Black Lead
DE6322 · #474C4D · LRV 7 — neutral with no strong undertone, very dark — reads black in most rooms.
- 1Black Lead7
- 2Pewter Green12
- 3Retreat21
What Color Is Black Lead, Really?
Black Lead reads as a neutral with no strong undertone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover how Dunn-Edwards DE6322 behaves in different light and the closest matches at competing US brands.
Best Rooms and Uses for Black Lead
Black Lead earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.
How Lighting Changes Black Lead
At LRV 7, Black Lead 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.
Most complaints about Black Lead 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.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Dunn-Edwards DE6322 directly. If you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches, measured as ΔE2000. Under 2 is a difference you will not see on the wall.
| Brand | Closest color | ΔE | LRV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sherwin-Williams | Rock BottomSW 7062 · Sherwin-Williams | 2.5 | 7 | Color page → |
| Behr | AstronomicalN450-7 · Behr | 1.3 | 7 | Color page → |
| Benjamin Moore | Wrought Iron2124-10 · Benjamin Moore | 2.3 | 8 | Color page → |
| Valspar | Sooty Lashes8006-7F · Valspar | 1.8 | 7 | Color page → |
| PPG / Glidden | WitchcraftPPG1037-7 · PPG / Glidden | 2.8 | 7 | Color page → |
| Glidden | WitchcraftPPG1037-7 · Glidden | 1.9 | 7 | Color page → |
Similar Dunn-Edwards Colors
The nearest shades to Black Lead within Dunn-Edwards's own range, ranked by perceptual color distance — useful when you want the same look a touch lighter, darker, or warmer.
WCAG 2.1: AA is 4.5 : 1 for normal text, 3 : 1 for large text, AAA is 7 : 1.
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #474C4D in HSL space. Pair Black Lead with one accent and one neutral — the swatches below are starting points, not final picks.
Have you painted with Black Lead?
Rate it — one tap helps the next reader decide.
Ask a Question