Black paint colors
Top picks for black
6 editor's picksEditor's picks + the named black every designer roundup features. Each card links to a single-color reference or full brand guide.
More black shades
4 variantsDrill into shade variants — modifier-specific bands (light, deep, muted) and named in-between shades each link to their own hub with cross-brand matches.
Black at every US brand
10 brands · 5 picks each5 picks per brand spread across the LRV range, drawn from each brand's full black lineup. Tap any swatch for its single-color spec; tap the brand title for the brand's complete deck.
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
PPG / Glidden
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Backdrop
Clare
Top Kompozit black
14 in deckKompozit's deck has 14 colors that match the black band. The 5 below are spread across the LRV range — pick a darkness, hit Amazon for the can.
Black in real rooms
8 roomsCurated picks per room with cross-brand matches at every major US brand.
About black
True black on a wall almost always looks heavier than you expected. The picks below — the "designer blacks" — sit just shy of pure black, with subtle blue, brown, or green undertones that keep them from reading like a void.
Tricorn Black is the most-spec'd true black from Sherwin-Williams; Wrought Iron is the warmer-leaning Benjamin Moore equivalent. Below LRV 6, you're in near-black territory; 6–12 is deep charcoal; above 12 starts to feel grey rather than black. Use one accent wall, the trim, the front door, or the cabinetry — rarely all of them at once.
Black paint — frequently asked questions
What is the best black paint color for interior walls?+
Tricorn Black (SW 6258, LRV 3) is the most-spec'd true black in US designer rooms — neutral, with no strong undertone. Wrought Iron (BM 2124-10, LRV 6) is the warmer alternative and reads less harsh. Both work for accent walls, trim, cabinets, and front doors.
Should I paint a whole room black?+
Usually only if the room has strong natural light and a clear purpose — a library, a powder room, a dining room you use at night. Black absorbs roughly 95% of the light hitting it (LRV under 5), which collapses the room's sense of space. Most designer "black rooms" you see online have a single black wall plus three lighter walls, not all four.
Black vs charcoal — what is the difference?+
Charcoal is LRV 6–15 and reads as a very dark gray; black is LRV under 6 and reads as black under most lights. Charcoal still shows its undertone (cool blue, warm brown, or green) clearly. Black blacks (Tricorn, Onyx, Jet) read neutral even under bad bulbs.
Does black paint need a special primer or undercoat?+
Yes — usually a gray-tinted primer. Painting black directly over white drywall typically needs three or four topcoats to get full coverage; a deep gray primer cuts that to two. Most major brands sell black-tinted bases (P3 or P4) specifically for the deepest colors. Ask for the deep base at the paint counter.