CP

Dunn-Edwards Black LeadDE6322 · #474C4D · LRV 7

Black Lead reads as a neutral with no strong undertone — very dark — reads black in most rooms. The notes below cover the color's details, what Dunn-Edwards DE6322 actually looks like under different light, and the closest matches at competing US brands.

DUNN-EDWARDS BLACK LEAD
RGB 71, 76, 77LRV 7

Color spec

BrandDunn-Edwards
NameBlack Lead
SKUDE6322
Hex#474C4D
RGB71, 76, 77
HSL190°, 4%, 29%
LRV7
Undertoneneutral with no strong undertone
FamilyGray
See Dunn-Edwards Black Lead on your own walls — upload a room photo.SEE IT IN YOUR ROOM →

About Dunn-Edwards 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.

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.

Closest matches by brand

18 brands within ΔE 5

The 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 gray from that brand.

Sherwin-Williams

1,947 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.91
All gray at Sherwin-Williams →
SW 9645 · #41494B · ΔE 1.91 · LRV 6
SW 7062 · #484C49 · ΔE 2.49 · LRV 7
SW 7076 · #44484D · ΔE 3.03 · LRV 6
SW 9660 · #424E53 · ΔE 3.44 · LRV 7

Behr

5,644 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.01
All gray at Behr →
BXC-23 · #444A4C · ΔE 1.01 · LRV 7
HDC-CL-24 · #474B51 · ΔE 3.38 · LRV 7
N140-7 · #4C4B4B · ΔE 3.48 · LRV 7
BXC-17 · #444D4A · ΔE 3.6 · LRV 7

Benjamin Moore

4,068 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.66
All gray at Benjamin Moore →
2126-20 · #464A4D · ΔE 1.66 · LRV 8
2135-20 · #434C4F · ΔE 2.02 · LRV 8
1617 · #4B4D4F · ΔE 2.08 · LRV 9
2124-10 · #494A4B · ΔE 2.33 · LRV 8

Valspar

2,858 colors in deck · best ΔE 0.92
All gray at Valspar →
4007-2C · #454A4C · ΔE 0.92 · LRV 6.7
8006-7F · #454B4F · ΔE 1.84 · LRV 7
V113-3 · #454B4F · ΔE 1.84 · LRV 6.9
4006-2C · #484B50 · ΔE 3.1 · LRV 7

PPG / Glidden

2,132 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.06
All gray at PPG / Glidden →
PPG1012-7 · #434B4F · ΔE 2.06 · LRV 7
PPG1037-7 · #484C51 · ΔE 2.78 · LRV 7
PPG1035-7 · #455155 · ΔE 3.5 · LRV 8
PPG1039-7 · #455156 · ΔE 3.66 · LRV 8

Glidden

3,101 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.92
All gray at Glidden →
PPG1037-7 · #474C50 · ΔE 1.92 · LRV 7
PPG1012-7 · #434B4F · ΔE 2.06 · LRV 7
PPG1035-7 · #445055 · ΔE 3.55 · LRV 8
30GY 07/051 · #4B4E47 · ΔE 4.8 · LRV 7

Dutch Boy

1,340 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.03
All gray at Dutch Boy →
434-7DB · #44484D · ΔE 3.03 · LRV 6
427-7DB · #414E4E · ΔE 4.07 · LRV 7
432-7DB · #3E4B54 · ΔE 4.92 · LRV 7
HGSW 1501 · #484C49 · ΔE 2.49 · LRV 7
HGSW 7062 · #484C49 · ΔE 2.49 · LRV 7
HGSW 1461 · #44484D · ΔE 3.03 · LRV 6
HGSW 7076 · #44484D · ΔE 3.03 · LRV 6

Magnolia Home

160 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.61
All gray at Magnolia Home →
JG-161 · #494E4B · ΔE 2.61 · LRV 7

Farrow & Ball

302 colors in deck · best ΔE 1.81
All gray at Farrow & Ball →
NO. 31 · #45494C · ΔE 1.81 · LRV 7
NO. 93 · #464D4A · ΔE 2.97 · LRV 7
NO. CB10 · #4A4949 · ΔE 3.53 · LRV 7
NO. 94 · #434D48 · ΔE 4.89 · LRV 7

Diamond Vogel

1,386 colors in deck · best ΔE 0.65
All gray at Diamond Vogel →
0494 · #474C4C · ΔE 0.65 · LRV 7
0536 · #4F4E4C · ΔE 3.69 · LRV 8
0522 · #47474B · ΔE 4.17 · LRV 6

Hirshfield's

1,469 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.27
All gray at Hirshfield's →
0508 · #46474A · ΔE 3.27 · LRV 9
0585 · #4A4C45 · ΔE 4.81 · LRV 9

