diff --git a/docs/6.x/docs/guides/migration.md b/docs/6.x/docs/guides/migration.md
index c4874a10a9..10e2d7e494 100644
--- a/docs/6.x/docs/guides/migration.md
+++ b/docs/6.x/docs/guides/migration.md
@@ -115,6 +115,14 @@ The `style` props for `Appbar` and `Appbar.Header` no longer accept `Animated.Va
 
 The `style.elevation` property is no longer supported. Use the `elevated` prop to control Appbar elevation.
 
+### Banner
+
+The banner background is now always `theme.colors.surfaceContainerLow` and no longer depends on the `elevation` prop, which only controls the shadow. At the default `elevation` of `1` the rendered color is unchanged.
+
+### Menu
+
+The menu background is now always `theme.colors.surfaceContainer`, following the Material Design 3 spec, and no longer depends on the `elevation` prop, which only controls the shadow. At the default `elevation` of `2` the rendered color is unchanged.
+
 ### Surface
 
 - The `elevation` prop no longer accepts a React Native `Animated.Value`. Any `elevation` changes are animated automatically.
@@ -138,6 +146,7 @@ The `style.elevation` property is no longer supported. Use the `elevated` prop t
 - The `pointerEvents` prop is no longer supported as it's deprecated in React Native Web. You can specify `pointerEvents` in the `style` prop instead.
 - The `overflow: 'hidden'` style is no longer supported in `style` as it can clip shadows. You can nest a `View` inside the `Surface` and apply `overflow: 'hidden'` to that instead.
 - The default `testID` for `Surface` was removed. You can specify a `testID` explicitly if you need it.
+- A new `container` prop sets the background to a semantic surface-family color role from the theme (e.g. `container="surfaceContainerLow"`). When `container` is set, `elevation` only controls the shadow. Precedence: `backgroundColor` > `container` > the color derived from `elevation`.
 
 e.g.:
 
diff --git a/docs/src/data/themeColors.ts b/docs/src/data/themeColors.ts
index 118114da27..2964440296 100644
--- a/docs/src/data/themeColors.ts
+++ b/docs/src/data/themeColors.ts
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ export const themeColors = {
   },
   Banner: {
     '-': {
+      backgroundColor: 'theme.colors.surfaceContainerLow',
       textColor: 'theme.colors.onSurface',
       'action textColor': 'theme.colors.primary',
     },
@@ -246,7 +247,7 @@ export const themeColors = {
   },
   Menu: {
     '-': {
-      backgroundColor: 'theme.colors.elevation.level2',
+      backgroundColor: 'theme.colors.surfaceContainer',
     },
   },
   'Menu.Item': {
@@ -314,6 +315,9 @@ export const themeColors = {
     elevated: {
       backgroundColor: 'theme.colors.elevation[elevation]',
     },
+    'with container': {
+      backgroundColor: 'theme.colors[container]',
+    },
   },
   Text: {
     '-': {
diff --git a/example/src/Examples/SurfaceExample.tsx b/example/src/Examples/SurfaceExample.tsx
index e941c7c843..3036dae607 100644
--- a/example/src/Examples/SurfaceExample.tsx
+++ b/example/src/Examples/SurfaceExample.tsx
@@ -1,13 +1,33 @@
 import * as React from 'react';
 import { ScrollView, StyleSheet, View } from 'react-native';
 
-import { Surface, Text, Palette, List, IconButton } from 'react-native-paper';
-import type { Elevation } from 'react-native-paper';
+import {
+  Surface,
+  Text,
+  Palette,
+  List,
+  IconButton,
+  useTheme,
+} from 'react-native-paper';
+import type { Elevation, SurfaceRole } from 'react-native-paper';
 
 import ScreenWrapper from '../ScreenWrapper';
 
 const elevationLevels: Elevation[] = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
 
+const containerRoles: SurfaceRole[] = [
+  'surface',
+  'surfaceDim',
+  'surfaceBright',
+  'surfaceVariant',
+  'surfaceContainerLowest',
+  'surfaceContainerLow',
+  'surfaceContainer',
+  'surfaceContainerHigh',
+  'surfaceContainerHighest',
+  'inverseSurface',
+];
+
 const AnimatedSurface = () => {
   const [index, setIndex] = React.useState(3);
 
