Color spec
| Brand | Benjamin Moore |
| Name | Soot |
| SKU | 2129-20 |
| Hex | #363D44 |
| RGB | 54, 61, 68 |
| HSL | 210°, 11%, 24% |
| LRV | 4 |
| Undertone | cool blue tone |
| Family | Black |
What Color Is Soot, Really?
Soot reads as a cool blue tone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Benjamin Moore 2129-20 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Soot
Soot 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.
How Lighting Changes Soot
At LRV 4, Soot 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. 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. In rooms with little natural light it can feel heavy, so reserve it for spaces you want to feel enveloping.
Most complaints about Soot are a light mismatch. Upload a photo of your actual room and see it on your walls — then ask for the same wall in north light or evening lamps before you buy a single sample.
TEST IT IN YOUR LIGHT →Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Benjamin Moore 2129-20 directly — but if you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches:
Similar Benjamin Moore colors
closest in the Benjamin Moore deckThe nearest shades to Soot 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 #363D44 in HSL space. Pair Soot 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.
Will It Work in YOUR Room?
No page can promise how Soot behaves in your light. Upload a photo and see it on your own walls in seconds — before you spend a cent on samples.
TRY SOOT ON YOUR ROOM →Ask a Question
Not sure about Soot in your room?
Ask Jessica below — every question gets a real reply, usually within a day.