Color spec
| Brand | Benjamin Moore |
| Name | Black Tar |
| SKU | 2126-10 |
| Hex | #38393A |
| RGB | 56, 57, 58 |
| HSL | 210°, 2%, 22% |
| LRV | 6 |
| Undertone | neutral with no strong undertone |
| Family | Black |
About Benjamin Moore Black Tar
At LRV 6, Black Tar 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 Tar 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 Tar 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 #38393A in HSL space. Pair Black Tar 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 Tar Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Black Tar 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 2126-10 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Black Tar
Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Greenblack (SW 6994), 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 Tar without repainting risk. See the full Greenblack swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Black Tar
Behr's nearest match is Limousine Leather (MQ5-05), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.68). It runs slightly darker (LRV 4 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Black Tar without repainting risk. See the full Limousine Leather swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Black Tar
Valspar's nearest match is Black Heron (V120-3), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.1). It runs slightly darker (LRV 4.5 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Black Tar without repainting risk. See the full Black Heron swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Black Tar
PPG / Glidden's nearest match is Starless Sky (PPG0995-7), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.46). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Black Tar without repainting risk. See the full Starless Sky swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Black Tar
Glidden's nearest match is Onyx Black (00NN 05/000), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.52). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Black Tar without repainting risk. See the full Onyx Black swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Black Tar
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Black Tar. The nearest is Bohemian Black (HGSW 6988) at ΔE 4.49 — 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 Tar
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Black (DEA002), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.38). It runs slightly darker (LRV 4 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Black Tar without repainting risk. See the full Black swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Black Tar
Farrow & Ball's nearest match is Smelt Black (NO. G18), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.31). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Black Tar without repainting risk. See the full Smelt Black swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Black Tar
The closest Diamond Vogel equivalent of Black Tar is Grantsburg Gray (H101). At ΔE 0.33 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and runs slightly darker (LRV 4 vs 6). If Diamond Vogel is your counter, order Grantsburg Gray and you'll get the same color. See the full Grantsburg Gray swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Black Tar
The closest Hirshfield's equivalent of Black Tar is Sayward Pine (H0101). At ΔE 0.7 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and runs slightly darker (LRV 4 vs 6). If Hirshfield's is your counter, order Sayward Pine and you'll get the same color. See the full Sayward Pine swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Black Tar
C2 Paint's nearest match is Aperture (C2-981), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.07). It runs slightly darker (LRV 4 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Black Tar without repainting risk. See the full Aperture swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Black Tar
Portola Paints has no exact twin of Black Tar. The nearest is Newton's Indigo (NEWTON'S INDIGO) at ΔE 4.31 — 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 Newton's Indigo swatch →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Black Tar
At Rust-Oleum, the closest color to Black Tar is Charcoal (285144) — very close at ΔE 2.35, 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 Charcoal swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Black Tar
The closest Kompozit equivalent of Black Tar is Black Licorice (0529). At ΔE 0.94 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and runs slightly darker (LRV 4 vs 6). If Kompozit is your counter, order Black Licorice and you'll get the same color. See the full Black Licorice swatch →