@@ -37,8 +57,20 @@ const AnimatedSurface = () => {
 };
 
 const SurfaceExample = () => {
+  const theme = useTheme();
+
   const elevationValues: Elevation[] = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
 
+  const onColorFor = (role: SurfaceRole) => {
+    if (role === 'inverseSurface') {
+      return theme.colors.inverseOnSurface;
+    }
+    if (role === 'surfaceVariant') {
+      return theme.colors.onSurfaceVariant;
+    }
+    return theme.colors.onSurface;
+  };
+
   const renderSurface = (index: Elevation, mode: 'flat' | 'elevated') => (
     <Surface
       key={index}
@@ -75,6 +107,31 @@ const SurfaceExample = () => {
         </ScrollView>
       </List.Section>
 
+      <List.Section title="Semantic container colors">
+        <ScrollView
+          horizontal
+          showsHorizontalScrollIndicator={false}
+          contentContainerStyle={styles.scroll}
+        >
+          {containerRoles.map((role) => (
+            <Surface
+              key={role}
+              style={styles.surface}
+              borderRadius={8}
+              mode="flat"
+              container={role}
+            >
+              <Text
+                variant="bodySmall"
+                style={[styles.centerText, { color: onColorFor(role) }]}
+              >
+                {role}
+              </Text>
+            </Surface>
+          ))}
+        </ScrollView>
+      </List.Section>
+
       <List.Section title="Animated elevation">
         <AnimatedSurface />
       </List.Section>
diff --git a/src/components/Banner.tsx b/src/components/Banner.tsx
index 909f75bf3f..000ed067a7 100644
--- a/src/components/Banner.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Banner.tsx
@@ -66,7 +66,8 @@ export type Props = Omit<ViewProps, 'style'> & {
   contentStyle?: StyleProp<ViewStyle>;
   /**
    * @supported Available in v5.x with theme version 3
-   * Changes Banner shadow and background on iOS and Android.
+   * Changes Banner shadow on iOS and Android. The banner background is
+   * `theme.colors.surfaceContainerLow` and is not affected by `elevation`.
    */
   elevation?: Elevation;
   /**
@@ -211,6 +212,7 @@ const Banner = ({
       {...rest}
       style={[surfaceStyle, style]}
       theme={theme}
+      container="surfaceContainerLow"
       elevation={elevation}
     >
       <View style={[styles.wrapper, contentStyle]}>
diff --git a/src/components/Menu/Menu.tsx b/src/components/Menu/Menu.tsx
index 96dd4096b7..12afb057f6 100644
--- a/src/components/Menu/Menu.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Menu/Menu.tsx
@@ -82,14 +82,14 @@ export type Props = {
   contentStyle?: StyleProp<SurfaceStyle>;
   style?: StyleProp<ViewStyle>;
   /**
-   * Elevation level of the menu's content. Shadow styles are calculated based on this value. Default `backgroundColor` is taken from the corresponding `theme.colors.elevation` property. By default equals `2`.
+   * Elevation level of the menu's content. Shadow styles are calculated based on this value. The menu background is `theme.colors.surfaceContainer` per the MD3 spec and is not affected by `elevation`. By default equals `2`.
    * @supported Available in v5.x with theme version 3
    */
   elevation?: Elevation;
   /**
    * Mode of the menu's content.
-   * - `elevated` - Surface with a shadow and background color corresponding to set `elevation` value.
-   * - `flat` - Surface without a shadow, with the background color corresponding to set `elevation` value.
+   * - `elevated` - Surface with a shadow corresponding to set `elevation` value.
+   * - `flat` - Surface without a shadow.
    *
    * @supported Available in v5.x with theme version 3
    */
@@ -704,6 +704,7 @@ const Menu = ({
             >
               <Surface
                 mode={mode}
+                container="surfaceContainer"
                 borderRadius={theme.shapes.corner.extraSmall}
                 style={[
                   styles.shadowMenuContainer,
diff --git a/src/components/Surface.tsx b/src/components/Surface.tsx
index a91fd938d5..77891342cb 100644
--- a/src/components/Surface.tsx
+++ b/src/components/Surface.tsx
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import Animated, {
 
 import { useInternalTheme } from '../core/theming';
 import { androidElevationLevels, shadow } from '../theme/tokens/sys/elevation';
-import type { Elevation, ThemeProp } from '../theme/types';
+import type { Elevation, SurfaceRole, ThemeProp } from '../theme/types';
 
