Ford Carbonized Gray Paint Code: M7 by Model and Year 2026
The Ford Carbonized Gray paint code is M7. Ford identifies the exterior color as Carbonized Gray Metallic, while automotive paint databases may also show longer references such as M7458, M7458A, or 7458. Ford order guides consistently use the short M7 code.
If you are ordering touch-up paint, a painted accessory, or refinishing a body panel, start by confirming M7 on your Ford rather than matching the color from a photograph. Model year and trim availability can change even when the paint code stays the same.
Ford Carbonized Gray Metallic
M7 is the primary Ford exterior paint code. Paint databases may also reference the color as M7458, M7458A, or 7458.
Model-year availability can vary by trim, package, and production phase. The factory label on the specific Ford is the final paint-code check.
What Is the Ford Carbonized Gray Paint Code M7
M7 is Ford’s exterior order code for Carbonized Gray Metallic. The longer numbers you may see are paint-system or database cross-references used to identify the same color formulation.
| Reference | What It Means |
|---|---|
| M7 | Ford exterior paint and order code |
| Carbonized Gray Metallic | Ford color name |
| 7458 | Extended paint color reference |
| M7458 | M-code reference used by paint databases |
| M7458A | Alternate extended reference found in refinishing databases |
| PN4JA | Additional cross-reference used by some paint systems |
AutomotiveTouchup groups M7, M7458, M7458A, 7458 and PN4JA under Carbonized Gray Metallic. Another professional paint-code database lists M7 with M-code M7458 and formulation references such as AkzoNobel FRD21:M7 and BASF 977670.
For an owner checking a Ford identification label, M7 is the number that matters most. If you need codes for another Ford color, the Ford paint code chart covers additional factory exterior colors.
The next question is whether M7 was actually offered on your particular Ford and model year.
Which Ford Models Use Carbonized Gray M7
Ford introduced Carbonized Gray across several model lines around the 2021 model year. Availability expanded across trucks, SUVs and Mustang models, but the exact years and trim combinations are not identical for every Ford.
The table below lists model-year applications confirmed through Ford order guides and supporting paint databases.
| Ford Model | Verified Carbonized Gray Years | Paint Code | Key Availability Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| F-150 | 2021–2026 | M7 | Introduced for 2021 and still listed for 2026 |
| F-250 and Super Duty | 2021–2026 | M7 | Available across multiple Super Duty trims |
| Bronco | 2021–2026 Job 1 | M7 | Deleted for 2026 Job 2 production |
| Bronco Sport | 2021–2026 | M7 | Still offered for 2026 |
| Maverick | 2022–2026 | M7 | Offered from the first Maverick model year |
| Mustang | 2021–2026 | M7 | Introduced as a new Mustang color for 2021 |
| Explorer | 2024–2026 confirmed | M7 | Listed across 2024, 2025 and 2026 order guides |
| Ranger | 2026 confirmed | M7 | Available across XL, XLT, Lariat and Raptor |
| F-150 Lightning | 2022 confirmed | M7 | Listed on the original Lightning color chart |
These ranges describe applications verified from the available Ford documentation used for this guide. Paint availability can change by trim, package and production phase, so the label on your own Ford remains the final check.
Ford F-150 Carbonized Gray
Carbonized Gray was one of the new F-150 colors for 2021, replacing several outgoing colors including Magnetic. Ford’s 2021 order guide identifies Carbonized Gray Metallic as M7, and the 2026 F-150 guide still lists the same M7 color.
The color appears across numerous F-150 trims, although Ford’s package restrictions vary from year to year. For a year-specific example, our 2022 Ford F-150 color chart shows the exterior color lineup for that model year.
Ford’s 2025 F-150 guide also lists Carbonized Gray Metallic under code M7, confirming that the code remained unchanged through the later 14th-generation trucks.
Ford Super Duty Carbonized Gray
Carbonized Gray also appears on F-250, F-350 and other Super Duty models.
Paint databases list 2021 F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 applications using M7, M7458 and M7458A references. The 2026 Super Duty order guide continues to list Carbonized Gray Metallic as M7.
