot Q1 to Q2 2026 retail pricing, Sherwin-Williams Duration and Emerald Exterior technical datasheets 2026, Benjamin Moore Aura Exterior technical datasheet 2026, FacadeColorizer internal render dataset (n=13,611, US market, October 2025 to May 2026), 18-month Phoenix south-facing field test (October 2024 to April 2026), Community Associations Institute 2025 exterior color approval study.
