diff --git a/django/contrib/postgres/fields/array.py b/django/contrib/postgres/fields/array.py
index ab57ccb1103..87c2de43b44 100644
--- a/django/contrib/postgres/fields/array.py
+++ b/django/contrib/postgres/fields/array.py
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ class ArrayField(Field):
             if callable(self.default):
                 return self.default()
             return self.default
-        return ''
+        return None
 
     def value_to_string(self, obj):
         values = []
diff --git a/tests/postgres_tests/test_array.py b/tests/postgres_tests/test_array.py
index 33cf837dd47..68378483ec0 100644
--- a/tests/postgres_tests/test_array.py
+++ b/tests/postgres_tests/test_array.py
@@ -48,6 +48,13 @@ class TestSaveLoad(TestCase):
         loaded = IntegerArrayModel.objects.get()
         self.assertEqual(loaded.field, [1])
 
+    def test_default_null(self):
+        instance = NullableIntegerArrayModel()
+        instance.save()
+        loaded = NullableIntegerArrayModel.objects.get(pk=instance.pk)
+        self.assertEqual(loaded.field, None)
+        self.assertEqual(instance.field, loaded.field)
+
     def test_null_handling(self):
         instance = NullableIntegerArrayModel(field=None)
         instance.save()