That makes M7 a common color code to encounter when shopping for Super Duty replacement body parts, toppers, flares or touch-up materials.
Ford Bronco Carbonized Gray
Carbonized Gray was offered when the modern Ford Bronco launched for the 2021 model year and continued into 2026.
There is one important 2026 exception. Carbonized Gray Metallic M7 was available for 2026 Job 1 production but removed for Job 2, so not every 2026 Bronco can be ordered in the color.
Actual 2026 Job 1 inventory also confirms Bronco units built in Carbonized Gray Metallic.
Ford Bronco Sport Carbonized Gray
The 2021 Bronco Sport order guide lists Carbonized Gray Metallic M7 across the lineup. Ford’s 2026 Bronco Sport order guide continues to list M7, including Heritage configurations.
This is different from the full-size Bronco’s mid-2026 deletion, so owners should not assume both Bronco models follow the same color schedule.
Ford Maverick Carbonized Gray
The Maverick launched for 2022 with Carbonized Gray Metallic M7 available across XL, XLT, Lariat and First Edition configurations.
Ford’s 2026 Maverick order guide continues to show Carbonized Gray Metallic with order code M7, and Ford’s current Maverick configurator also offers the color.
Ford Mustang Carbonized Gray
Carbonized Gray was added to the Mustang palette for 2021. Ford’s model-year documentation specifically identifies it as a new color with order code M7.
The color remains listed in the 2026 Mustang order guide, including regular EcoBoost configurations and applicable appearance packages.
With the model applications clear, you can now verify whether your particular Ford carries the M7 code.
Where Is the Ford M7 Paint Code Located
The safest way to identify your Carbonized Gray Ford is to inspect the driver-side door area and certification label rather than relying on the exterior appearance.
Use these three checks.
- Open the driver’s door. Look around the door jamb and B-pillar area for the factory certification label.
- Find the exterior paint information. Ford labels and paint-reference systems identify exterior color with a short code rather than the full marketing color name.
- Look for M7. If the exterior paint field shows M7, Carbonized Gray Metallic is the correct factory color reference.
Automotive color-reference documentation places Ford paint-code identification at the driver’s door area, and paint-code lookup references commonly identify the Ford exterior paint entry near the door-jamb certification information.
Do not accidentally copy the trim, axle, transmission or interior code from the label. Those values identify completely different parts of the truck’s configuration.
If your label does not show M7, do not order Carbonized Gray simply because your Ford looks dark gray.
Why M7 M7458 and M7458A Look Different
M7, M7458 and M7458A can all appear in searches because automotive refinish databases store more identifiers than Ford displays to the buyer.
Ford’s order guides use the simple M7 code. Paint databases can connect that order code to an extended M-code, paint manufacturer’s formulation number or another cross-reference.
For example, one database identifies the color as:
- Ford code: M7
- M-code: M7458
- AkzoNobel reference: FRD21:M7
- BASF reference: 977670
AutomotiveTouchup also recognizes M7458A alongside M7 and M7458 for Carbonized Gray Metallic.
This does not mean you have three visually different factory Carbonized Gray colors.
Use this ordering process instead:
- Confirm M7 on your Ford.
- Give the paint supplier your model year and model.
- Tell them the factory paint code is M7.
- Let the supplier cross-reference M7 against its own paint system.
That approach is safer than selecting a product solely because a listing contains the words Carbonized Gray.
How to Match Carbonized Gray M7 Correctly
The correct paint code is the starting point, but an M7 label does not guarantee that a repair will become invisible without proper preparation and application.
Metallic paint contains particles that reflect light differently depending on spray pattern, film thickness and viewing angle. Existing paint can also change slightly after years of UV exposure, weather and polishing.
Before repairing a visible panel:
- Confirm M7 from the truck.
- Confirm the supplier’s formula for your model year.
- Test the color on a spray-out card or hidden area.
- Compare it in daylight from several angles.
- Apply the required clearcoat system.
- Blend adjacent areas when a perfect panel match is critical.
