Color spec
| Brand | Dutch Boy |
| Name | True Black |
| SKU | 438-7DB |
| Hex | #2F2F30 |
| RGB | 47, 47, 48 |
| HSL | 240°, 1%, 19% |
| LRV | 3 |
| Undertone | true neutral (no measurable hue) |
| Family | Black |
About Dutch Boy True Black
At LRV 3, True 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.
True 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 at every US brand
13 brands · top 5 each5 closest matches per brand by ΔE2000, computed against each brand's full deck. Tap any swatch for its full single-color spec; tap the brand title to browse all black from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
Kompozit
Diamond Vogel
Magnolia Home
Dunn-Edwards
Farrow & Ball
C2 Paint
Behr
PPG / Glidden
Backdrop
Clare
Similar Dutch Boy colors
closest in the Dutch Boy deckThe nearest shades to True Black within Dutch Boy'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 #2F2F30 in HSL space. Pair True 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.
Dutch Boy True Black Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching True 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 Dutch Boy 438-7DB directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of True Black
The closest Sherwin-Williams equivalent of True Black is Tricorn Black (SW 6258). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 3 vs 3). If Sherwin-Williams is your counter, order Tricorn Black and you'll get the same color. See the full Tricorn Black swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of True Black
The closest Benjamin Moore equivalent of True Black is Black (2132-10). At ΔE 0.64 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and runs slightly lighter (LRV 5 vs 3). If Benjamin Moore is your counter, order Black and you'll get the same color. See the full Black swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of True Black
The closest Valspar equivalent of True Black is Tomcat (8006-12G). At ΔE 0.72 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 3 vs 3). If Valspar is your counter, order Tomcat and you'll get the same color. See the full Tomcat swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of True Black
Kompozit's nearest match is Silent Sea (0515), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.5). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 2 vs 3) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for True Black without repainting risk. See the full Silent Sea swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of True Black
Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of True Black. The nearest is Grantsburg Gray (H101) at ΔE 3.54 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 4 vs 3). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Grantsburg Gray swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of True Black
Magnolia Home has no exact twin of True Black. The nearest is Blackboard (JG-05) at ΔE 3.57 — 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 Blackboard swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of True Black
Dunn-Edwards has no exact twin of True Black. The nearest is Black (DEA002) at ΔE 3.69 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 4 vs 3). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Black swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of True Black
Farrow & Ball has no exact twin of True Black. The nearest is Pitch Black (NO. 256) at ΔE 3.7 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 4 vs 3). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Pitch Black swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of True Black
PPG / Glidden has no exact twin of True Black. The nearest is Starless Sky (PPG0995-7) at ΔE 4.56 — 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 Starless Sky swatch →
Behr Equivalent of True Black
Behr doesn't make a true equivalent of True Black — the nearest deck color, Beluga (770F-7), is clearly different (ΔE 5.23). For an exact match, any Behr retailer can custom-tint Dutch Boy 438-7DB instead. See the full Beluga swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of True Black
Backdrop doesn't make a true equivalent of True Black — the nearest deck color, Hocus Pocus (BD-HP), is clearly different (ΔE 5.46). For an exact match, any Backdrop retailer can custom-tint Dutch Boy 438-7DB instead. See the full Hocus Pocus swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of True Black
C2 Paint doesn't make a true equivalent of True Black — the nearest deck color, Angus (BD49), is clearly different (ΔE 7.15). For an exact match, any C2 Paint retailer can custom-tint Dutch Boy 438-7DB instead. See the full Angus swatch →
Clare Equivalent of True Black
Clare doesn't make a true equivalent of True Black — the nearest deck color, Blackish (PNT100-DP-54), is clearly different (ΔE 8.09). For an exact match, any Clare retailer can custom-tint Dutch Boy 438-7DB instead. See the full Blackish swatch →