Behr Cracked PeppervsSherwin-Williams Tricorn Black
Why this comparison: Behr’s popular soft black against SW’s true black. Cracked Pepper and Tricorn Black are clearly different colors (ΔE 11.16). Don't substitute one for the other.
Built from our full reviews of both colors — same measured data, same real-room photos. About the testing process →
The Numbers
Cracked Pepper is slightly lighter (LRV 8 vs 3, 5-point delta).
What Each Color Really Is
A soft, cool near-black with a blue-gray base — Behr's flagship color and its 2024 Color of the Year, confirmed on Behr's own Pro blog. Call it "soft black" rather than black: it is dark enough to anchor a room the way a true black does, but it carries real color underneath, and that color is what makes it interesting instead of just dark. Designers reach for it because it does the job of black — grounding white cabinets, giving a front door weight — without the flatness a true black can bring to a small room.
At LRV 8 it sits noticeably lighter than the deck's true blacks (Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black is LRV 3, Behr's own Jet Black is LRV 5), and that gap is the whole personality. In bright, indirect daylight it reads a cool charcoal-navy. In strong, direct sun the blue base can shift visibly toward violet — real enough that paint bloggers photograph it next to gray-violet swatches to prove the point. In a dim room with no real light source, none of that shows: it just reads as plain dark gray, which is the single biggest disappointment reported by buyers who expected drama.
A black with no story. Most "blacks" in a fan deck are really very dark something — a very dark brown, a very dark navy, a very dark green-gray — and they show it the moment sunlight lands on them. Tricorn Black carries almost no color pigment steering it anywhere, so it does not perform in the light. That sounds boring until you have lived with a black door that turns eggplant at 5 p.m. Choosing a color with no undertone is a real design decision, not a lack of one: it means the black stays the frame and lets your siding, counter, or wood do the talking.
At LRV 3 it is about as dark as mixed house paint gets. The useful comparison is Iron Ore (SW 7069) at LRV 6 — on paper a small gap, in a room a big one. Iron Ore reflects roughly twice as much light and reads as charcoal in daylight, softening on siding and on a full wall. Tricorn Black does not soften. It holds the same depth at noon and at dusk, which is the whole point on trim and doors and the whole problem on four walls of a dark room.
Specs Side by Side
| Spec | Cracked Pepper | Tricorn Black |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Behr | Sherwin-Williams |
| SKU | PPU18-01 | SW 6258 |
| Hex | #4F5152 | #2F2F30 |
| RGB | 79, 81, 82 | 47, 47, 48 |
| LRV | 8 | 3 |
| Undertone | true neutral | true neutral |
| Family | Gray | Black |
How Light Changes Them
The cool blue-gray base shows fully without the harsh violet flash of direct sun. This is the color at its most photographed.
With no real light source the chameleon effect never engages — it just reads as plain flat dark gray. Test with your actual fixtures on.
Strong direct sun can push the cool base visibly toward violet for part of the day. Most owners like the movement; sample on the actual wall first if you don't want surprises.
2700K warm bulbs settle it into a near-black with a soft blue edge. Cool white LEDs can read slightly flatter and grayer — swap the bulb before you second-guess the paint.
Cool even light makes it look its most velvety and matte. Beautiful on doors, heavy on four walls.
Strong sun lifts the sheen and reveals brush marks and roller texture. Spray or lay off carefully.
Warm 2700K bulbs keep it inky and soft. Away from a lamp it flattens into a solid shape with no depth.
Reads slightly lifted and chalkier over the years, and the surface runs hot. Satin and a quality exterior line matter here.
Both Colors in Real Rooms
Photos from our full reviews — the same rooms and captions, so you can judge each color where it actually lives, not on a chip.
When to Pick Which
Kitchen islands and cabinets against white or wood · a front door, shutters, or exterior trim in real daylight · a powder room or accent wall that needs depth without going flat black · anyone chasing 2024's most talked-about black
You want an honest flat true black with zero undertone games · the room is genuinely dim with no daylight and no lamps · you're painting fine raised-panel trim without a real primer plan · you want a color nobody else's kitchen already has
Front doors, shutters and window sash · kitchen islands and cabinet bases · interior doors, trim and built-ins · anyone who wants black with zero color agenda
Your room is small, dim and has one window · your walls are wavy old drywall · black factory windows or appliances sit right next to it · you want a softer near-black that forgives touch-ups
No comparison page can see your light. Upload one photo of your room and try both colors on the same walls, seconds apart.
Cracked Pepper vs Tricorn Black FAQ
Which is lighter, Cracked Pepper or Tricorn Black?
Cracked Pepper is lighter: LRV 8 vs 3. Cracked Pepper is slightly lighter (LRV 8 vs 3, 5-point delta).
Which is warmer, Cracked Pepper or Tricorn Black?
They share the same undertone family — both read true neutral. The difference between them is lightness and depth, not temperature.
How similar are Cracked Pepper and Tricorn Black?
Cracked Pepper and Tricorn Black are clearly different colors (ΔE 11.16). Don't substitute one for the other. The only reliable test is seeing both in your own room and light — a side-by-side on a screen or chip flattens the difference.
Can I use Cracked Pepper and Tricorn Black together in one house?
Yes — at ΔE 11.16 they are clearly different colors, so they can work as an intentional pair: the lighter Cracked Pepper in main spaces, Tricorn Black as the deeper accent room or feature wall.
Ask a Question