Color spec
| Brand | Benjamin Moore |
| Name | Black Pepper |
| SKU | 2130-40 |
| Hex | #717C86 |
| RGB | 113, 124, 134 |
| HSL | 209°, 9%, 48% |
| LRV | 21 |
| Undertone | cool blue tone |
| Family | Blue |
About Benjamin Moore Black Pepper
With an LRV of 21, Black Pepper is a deep, dramatic shade. It soaks up light in north-facing rooms and looks richest where strong daylight hits it. Its blue undertone is the part to watch: it gets picked up by whatever sits next to it, so test it against your trim, floor and the room's main light before committing. Warm artificial light softens it; cool LED can make it look flat, so match your bulbs to the mood you want.
Black Pepper works best as a feature — a single wall, built-ins, a study or dining room — rather than wrapping a whole bright space. Blues calm a room, which makes them popular in bedrooms, bathrooms and home offices.
Closest matches by brand
14 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 blue from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
Dunn-Edwards
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Clare
Kompozit
Similar Benjamin Moore colors
closest in the Benjamin Moore deckThe nearest shades to Black Pepper 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 #717C86 in HSL space. Pair Black Pepper 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 Pepper Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Black Pepper 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 2130-40 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Black Pepper
Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Black Pepper. The nearest is Foggy Day (SW 6235) at ΔE 3.67 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 20 vs 21). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Foggy Day swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Black Pepper
Behr's nearest match is Deep Shale (PPF-38), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.06). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 20 vs 21) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Black Pepper without repainting risk. See the full Deep Shale swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Black Pepper
At Valspar, the closest color to Black Pepper is Elephant Gray (4006-2A) — very close at ΔE 2.12, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 18.9 vs 21) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Elephant Gray swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Black Pepper
At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Black Pepper is Favorite Flannel (PPG10-19) — very close at ΔE 2.77, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 18 vs 21) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Favorite Flannel swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Black Pepper
Glidden's nearest match is French Grey (70BG 19/071), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.91). It runs slightly darker (LRV 19 vs 21) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Black Pepper without repainting risk. See the full French Grey swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Black Pepper
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Black Pepper is Industrialized (434-5DB) — very close at ΔE 2.09, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 21 vs 21) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Industrialized swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Black Pepper
At Dunn-Edwards, the closest color to Black Pepper is Taliesin Blue (DEC798) — very close at ΔE 2.96, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 19 vs 21) and carries a cool blue-green undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Taliesin Blue swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Black Pepper
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of Black Pepper. The nearest is Barrow Blue (NO. G8) at ΔE 4.54 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly darker (LRV 19 vs 21). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Barrow Blue swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Black Pepper
At Diamond Vogel, the closest color to Black Pepper is Backwater (0513) — very close at ΔE 2.94, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 18 vs 21) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Backwater swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Black Pepper
At Hirshfield's, the closest color to Black Pepper is Ocean Storms (0506) — very close at ΔE 2.72, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 23 vs 21) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Ocean Storms swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Black Pepper
Rodda's nearest match is Duende (R098), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.93). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 22 vs 21) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Black Pepper without repainting risk. See the full Duende swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Black Pepper
Clare has no exact twin of Black Pepper. The nearest is Irony (PNT100-MD-16) at ΔE 4.61 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 21 vs 21). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Irony swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Black Pepper
At Kompozit, the closest color to Black Pepper is Ocean Storms (0506) — very close at ΔE 2.72, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 21 vs 21) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Ocean Storms swatch →