1Espresso MacchiatoDET680 · LRV 7
Dunn-Edwards · Black paint colors
Dunn-Edwards Black 16 colors. 3 worth a sample.
3 curated blacks with undertones, LRV, and the honest reasons why, plus the full 16-color black deck below.
16blacks in the deck
8–4LRV, lightest to darkest
3curated, with photos
7room pages
Lightest · LRV 8The deck, light to dark, in 16 steps. Numbered pins are the picks below, placed by LRV.Darkest · LRV 4
The fast answer
If You Only Sample Three
Don't want to compare 16 blacks? These three cover most real projects.
Curated, in order
The 3 Dunn-Edwards Blacks People Actually Buy
Numbered and curated. Tap any color for its full review, or see it on your own walls in the visualizer.
1
2BlackDEA002 · LRV 4
Dunn-Edwards' flagship true black for cabinetry and trim.
3Dark EngineDE6350 · LRV 5
Room by room
Dunn-Edwards Black, Room by Room
Each room page shows black picks from every US brand side by side, so you can compare in context.
Black Powder RoomTricorn Black
Tricorn Black
Black Dining RoomHale Navy, Royal Orchard, Punk Rock
Hale Navy
Black Front DoorTricorn Black
Tricorn Black
Black ShuttersTricorn Black
Tricorn Black
Black Garage DoorTricorn Black
Tricorn Black
Black FenceTricorn Black
Tricorn BlackMore roomsBlack Trim
Black does its best work on accents and trim-style jobs rather than every wall in a bright room. A single feature wall, a fireplace surround, a study, a powder room, or the inside of built-in shelving all suit these colors well. Dunn-Edwards makes ARISTOSHIELD, a urethane-alkyd enamel built for trim, cabinets, and doors, which is the line to reach for when you want a black with a hard, smooth finish.
For walls, SUPREMA is the ultra-low-VOC interior pick, and EVERSHIELD is the exterior line engineered for harsh desert sun. Because Dunn-Edwards designs its colors for intense Western light, these blacks tend to hold up outdoors better than blacks built for softer climates.
The whole deck
All 16 Dunn-Edwards Black Paint Colors
Every Dunn-Edwards black, grouped by undertone, warm to cool. Filter by depth or change the order.
Showing 16 of 16
Iron RiverDEA176 · LRV 8
Chocolate FixDEBN80 · LRV 6
Dark EngineDE6350 · LRV 5
Carbonized WoodDESS50 · LRV 5
BlackDEA002 · LRV 4
French Press CoffeeDEBN07 · LRV 6
Bistre PigmentDEBN13 · LRV 5
Cassel EarthDEBN22 · LRV 5
Double FudgeDEBN44 · LRV 6
Espresso MacchiatoDET680 · LRV 7
Refined GreenDEA181 · LRV 5
Total EclipseDEFD62 · LRV 7
Carbon FiberDEGR63 · LRV 7
Secret GardenDESS30 · LRV 6
CharredDEGR80 · LRV 6
StargazingDE6336 · LRV 6
Hex values are display approximations from Dunn-Edwards's published swatch tools, not a physical sample under controlled lighting. Order a brand-direct sample before specifying.
Pick any black above and see it on your own wall
Visualize in your room Upload a photo of the room. We paint it in the black you chose with your light and your floor, and you can swap colors until one holds.
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Dunn-Edwards is not a big-box brand and is not sold nationwide. You buy it through company-owned stores in the West and Southwest: California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas. Expect roughly $55 to $65 a gallon depending on the line.
Every one of these blacks is mixed to order at the store. Nothing sits premixed on a shelf in a black this deep, so you pick the color and finish, and the staff tints the base for you. If you are outside the brand's region, you cannot get the real Dunn-Edwards product, but you can still cross-match the color with another brand.
By brand
How Deep Each Black Deck Goes
How many black colors each brand carries, drawn with that deck's own blacks from light to dark. Pick your store first, then the color. Every brand equal, no favorites.
The rest of the Dunn-Edwards deck, by family
Before you sample
More on Dunn-Edwards black paint colors
How to Choose Using LRV
LRV is a 0 to 100 scale for how much light a color bounces back. The blacks here run from 9 (lightest) down to 4 (darkest), so even the brightest one is still very dark. Black Spruce at 9 and Iron River (DEA176) at 8 are the most forgiving, while Black at 4 is the deepest and least forgiving of poor light.
In a room with good natural light, the darker end (Dark Engine at 5, Black at 4) holds its richness. In a darker room or a small space, the higher-LRV picks like Black Spruce or Iron River keep some dimension instead of turning into a flat hole.
What Dunn-Edwards Black Colors Actually Look Like
Dunn-Edwards keeps a tight group of seven black colors, and most of them are not flat, true black. They lean into quiet undertones that read as black across a room but soften up close. Black Spruce (DE6308) carries a green-gray cast, Lunar Eclipse (DE5776) and Stargazing (DE6336) drift cool, and Refined Green (DEA181) is a near-black with a green pull.
If you want the closest thing to a pure, deep black, look at Black (DEA187) at the bottom of the range. The rest give you the depth of black with a little color life in it, which is usually what looks best on real walls.
Pairing With Trim, Ceiling, and Coordinating Colors
Black walls want a clean, simple contrast to feel intentional. A crisp warm white on the trim and ceiling is the safest move, and Dunn-Edwards has well-known whites for exactly this, including Swiss Coffee, Bone China, and Cottage White. Match the white to the black's temperature: a warm white softens a cool black like Lunar Eclipse, while a cleaner white sharpens it.
If you want the black to feel less heavy, lean on its undertone. The green-leaning blacks like Black Spruce and Refined Green pair nicely with natural wood and warm brass. The cooler blacks like Stargazing sit well with gray stone, steel, and matte hardware.
Questions people actually ask
Dunn-Edwards Black Paint FAQ
What is the most popular Dunn-Edwards black paint color?
Espresso Macchiato (DET680). Black and Dark Engine round out the short list most people choose from.
Are any of these a true pure black?
The closest is Black (DEA187), the darkest in the slice at LRV 4. The others carry quiet undertones, mostly cool or green, so they read black on the wall but are not flat, neutral black up close.
Which black should I pick for a room without much light?
Go with the higher-LRV options like Black Spruce (DE6308) at LRV 9 or Iron River (DEA176) at LRV 8. They hold a little more dimension in dim rooms, while the deepest picks like Black (DEA187) can flatten out without good light.
What finish and line should I use for black cabinets or doors?
Use ARISTOSHIELD, the urethane-alkyd enamel built for trim, cabinets, and doors. It gives black a hard, smooth surface that wipes clean. For walls, SUPREMA is the ultra-low-VOC interior choice, and EVERSHIELD is the exterior line made for strong desert sun.
What trim color goes with a black wall?
A clean warm white is the reliable pairing. Dunn-Edwards options like Swiss Coffee, Bone China, and Cottage White all work. Match the white's warmth to the black's undertone so the contrast looks intentional rather than harsh.
Can I get these colors if I don't live in the West or Southwest?
Not as the real Dunn-Edwards product. The brand only sells through its own stores in California, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas. Outside that area, take the color name and code to another brand and have them cross-match it.
How do I cross-match one of these blacks to another brand?
Bring the exact name and code, like Stargazing (DE6336), to any paint counter, including a shop carrying the featured Kompozit deck. Because every black is mixed to order from a tint formula, a good store can read the target color and tint a close match in their own base.
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