Color spec
| Brand | Behr |
| Name | Carbon |
| SKU | N520-7 |
| Hex | #3D3D3D |
| RGB | 61, 61, 61 |
| HSL | 0°, 0%, 24% |
| LRV | 5 |
| Undertone | true neutral (no measurable hue) |
| Family | Black |
About Behr Carbon
At LRV 5, Carbon is about as dark as paint gets — it reads near-black on a wall and reveals its character only in direct daylight or under warm bulbs. Because it carries almost no measurable hue, it stays a true neutral and pairs cleanly with nearly any trim or floor. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Carbon earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Near-blacks like this are best as contrast — doors, trim, cabinets, window frames.
Closest matches by brand
19 brands within ΔE 5The closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Only colors within ΔE 5 (close enough to substitute on a wall) are shown — brands with no real match are left off. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all black from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Clare
Portola Paints
Backdrop
Rust-Oleum
Kompozit
Similar Behr colors
closest in the Behr deckThe nearest shades to Carbon within Behr's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #3D3D3D in HSL space. Pair Carbon with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Accessibility (WCAG contrast)
WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.
Behr Carbon Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Carbon from a different paint counter? Below is the single closest color in each major US deck and how close it really is. Remember that any paint store can also custom-tint Behr N520-7 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Carbon
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Carbon is Armory (SW 9600) — very close at ΔE 2.44, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 5) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Armory swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Carbon
The closest Benjamin Moore equivalent of Carbon is Black Jack (2133-20). At ΔE 0.69 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 5). If Benjamin Moore is your counter, order Black Jack and you'll get the same color. See the full Black Jack swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Carbon
At Valspar, the closest color to Carbon is Caviar (8006-4G) — very close at ΔE 2.06, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 5) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Caviar swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Carbon
The closest PPG / Glidden equivalent of Carbon is Starless Sky (PPG0995-7). At ΔE 0.65 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 5). If PPG / Glidden is your counter, order Starless Sky and you'll get the same color. See the full Starless Sky swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Carbon
The closest Glidden equivalent of Carbon is Starless Sky (PPG0995-7). At ΔE 0.65 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 5). If Glidden is your counter, order Starless Sky and you'll get the same color. See the full Starless Sky swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Carbon
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Carbon is Ebony Sky (438-6DB) — very close at ΔE 3.23, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 5) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Ebony Sky swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Carbon
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Carbon. The nearest is Wild Ride (HGSW 3381) at ΔE 4.17 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 5). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Wild Ride swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Carbon
The closest Dunn-Edwards equivalent of Carbon is Carbonized Wood (DESS50). At ΔE 0.33 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 5). If Dunn-Edwards is your counter, order Carbonized Wood and you'll get the same color. See the full Carbonized Wood swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Carbon
Farrow & Ball's nearest match is Pitch Black (NO. 256), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.76). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 4 vs 5) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Carbon without repainting risk. See the full Pitch Black swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Carbon
The closest Diamond Vogel equivalent of Carbon is Silent Sea (0515). At ΔE 0.69 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 5). If Diamond Vogel is your counter, order Silent Sea and you'll get the same color. See the full Silent Sea swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Carbon
The closest Hirshfield's equivalent of Carbon is Black Licorice (0529). At ΔE 0.97 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 5). If Hirshfield's is your counter, order Black Licorice and you'll get the same color. See the full Black Licorice swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Carbon
At Rodda, the closest color to Carbon is French Roast (CA213) — very close at ΔE 3.15, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 5) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full French Roast swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Carbon
The closest C2 Paint equivalent of Carbon is Aperture (C2-981). At ΔE 0.65 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 4 vs 5). If C2 Paint is your counter, order Aperture and you'll get the same color. See the full Aperture swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Carbon
Clare has no exact twin of Carbon. The nearest is Blackish (PNT100-DP-54) at ΔE 3.59 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 5). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Blackish swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Carbon
Backdrop has no exact twin of Carbon. The nearest is After Hours (BD-AH) at ΔE 4.5 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 5). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full After Hours swatch →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Carbon
At Rust-Oleum, the closest color to Carbon is Charcoal (285144) — very close at ΔE 3.2, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 4 vs 5) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Charcoal swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Carbon
The closest Kompozit equivalent of Carbon is Black Licorice (0529). At ΔE 0.97 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 4 vs 5). If Kompozit is your counter, order Black Licorice and you'll get the same color. See the full Black Licorice swatch →