Color spec
| Brand | Benjamin Moore |
| Name | Black Iron |
| SKU | 2120-20 |
| Hex | #3A3C3E |
| RGB | 58, 60, 62 |
| HSL | 210°, 3%, 24% |
| LRV | 6 |
| Undertone | neutral with no strong undertone |
| Family | Black |
About Benjamin Moore Black Iron
At LRV 6, Black Iron 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 Iron 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
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
Clare
Portola Paints
Backdrop
Rust-Oleum
Kompozit
Similar Benjamin Moore colors
closest in the Benjamin Moore deckThe nearest shades to Black Iron 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 #3A3C3E in HSL space. Pair Black Iron 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 Iron Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Black Iron 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 2120-20 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Black Iron
Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Greenblack (SW 6994), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.83). It runs slightly darker (LRV 4 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Black Iron without repainting risk. See the full Greenblack swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Black Iron
Behr's nearest match is Limousine Leather (MQ5-5), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.25). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Black Iron without repainting risk. See the full Limousine Leather swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Black Iron
The closest Valspar equivalent of Black Iron is Black Heron (V120-3). At ΔE 0.68 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and runs slightly darker (LRV 4.5 vs 6). If Valspar is your counter, order Black Heron and you'll get the same color. See the full Black Heron swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Black Iron
PPG / Glidden's nearest match is Starless Sky (PPG0995-7), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.37). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Black Iron without repainting risk. See the full Starless Sky swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Black Iron
Glidden's nearest match is Onyx Black (00NN 05/000), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.86). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Black Iron without repainting risk. See the full Onyx Black swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Black Iron
Dutch Boy has no exact twin of Black Iron. The nearest is Ebony Sky (438-6DB) at ΔE 4.79 — 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 Ebony Sky swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Black Iron
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Black Iron. The nearest is Bohemian Black (HGSW 6988) at ΔE 4.77 — 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 Iron
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Carbonized Wood (DESS50), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.57). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Black Iron without repainting risk. See the full Carbonized Wood swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Black Iron
Farrow & Ball's nearest match is Smelt Black (NO. G18), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.57). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Black Iron without repainting risk. See the full Smelt Black swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Black Iron
Diamond Vogel's nearest match is Silent Sea (0515), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.32). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Black Iron without repainting risk. See the full Silent Sea swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Black Iron
Hirshfield's's nearest match is Black Licorice (0529), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.36). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Black Iron without repainting risk. See the full Black Licorice swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Black Iron
Rodda has no exact twin of Black Iron. The nearest is Midnight (CA210) at ΔE 4.77 — 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 Iron
C2 Paint's nearest match is Aperture (C2-981), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.59). It runs slightly darker (LRV 4 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Black Iron without repainting risk. See the full Aperture swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Black Iron
Clare has no exact twin of Black Iron. The nearest is Blackish (PNT100-DP-54) at ΔE 4.72 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Blackish swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Black Iron
Backdrop has no exact twin of Black Iron. The nearest is After Hours (BD-AH) at ΔE 4.96 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full After Hours swatch →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Black Iron
Rust-Oleum's nearest match is Charcoal (285144), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.72). It runs slightly darker (LRV 4 vs 6) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Black Iron without repainting risk. See the full Charcoal swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Black Iron
Kompozit's nearest match is Black Licorice (0529), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.36). It runs slightly darker (LRV 4 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Black Iron without repainting risk. See the full Black Licorice swatch →