Color spec
| Brand | Farrow & Ball |
| Name | Off-Black |
| SKU | No. 57 |
| Hex | #3A3A36 |
| RGB | 58, 58, 54 |
| HSL | 60°, 4%, 22% |
| LRV | 7 |
| Undertone | neutral with no strong undertone |
| Family | Black |
What Color Is Off-Black, Really?
Off-Black No. 57 is Farrow & Ball's soft, warm-leaning near-black. On paper it carries a faint yellow-green cast, but the color is so low in saturation (about 4 percent) that in a real room it simply reads as a deep, slightly softened black rather than a cold jet black. With an LRV of 7 it sits at the very dark end of the scale, absorbing almost all the light that hits it.
It is popular as Farrow & Ball's softer alternative to Pitch Black and as the go-to editorial near-black for trim, doors, and joinery. Because it is not a flat, hard black, it looks intentional and hand-mixed rather than builder-grade.
It suits period homes, city apartments, and anyone who wants the drama of black without the coldness. Use it where you want contrast and definition instead of a light, airy feel.
Off-Black is best treated as a near-neutral black with the faintest warm lean. Its measured saturation is only about 4 percent, which is well under the 10 percent line where an undertone becomes obvious, so you will not see a strong color pull the way you would with a true blue-black or green-black. The hue sits in the warm yellow-green zone, which is what keeps it from feeling icy.
The lean only shows up in specific conditions. In bright, direct daylight against a crisp white trim you may catch a slightly soft, brownish warmth. Under low light or at night it collapses to a plain deep black.
Test it against a pure black and against a cool blue-black like Black Blue No. 95 (LRV 5). Side by side, Off-Black looks warmer and softer. On its own, most people just read it as black.
Best Rooms and Uses for Off-Black
At an LRV of 7 this is a statement and contrast color, not a whole-home light. Painting four walls in it makes a small, cocooning room like a study, powder room, dining room, or media room feel enveloping, so reserve that move for spaces where drama is the goal rather than everyday brightness.
Its real strength is detail work. It is a classic choice for interior trim, doors, window frames, and joinery, where it outlines a room and makes paler wall colors read cleaner. It looks sharp on kitchen cabinets and built-ins, especially against brass or aged-brass hardware.
Outside, it is a strong pick for a front door, window sash, railings, and exterior trim, giving a crisp, high-contrast edge to a lighter facade. For a full exterior it delivers a bold, modern-heritage look best suited to homes that can carry that much depth.
How Lighting Changes Off-Black
With an LRV of 7, Off-Black reflects very little light, so lighting changes its mood more than its color. In north-facing rooms, which get cool, indirect light, it looks its deepest and most matte, and the faint warmth helps stop it from feeling cold and flat. South-facing rooms flood it with warm light, which lifts the surface slightly and can reveal a soft, brownish edge where the light lands directly.
East light in the morning and west light in the evening both graze it warmly for part of the day, then let it settle back to near-black once the sun moves on.
Bulb choice matters. Warm 2700K bulbs reinforce its soft, inky character, which is usually what you want. Cooler 4000K or higher bulbs push it toward a harder, more neutral black. Always look at a sample after dark, since that is when this color spends much of its time.
Most complaints about Off-Black 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 →Off-Black vs Similar Colors
The obvious comparison is Pitch Black No. 256 (LRV 5). Pitch Black is darker and closer to a true, uncompromising black, while Off-Black is the softer, warmer version. Choose Pitch Black for maximum depth and graphic punch, and Off-Black when you want that near-black look to feel a touch gentler and less severe, which is why it is the more popular trim choice.
Railings No. 31 (LRV 6) is a blue-black rather than a warm one. Next to Off-Black it looks cooler and a shade more like very dark navy, which suits people who want a hint of blue in their black. Off-Black stays more neutral and warm.
Smelt Black No. G18 (LRV 5) is also deeper and reads as a straighter black. If you specifically want the softened, slightly warm near-black, Off-Black is the one to sample.
Colors That Go With Off-Black
For trim and ceilings against Off-Black walls, reach for a soft white with warmth so the contrast does not turn stark. All White No. 2005 (LRV 84) is a clean, near-pure white that keeps the pairing crisp, while Strong White No. 2001 (LRV 81) reads slightly softer and more paper-like.
For a light-and-dark wall scheme in the same space, Elephant's Breath No. 229 (LRV 50) is a warm mid greige that lets Off-Black act as the grounding trim or lower wall. Down Pipe No. 26 (LRV 11) is a natural bridge tone, a deep charcoal gray that steps down from Off-Black without competing with it.
For an accent or a coordinating door, Hague Blue No. 30 (LRV 6) brings deep color at a similar depth. Warm wood tones and unlacquered brass both flatter it; brushed nickel and chrome read cooler and more modern.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Farrow & Ball No. 57 directly — but if you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches:
Similar Farrow & Ball colors
closest in the Farrow & Ball deckThe nearest shades to Off-Black within Farrow & Ball'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 #3A3A36 in HSL space. Pair Off-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.
The Questions Everyone Asks
Is Off-Black warm or cool?
Off-Black is a warm-leaning near-black, but only just. Its saturation is around 4 percent, so the warmth is very subtle and it mostly reads as a soft, deep black rather than an obviously brown or yellow one. Compared to a blue-black like Railings No. 31, it looks noticeably warmer and gentler, which keeps it from feeling cold or icy in a room.
Is Off-Black more gray or more black?
It reads as black in most rooms. With an LRV of 7 it sits at the very dark end of the scale and absorbs nearly all light, so it does not look like a dark gray such as Down Pipe No. 26 (LRV 11). Off-Black only softens toward a deep, warm charcoal in strong direct daylight; the rest of the time it registers simply as a soft black.
What trim or ceiling white goes with Off-Black?
A warm-leaning soft white works best so the contrast stays crisp without turning harsh. All White No. 2005 (LRV 84) is a clean choice that keeps the edge sharp, and Strong White No. 2001 (LRV 81) reads slightly softer if you want a gentler transition. Both have enough warmth to sit comfortably beside Off-Black's faint warm undertone.
Does Off-Black work on cabinets and exteriors?
Yes to both. On kitchen cabinets and built-ins it gives a deep, hand-mixed look that pairs especially well with brass hardware. Outside, it is a strong pick for a front door, window sash, railings, and exterior trim, where its LRV of 7 provides high contrast against a lighter facade. A full exterior in it delivers a bold, modern-heritage effect for homes that can carry the depth.
What does an LRV of 7 mean for Off-Black?
LRV, or light reflectance value, runs from 0 for black to 100 for white. At 7, Off-Black reflects very little light and reads as a genuine dark, so it will make a room feel smaller and more enveloping rather than bright. Treat it as a statement and contrast color for feature walls, trim, cabinets, and doors rather than a whole-home light color.
How is Off-Black different from Pitch Black?
Pitch Black No. 256 (LRV 5) is darker and closer to a true, hard black, while Off-Black No. 57 (LRV 7) is the softer, slightly warmer version. Off-Black is Farrow & Ball's gentler near-black and the more common trim choice. Pick Pitch Black for maximum depth and graphic contrast, and Off-Black when you want the black to feel a touch less severe.
Will It Work in YOUR Room?
No page can promise how Off-Black behaves in your light. Upload a photo and see it on your own walls in seconds — before you spend a cent on samples.
TRY OFF-BLACK ON YOUR ROOM →Ask a Question
Not sure about Off-Black in your room?
Ask Jessica below — every question gets a real reply, usually within a day.