Color spec
| Brand | Hirshfield's |
| Name | Black Licorice |
| SKU | 0529 |
| Hex | #3A3B3B |
| RGB | 58, 59, 59 |
| HSL | 180°, 1%, 23% |
| LRV | 6 |
| Undertone | true neutral (no measurable hue) |
| Family | Black |
About Hirshfield's Black Licorice
At LRV 6, Black Licorice 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 Licorice 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
20 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
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
PPG / Glidden
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Rodda
C2 Paint
Clare
Portola Paints
Annie Sloan
Backdrop
Rust-Oleum
Kompozit
Similar Hirshfield's colors
closest in the Hirshfield's deckThe nearest shades to Black Licorice within Hirshfield's'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 #3A3B3B in HSL space. Pair Black Licorice 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.
Hirshfield's Black Licorice Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Black Licorice 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 Hirshfield's 0529 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Black Licorice
Sherwin-Williams's nearest match is Greenblack (SW 6994), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.32). It runs slightly darker (LRV 4 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Black Licorice without repainting risk. See the full Greenblack swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Black Licorice
The closest Behr equivalent of Black Licorice is Limousine Leather (MQ5-05). At ΔE 0.75 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and runs slightly darker (LRV 4 vs 6). 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 Black Licorice
Benjamin Moore's nearest match is Black Iron (2120-20), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.36). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Black Licorice without repainting risk. See the full Black Iron swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Black Licorice
The closest Valspar equivalent of Black Licorice is Black Heron (V120-3). At ΔE 0.84 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and runs slightly darker (LRV 4.5 vs 6). If Valspar is your counter, order Black Heron and you'll get the same color. See the full Black Heron swatch →
PPG / Glidden Equivalent of Black Licorice
The closest PPG / Glidden equivalent of Black Licorice is Starless Sky (PPG0995-7). 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 5 vs 6). 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 Black Licorice
Glidden's nearest match is Onyx Black (00NN 05/000), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.64). It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Black Licorice without repainting risk. See the full Onyx Black swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Black Licorice
Dutch Boy has no exact twin of Black Licorice. The nearest is Ebony Sky (438-6DB) at ΔE 3.86 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 5 vs 6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Ebony Sky swatch →
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Black Licorice
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams doesn't make a true equivalent of Black Licorice — the nearest deck color, Jasper (HGSW 3291), is clearly different (ΔE 5.2). For an exact match, any HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams retailer can custom-tint Hirshfield's 0529 instead. See the full Jasper swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Black Licorice
Dunn-Edwards's nearest match is Black (DEA002), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.32). It runs slightly darker (LRV 4 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Black Licorice without repainting risk. See the full Black swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Black Licorice
Magnolia Home doesn't make a true equivalent of Black Licorice — the nearest deck color, Moments (JG-150), is clearly different (ΔE 6.17). For an exact match, any Magnolia Home retailer can custom-tint Hirshfield's 0529 instead. See the full Moments swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Black Licorice
Farrow & Ball's nearest match is Pitch Black (NO. 256), visually identical in normal room light (ΔE 1.95). It runs slightly darker (LRV 4 vs 6) and carries a true neutral undertone, so it substitutes for Black Licorice without repainting risk. See the full Pitch Black swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Black Licorice
The closest Diamond Vogel equivalent of Black Licorice is Grantsburg Gray (H101). At ΔE 0.76 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and runs slightly darker (LRV 4 vs 6). If Diamond Vogel is your counter, order Grantsburg Gray and you'll get the same color. See the full Grantsburg Gray swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Black Licorice
Rodda doesn't make a true equivalent of Black Licorice — the nearest deck color, Midnight (CA210), is clearly different (ΔE 5.98). For an exact match, any Rodda retailer can custom-tint Hirshfield's 0529 instead. See the full Midnight swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Black Licorice
The closest C2 Paint equivalent of Black Licorice is Aperture (C2-981). At ΔE 0.65 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and runs slightly darker (LRV 4 vs 6). If C2 Paint is your counter, order Aperture and you'll get the same color. See the full Aperture swatch →
Clare Equivalent of Black Licorice
Clare has no exact twin of Black Licorice. The nearest is Blackish (PNT100-DP-54) at ΔE 4.36 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Blackish swatch →
Portola Paints Equivalent of Black Licorice
Portola Paints doesn't make a true equivalent of Black Licorice — the nearest deck color, Nomad (NOMAD), is clearly different (ΔE 6.69). For an exact match, any Portola Paints retailer can custom-tint Hirshfield's 0529 instead. See the full Nomad swatch →
Annie Sloan Equivalent of Black Licorice
Annie Sloan doesn't make a true equivalent of Black Licorice — the nearest deck color, Aubusson Blue (AUBUSSON BLUE), is clearly different (ΔE 9.7). For an exact match, any Annie Sloan retailer can custom-tint Hirshfield's 0529 instead. See the full Aubusson Blue swatch →
Backdrop Equivalent of Black Licorice
Backdrop has no exact twin of Black Licorice. The nearest is After Hours (BD-AH) at ΔE 4.29 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 6). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full After Hours swatch →
Rust-Oleum Equivalent of Black Licorice
At Rust-Oleum, the closest color to Black Licorice is Charcoal (285144) — very close at ΔE 2.6, though not an exact twin. It runs slightly darker (LRV 4 vs 6) 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 Black Licorice
The closest Kompozit equivalent of Black Licorice is Black Licorice (0529). At ΔE 0 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same true neutral undertone and runs slightly darker (LRV 4 vs 6). If Kompozit is your counter, order Black Licorice and you'll get the same color. See the full Black Licorice swatch →