 type AnimatedStyleProp<Key extends keyof ViewStyle> = Extract<
   AnimatedStyle<Required<Pick<ViewStyle, Key>>>,
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ type BorderRadius = AnimatedStyleProp<'borderRadius'>;
 
 type SurfaceVisualProps = {
   /**
-   * Background color of the Surface. Overrides the color derived from
-   * `elevation`.
+   * Background color of the Surface. Overrides both `container` and the
+   * color derived from `elevation`.
    */
   backgroundColor?: ColorValue;
   /**
@@ -104,6 +104,24 @@ export type Props = Omit<ViewProps, 'pointerEvents' | 'style'> &
      *    To achieve the same effect, wrap the content in a child View with the overflow style.
      */
     style?: StyleProp<SurfaceStyle>;
+    /**
+     * Semantic color role of the Surface background, resolved from the
+     * theme, e.g. `container="surfaceContainerLow"` renders with
+     * `theme.colors.surfaceContainerLow`.
+     *
+     * When `container` is set, `elevation` only controls the shadow (and
+     * z-order on Android) and no longer affects the background color.
+     *
+     * Precedence: `backgroundColor` > `container` >
+     * `theme.colors.elevation[levelN]` derived from `elevation`.
+     *
+     * Prefer `container` when the fill is an MD3 surface-family role (as
+     * component specs define it, e.g. menus use `surfaceContainer`). Use
+     * `backgroundColor` only for raw, non-semantic colors. Components with
+     * variant-driven fills outside the surface family should keep resolving
+     * their own tokens and pass the result via `backgroundColor`.
+     */
+    container?: SurfaceRole;
     /**
      * @supported Available in v5.x with theme version 3
      * Changes shadows and background on iOS and Android.
@@ -111,6 +129,9 @@ export type Props = Omit<ViewProps, 'pointerEvents' | 'style'> &
      *
      * Note: If `mode` is set to `flat`, Surface doesn't have a shadow.
      *
+     * Note: If `backgroundColor` or `container` is set, `elevation` only
+     * affects the shadow.
+     *
      * Note: In version 2 the `elevation` prop was accepted via `style` prop i.e. `style={{ elevation: 4 }}`.
      * It's no longer supported with theme version 3 and you should use `elevation` property instead.
      */
@@ -118,8 +139,8 @@ export type Props = Omit<ViewProps, 'pointerEvents' | 'style'> &
     /**
      * @supported Available in v5.x with theme version 3
      * Mode of the Surface.
-     * - `elevated` - Surface with a shadow and background color corresponding to set `elevation` value.
-     * - `flat` - Surface without a shadow, with the background color corresponding to set `elevation` value.
+     * - `elevated` - Surface with a shadow and background color corresponding to set `elevation` value (unless `backgroundColor` or `container` is set).
+     * - `flat` - Surface without a shadow, with the background color corresponding to set `elevation` value (unless `backgroundColor` or `container` is set).
      */
     mode?: 'flat' | 'elevated';
     /**
@@ -150,9 +171,19 @@ export type Props = Omit<ViewProps, 'pointerEvents' | 'style'> &
  * import { StyleSheet } from 'react-native';
  *
  * const MyComponent = () => (
- *   <Surface style={styles.surface} elevation={4} borderRadius={8}>
- *      <Text>Surface</Text>
- *   </Surface>
+ *   <>
+ *     <Surface style={styles.surface} elevation={4} borderRadius={8}>
+ *        <Text>Surface</Text>
+ *     </Surface>
+ *     <Surface
+ *       style={styles.surface}
+ *       container="surfaceContainerLow"
+ *       elevation={1}
+ *       borderRadius={8}
+ *     >
+ *        <Text>Semantic container color</Text>
+ *     </Surface>
+ *   </>
  * );
  *
  * export default MyComponent;
@@ -170,6 +201,7 @@ export type Props = Omit<ViewProps, 'pointerEvents' | 'style'> &
  */
 const Surface = ({
   elevation = 1,
+  container,
   children,
   theme: overriddenTheme,
   style,
@@ -199,7 +231,9 @@ const Surface = ({
   const { colors } = theme;
 
   const backgroundColor =
-    customBackgroundColor ?? colors.elevation?.[`level${elevation}`];
+    customBackgroundColor ??
+    (container != null ? colors[container] : undefined) ??
+    colors.elevation?.[`level${elevation}`];
 
   const backgroundStyle = { backgroundColor };
 
diff --git a/src/components/__tests__/Banner.test.tsx b/src/components/__tests__/Banner.test.tsx
index 5cbd07b387..2665e30001 100644
--- a/src/components/__tests__/Banner.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/__tests__/Banner.test.tsx
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@ import {
 } from '@jest/globals';
 import { act } from '@testing-library/react-native';
 
