Color spec
| Brand | Benjamin Moore |
| Name | Black Ink |
| SKU | 2127-20 |
| Hex | #373A3D |
| RGB | 55, 58, 61 |
| HSL | 210°, 5%, 23% |
| LRV | 6 |
| Undertone | cool blue tone |
| Family | Black |
About Benjamin Moore Black Ink
At LRV 6, Black Ink 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.
Black Ink 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
17 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
Behr
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Portola Paints
Rust-Oleum
Kompozit
Similar Benjamin Moore colors
closest in the Benjamin Moore deckThe nearest shades to Black Ink within Benjamin Moore'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 #373A3D in HSL space. Pair Black Ink 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.
Benjamin Moore Black Ink Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Black Ink 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 Benjamin Moore 2127-20 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Black Ink
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Black Ink is Greenblack (SW 6994) — very close at ΔE 2.05, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 4 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Greenblack swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Black Ink
At Behr, the closest color to Black Ink is Limousine Leather (MQ5-05) — very close at ΔE 2.75, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 4 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Limousine Leather swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Black Ink
Valspar's nearest match is Black Heron (V120-3), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.46). It runs slightly darker (LRV 4.5 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Black Ink without repainting risk. See the full Black Heron swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Black Ink
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Black Ink is Starless Sky (PPG0995-7) — very close at ΔE 2.29, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Starless Sky swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Black Ink
At Glidden, the closest color to Black Ink is Onyx Black (00NN 05/000) — very close at ΔE 2.56, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Onyx Black swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Black Ink
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Black Ink. The nearest is Bohemian Black (HGSW 6988) at ΔE 4.91 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 4 vs 6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Bohemian Black swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Black Ink
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Black Ink is Black (DEA002) — very close at ΔE 2.76, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 4 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Black swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Black Ink
At Farrow & Ball, the closest color to Black Ink is Smelt Black (NO. G18) — very close at ΔE 2.44, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Smelt Black swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Black Ink
Diamond Vogel's nearest match is Grantsburg Gray (H101), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.51). It runs slightly darker (LRV 4 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Black Ink without repainting risk. See the full Grantsburg Gray swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Black Ink
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Black Ink is Octavius (0522) — very close at ΔE 2.63, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Octavius swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Black Ink
Rodda has no exact twin of Black Ink. The nearest is Midnight (CA210) at ΔE 4.39 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Midnight swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Black Ink
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Black Ink is Aperture (C2-981) — very close at ΔE 2.36, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 4 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Aperture swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Black Ink
At Portola Paints, the closest color to Black Ink is Newton's Indigo (NEWTON'S INDIGO) — very close at ΔE 3.03, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 4 vs 6) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Newton's Indigo swatch →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Black Ink
Rust-Oleum's nearest match is Charcoal (285144), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.16). It runs slightly darker (LRV 4 vs 6) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Black Ink without repainting risk. See the full Charcoal swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Black Ink
At Kompozit, the closest color to Black Ink is Octavius (0522) — very close at ΔE 2.63, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 4 vs 6) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Octavius swatch →