Ford’s own paint material documentation includes basecoat and clearcoat systems for exterior applications, while Ford accessories warns buyers to verify the paint code before ordering color-matched components.
For larger refinishing jobs, our guide on how much paint it takes to paint a truck can help you estimate material needs after confirming the correct color.
Correct identification matters even more because Ford has offered several gray finishes that can look similar in online photographs.
How Carbonized Gray Compares With Other Ford Grays
Carbonized Gray Metallic is not automatically interchangeable with another Ford gray finish. Similar-looking Ford colors can have completely different factory codes.
| Ford Color | Common Ford Code | Same as Carbonized Gray |
|---|---|---|
| Carbonized Gray Metallic | M7 | Yes |
| Magnetic Metallic | J7 | No |
| Stone Gray Metallic | D1 | No |
| Avalanche | DR | No |
| Azure Gray Metallic Tri-Coat | G4 | No |
Ford’s 2021 F-150 documentation lists Carbonized Gray M7 and Stone Gray D1 as separate colors. Paint databases also identify Magnetic Metallic with J7 rather than M7.
The 2026 Bronco Sport order guide provides another useful example. It lists Azure Gray Metallic Tri-Coat as G4 and Carbonized Gray Metallic as M7, confirming that the two gray finishes are distinct choices.
Lighting can make these colors look much closer in dealer photographs than they appear in person. The code is more reliable than a visual comparison.
How to Confirm Your Ford Carbonized Gray Paint
Use this four-step check before ordering Carbonized Gray touch-up paint, a painted replacement panel or a color-matched accessory.
- Find the factory certification label. Start at the driver’s door jamb or B-pillar.
- Identify the exterior paint entry. Do not copy an interior, axle or trim code.
- Confirm that it reads M7. M7 is Carbonized Gray Metallic.
- Cross-check the model year. Give the paint supplier your year, Ford model and M7 code.
If the label shows M7, you have the correct starting code for Carbonized Gray.
If the label shows another code, order paint using that code even if the truck appears gray.
If the label is missing or unreadable, use the VIN and factory build information to verify the original configuration before ordering paint.
A previously repaired truck requires extra care. A replacement door, bedside or fender may have been repainted with a non-factory formulation, so a professional color scan can be useful before a large repair.
What Carbonized Gray Owners Should Know
The Ford Carbonized Gray paint code is M7, and that is the code you should confirm on your Ford before purchasing paint. Extended identifiers such as M7458 and M7458A appear in paint databases, but Ford’s model and order guides consistently identify Carbonized Gray Metallic with M7.
Use the truck’s label, model year and M7 code together when ordering. Do not choose a gray paint by appearance alone because Magnetic, Stone Gray, Avalanche and Azure Gray use different codes.
That quick verification can prevent an expensive color mismatch before the first coat is applied.
5 Common Ford Carbonized Gray Paint Code Questions
Is Ford Carbonized Gray Paint Code M7
Yes. M7 is the Ford paint code for Carbonized Gray Metallic. Ford order guides use M7 on models including the F-150, Ranger, Explorer, Maverick, Mustang, Bronco Sport and Super Duty.
Is M7458 the Same as Ford M7
M7458 is an extended paint reference associated with Ford M7 Carbonized Gray Metallic in automotive refinish databases. Some databases also show M7458A, 7458 and PN4JA, while Ford consumer-facing order guides normally use the shorter M7 code.
Where Can I Find Paint Code M7 on My Ford
Start at the driver’s door jamb and certification-label area. Locate the exterior paint information and confirm that the code is M7 before ordering Carbonized Gray paint.
What Years Did Ford Use Carbonized Gray Metallic
Carbonized Gray entered several Ford lineups for 2021, including the F-150 and Mustang, while the Maverick received it when that truck launched for 2022. The color remains available on multiple 2026 Ford models, although the 2026 Bronco dropped it beginning with Job 2 production.
Is Carbonized Gray the Same as Magnetic Gray
No. Carbonized Gray Metallic uses M7, while Ford Magnetic Metallic is commonly identified by J7. Always match paint using the factory code instead of assuming two similar gray Ford finishes use the same formulation.