-import { render } from '../../test-utils';
+import { render, screen } from '../../test-utils';
+import { LightTheme } from '../../theme/schemes';
 import Banner from '../Banner';
 
 it('renders hidden banner, without action buttons and without image', async () => {
@@ -104,6 +105,18 @@ it('renders visible banner, with action buttons and with image', async () => {
   expect(tree).toMatchSnapshot();
 });
 
+it('renders banner with surfaceContainerLow background', async () => {
+  await render(
+    <Banner visible testID="banner">
+      Text
+    </Banner>
+  );
+
+  expect(screen.getByTestId('banner')).toHaveStyle({
+    backgroundColor: LightTheme.colors.surfaceContainerLow,
+  });
+});
+
 it('render visible banner, with custom theme', async () => {
   const tree = (
     await render(
diff --git a/src/components/__tests__/Menu.test.tsx b/src/components/__tests__/Menu.test.tsx
index c35880b48f..6c491bbe16 100644
--- a/src/components/__tests__/Menu.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/__tests__/Menu.test.tsx
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ it('renders not visible menu', async () => {
 const elevations: Elevation[] = [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5];
 
 elevations.forEach((elevation) =>
-  it(`renders menu with background color based on elevation value = ${elevation}`, async () => {
+  it(`renders menu with surfaceContainer background regardless of elevation value = ${elevation}`, async () => {
     const testID = 'menu-with-elevation';
 
     await render(
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ elevations.forEach((elevation) =>
     );
 
     expect(screen.getByTestId(testID)).toHaveStyle({
-      backgroundColor: LightTheme.colors.elevation[`level${elevation}`],
+      backgroundColor: LightTheme.colors.surfaceContainer,
     });
   })
 );
diff --git a/src/components/__tests__/Surface.test.tsx b/src/components/__tests__/Surface.test.tsx
index 96ed707ae1..764cd06f6a 100644
--- a/src/components/__tests__/Surface.test.tsx
+++ b/src/components/__tests__/Surface.test.tsx
@@ -173,6 +173,142 @@ describe('Surface', () => {
         transitionProperty: expect.not.arrayContaining(['backgroundColor']),
       });
     });
+
+    it('resolves the container role from the theme', async () => {
+      await render(
+        <Surface
+          mode="flat"
+          container="surfaceContainerHigh"
+          testID="surface-test"
+        >
+          {null}
+        </Surface>
+      );
+
+      expect(screen.getByTestId('surface-test')).toHaveStyle({
+        backgroundColor: LightTheme.colors.surfaceContainerHigh,
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('prefers backgroundColor over container', async () => {
+      const backgroundColor = 'rgba(1, 2, 3, 0.5)';
+      await render(
+        <Surface
+          mode="flat"
+          container="surfaceContainerHigh"
+          backgroundColor={backgroundColor}
+          testID="surface-test"
+        >
+          {null}
+        </Surface>
+      );
+
+      expect(screen.getByTestId('surface-test')).toHaveStyle({
+        backgroundColor,
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('prefers container over the elevation-derived color', async () => {
+      await render(
+        <Surface
+          elevation={5}
+          container="surfaceContainerLowest"
+          testID="surface-test"
+        >
+          {null}
+        </Surface>
+      );
+
+      expect(screen.getByTestId('surface-test')).toHaveStyle({
+        backgroundColor: LightTheme.colors.surfaceContainerLowest,
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('keeps the elevation-driven shadow when container is set', async () => {
+      await render(
+        <Surface
+          elevation={5}
+          container="surfaceContainerLow"
+          testID="surface-test"
+        >
+          {null}
+        </Surface>
+      );
+
+      expect(screen.getByTestId('surface-test')).toHaveStyle({
+        shadowOpacity: SPOT_SHADOW_OPACITY,
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('does not render a shadow in flat mode when container is set', async () => {
+      await render(
+        <Surface
+          mode="flat"
+          elevation={5}
+          container="surfaceContainerLow"
+          testID="surface-test"
+        >
+          {null}
+        </Surface>
+      );
+
+      // @ts-expect-error
+      expect(screen.getByTestId('surface-test')).not.toHaveStyle({
+        shadowOpacity: expect.any(Number),
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('keeps the container background when elevation changes', async () => {
+      await render(
+        <Surface
+          elevation={1}
+          container="surfaceContainer"
+          testID="surface-test"
+        >
+          {null}
+        </Surface>
+      );
+
+      await screen.rerender(
+        <Surface
+          elevation={5}
+          container="surfaceContainer"
+          testID="surface-test"
+        >
+          {null}
+        </Surface>
+      );
+      await jest.runAllTimersAsync();
+
+      expect(screen.getByTestId('surface-test')).toHaveStyle({
+        backgroundColor: LightTheme.colors.surfaceContainer,
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('does not transition a DynamicColorIOS container role', async () => {
+      await render(
+        <Surface
+          testID="surface-test"
+          container="surfaceContainer"
+          theme={{
+            colors: {
+              surfaceContainer: DynamicColorIOS({
+                light: 'white',
+                dark: 'black',
+              }),
+            },
+          }}
+        >
+          {null}
+        </Surface>
+      );
+
+      expect(
+        getAnimatedStyle(screen.getByTestId('surface-test'))
+      ).toMatchObject({
+        transitionProperty: expect.not.arrayContaining(['backgroundColor']),
+      });
+    });
   });
 
