Color spec
| Brand | Dunn-Edwards |
| Name | Black |
| SKU | DEA187 |
| Hex | #1F1E1E |
| RGB | 31, 30, 30 |
| HSL | 0°, 2%, 12% |
| LRV | 3 |
| Undertone | true neutral (no measurable hue) |
| Family | Black |
About Dunn-Edwards Black
At LRV 3, Black 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 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
6 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.
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
Hirshfield's
Portola Paints
Backdrop
Kompozit
Similar Dunn-Edwards colors
closest in the Dunn-Edwards deckThe nearest shades to Black within Dunn-Edwards'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 #1F1E1E in HSL space. Pair Black 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.
Dunn-Edwards Black Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Black 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 DEA187 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Black
Benjamin Moore has no exact twin of Black. The nearest is Black (PM-9) at ΔE 4.52 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 5 vs 3). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Black swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Black
Valspar has no exact twin of Black. The nearest is Tuxedo (8006-8G) at ΔE 4.63 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 2 vs 3). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Tuxedo swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Black
Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Black. The nearest is Silent Sea (0515) at ΔE 4.22 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It runs slightly lighter (LRV 5 vs 3). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Silent Sea swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Black
At Portola Paints, the closest color to Black is Factory Black (FACTORY BLACK) — very close at ΔE 2.7, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 2 vs 3) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Factory Black swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Black
Backdrop has no exact twin of Black. The nearest is Hocus Pocus (BD-HP) at ΔE 3.52 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 3 vs 3). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Hocus Pocus swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Black
Kompozit has no exact twin of Black. The nearest is Silent Sea (0515) at ΔE 4.22 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 2 vs 3). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Silent Sea swatch →