Rodda

357 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.31
All gray at Rodda →
R024 · #50504F · ΔE 3.31 · LRV 9

C2 Paint

580 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.06
All gray at C2 Paint →
C2-901 · #4C4C4A · ΔE 3.06 · LRV 7
C2-965 · #464646 · ΔE 3.28 · LRV 6

Clare

78 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.81
All gray at Clare →
PNT100-DP-54 · #484745 · ΔE 3.81 · LRV 6
PNT100-DP-55 · #515052 · ΔE 4.22 · LRV 8

Portola Paints

69 colors in deck · best ΔE 2.71
All gray at Portola Paints →
BLACK SKY · #434545 · ΔE 2.71 · LRV 6

Backdrop

30 colors in deck · best ΔE 4.75
All gray at Backdrop →
BD-AH · #3D423E · ΔE 4.75 · LRV 6

Kompozit

1,321 colors in deck · best ΔE 3.27
All gray at Kompozit →
0508 · #46474A · ΔE 3.27 · LRV 6
0585 · #4A4C45 · ΔE 4.81 · LRV 7

Similar Dunn-Edwards colors

closest in the Dunn-Edwards deck

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.

DEA188 · LRV 7
DEGR63 · LRV 7
DE6329 · LRV 7
DEFD62 · LRV 7
DE6343 · LRV 6
DE6385 · LRV 7

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.

COMPLEMENTARY
#474C4D + #4D4847
TRIADIC
#474C4D · #4D474C · #4C4D47
ANALOGOUS
#474D4B · #474C4D · #47494D

Accessibility (WCAG contrast)

Sample text on white
8.72:1AAA
Sample text on black
2.41:1fail

WCAG 2.1: AA = 4.5:1 normal text · AA Large = 3:1 large text · AAA = 7:1 normal text.

Dunn-Edwards Black Lead Equivalents at Other Brands

Matching Black Lead 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 Dunn-Edwards DE6322 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.

Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Black Lead

At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Black Lead is Rock Bottom (SW 7062) — very close at ΔE 2.49, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Rock Bottom swatch →

Behr Equivalent of Black Lead

At Behr, the closest color to Black Lead is Timber Brown (N140-7) — very close at ΔE 3.48, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Timber Brown swatch →

Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Black Lead

At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Black Lead is Wrought Iron (2124-10) — very close at ΔE 2.33, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 7) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Wrought Iron swatch →

Valspar Equivalent of Black Lead

Valspar's nearest match is Sooty Lashes (8006-7F), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.84). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Black Lead without repainting risk. See the full Sooty Lashes swatch →

PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Black Lead

At PPG / Glidden, the closest color to Black Lead is Witchcraft (PPG1037-7) — very close at ΔE 2.78, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Witchcraft swatch →

Glidden Equivalent of Black Lead

Glidden's nearest match is Witchcraft (PPG1037-7), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.92). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a cool blue undertone, so it substitutes for Black Lead without repainting risk. See the full Witchcraft swatch →

Dutch Boy Equivalent of Black Lead

Dutch Boy has no exact twin of Black Lead. The nearest is Shaded Forest (427-7DB) at ΔE 4.07 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Shaded Forest swatch →

HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Black Lead

At HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Black Lead is Rock Bottom (HGSW 1501) — very close at ΔE 2.49, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Rock Bottom swatch →

Magnolia Home Equivalent of Black Lead

At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Black Lead is Cottage Grove (JG-161) — very close at ΔE 2.61, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Cottage Grove swatch →

Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Black Lead

At Farrow & Ball, the closest color to Black Lead is Studio Green (NO. 93) — very close at ΔE 2.97, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Studio Green swatch →

Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Black Lead

The closest Diamond Vogel equivalent of Black Lead is Dark River (0494). At ΔE 0.65 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7). If Diamond Vogel is your counter, order Dark River and you'll get the same color. See the full Dark River swatch →

Hirshfield's Equivalent of Black Lead

Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Black Lead. The nearest is Oyster Catch (0585) at ΔE 4.81 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 9 vs 7). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Oyster Catch swatch →

C2 Paint Equivalent of Black Lead

At C2 Paint, the closest color to Black Lead is Andromeda (C2-901) — very close at ΔE 3.06, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Andromeda swatch →

Clare Equivalent of Black Lead

Clare has no exact twin of Black Lead. The nearest is Blackish (PNT100-DP-54) at ΔE 3.81 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 7). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Blackish swatch →

Kompozit Equivalent of Black Lead

Kompozit has no exact twin of Black Lead. The nearest is Oyster Catch (0585) at ΔE 4.81 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Oyster Catch swatch →

EXPLORE MORE