   describe('on Android', () => {
@@ -208,6 +344,38 @@ describe('Surface', () => {
       });
     });
 
+    it('resolves the container role from the theme', async () => {
+      await render(
+        <Surface
+          mode="flat"
+          container="surfaceContainerHigh"
+          testID="surface-container"
+        >
+          {null}
+        </Surface>
+      );
+
+      expect(screen.getByTestId('surface-container')).toHaveStyle({
+        backgroundColor: LightTheme.colors.surfaceContainerHigh,
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('keeps the elevation-driven dp value when container is set', async () => {
+      await render(
+        <Surface
+          elevation={5}
+          container="surfaceContainerLow"
+          testID="surface-container"
+        >
+          {null}
+        </Surface>
+      );
+
+      expect(screen.getByTestId('surface-container')).toHaveStyle({
+        elevation: 12,
+      });
+    });
+
     it('does not transition a PlatformColor background', async () => {
       await render(
         <Surface
diff --git a/src/index.tsx b/src/index.tsx
index f46d8e22d8..271f9188aa 100644
--- a/src/index.tsx
+++ b/src/index.tsx
@@ -147,4 +147,9 @@ export type { Props as SegmentedButtonsProps } from './components/SegmentedButto
 export type { Props as ListImageProps } from './components/List/ListImage';
 export type { Props as TooltipProps } from './components/Tooltip/Tooltip';
 
-export { type TypescaleKey, type Theme, type Elevation } from './theme/types';
+export {
+  type TypescaleKey,
+  type Theme,
+  type Elevation,
+  type SurfaceRole,
+} from './theme/types';
diff --git a/src/theme/types/color.ts b/src/theme/types/color.ts
index 84879a36ec..323026f1ba 100644
--- a/src/theme/types/color.ts
+++ b/src/theme/types/color.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,24 @@ export type ColorRole = {
   [K in keyof ThemeColors]: ThemeColors[K] extends ColorValue ? K : never;
 }[keyof ThemeColors];
 
+/**
+ * Surface-family color roles that can be used as a Surface container fill.
+ * @see https://m3.material.io/styles/color/roles#surface-colors
+ */
+export type SurfaceRole = keyof Pick<
+  ThemeColors,
+  | 'surface'
+  | 'surfaceDim'
+  | 'surfaceBright'
+  | 'surfaceVariant'
+  | 'surfaceContainerLowest'
+  | 'surfaceContainerLow'
+  | 'surfaceContainer'
+  | 'surfaceContainerHigh'
+  | 'surfaceContainerHighest'
+  | 'inverseSurface'
+>;
+
 export type ThemeColors = {
   primary: ColorValue;
   primaryContainer: ColorValue;