Color spec
| Brand | Farrow & Ball |
| Name | Smelt Black |
| SKU | No. G18 |
| Hex | #3C3C3C |
| RGB | 60, 60, 60 |
| HSL | 0°, 0%, 24% |
| LRV | 5 |
| Undertone | neutral with no strong undertone |
| Family | Black |
About Farrow & Ball Smelt Black
At LRV 5, Smelt 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.
Smelt 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
19 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.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Clare
Portola Paints
Backdrop
Rust-Oleum
Kompozit
Similar Farrow & Ball colors
closest in the Farrow & Ball deckThe nearest shades to Smelt 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 #3C3C3C in HSL space. Pair Smelt 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.
Farrow & Ball Smelt Black Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Smelt 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 Farrow & Ball No. G18 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Smelt Black
At Sherwin-Williams, the closest color to Smelt Black is Armory (SW 9600) — very close at ΔE 2.5, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 5) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Armory swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Smelt Black
The closest Behr equivalent of Smelt Black is Limousine Leather (MQ5-5). At ΔE 0.69 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 5). If Behr is your counter, order Limousine Leather and you'll get the same color. See the full Limousine Leather swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Smelt Black
The closest Benjamin Moore equivalent of Smelt Black is Black Jack (2133-20). At ΔE 0.78 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 5). If Benjamin Moore is your counter, order Black Jack and you'll get the same color. See the full Black Jack swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Smelt Black
Valspar's nearest match is Black Heron (V120-3), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.26). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 4.5 vs 5) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Smelt Black without repainting risk. See the full Black Heron swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Smelt Black
The closest PPG / Glidden equivalent of Smelt Black is Starless Sky (PPG0995-7). At ΔE 0.69 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 5). If PPG / Glidden is your counter, order Starless Sky and you'll get the same color. See the full Starless Sky swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Smelt Black
The closest Glidden equivalent of Smelt Black is Starless Sky (PPG0995-7). At ΔE 0.69 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 5). If Glidden is your counter, order Starless Sky and you'll get the same color. See the full Starless Sky swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Smelt Black
At Dutch Boy, the closest color to Smelt Black is Ebony Sky (438-6DB) — very close at ΔE 3.25, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 5) and carries a warm red-orange undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Ebony Sky swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Smelt Black
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Smelt Black. The nearest is Bohemian Black (HGSW 6988) at ΔE 4.64 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 4 vs 5). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Bohemian Black swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Smelt Black
The closest Dunn-Edwards equivalent of Smelt Black is Carbonized Wood (DESS50). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 5). If Dunn-Edwards is your counter, order Carbonized Wood and you'll get the same color. See the full Carbonized Wood swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Smelt Black
The closest Diamond Vogel equivalent of Smelt Black is Silent Sea (0515). At ΔE 0.78 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 5). If Diamond Vogel is your counter, order Silent Sea and you'll get the same color. See the full Silent Sea swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Smelt Black
The closest Hirshfield's equivalent of Smelt Black is Black Licorice (0529). At ΔE 0.76 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 5). If Hirshfield's is your counter, order Black Licorice and you'll get the same color. See the full Black Licorice swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Smelt Black
At Rodda, the closest color to Smelt Black is French Roast (CA213) — very close at ΔE 3.27, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 5) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full French Roast swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Smelt Black
The closest C2 Paint equivalent of Smelt Black is Aperture (C2-981). At ΔE 0.33 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 4 vs 5). If C2 Paint is your counter, order Aperture and you'll get the same color. See the full Aperture swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Smelt Black
Clare has no exact twin of Smelt Black. The nearest is Blackish (PNT100-DP-54) at ΔE 3.9 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 5). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Blackish swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Smelt Black
Backdrop has no exact twin of Smelt Black. The nearest is After Hours (BD-AH) at ΔE 4.6 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 5). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full After Hours swatch →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Smelt Black
At Rust-Oleum, the closest color to Smelt Black is Charcoal (285144) — very close at ΔE 3.12, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 4 vs 5) and carries a cool blue undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Charcoal swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Smelt Black
The closest Kompozit equivalent of Smelt Black is Black Licorice (0529). At ΔE 0.76 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 4 vs 5). If Kompozit is your counter, order Black Licorice and you'll get the same color. See the full Black Licorice swatch →