Color spec
| Brand | PPG / Glidden |
| Name | Black Elegance |
| SKU | PPG1004-7 |
| Hex | #51484B |
| RGB | 81, 72, 75 |
| HSL | 340°, 6%, 30% |
| LRV | 7 |
| Undertone | warm magenta tone |
| Family | Gray |
About PPG / Glidden Black Elegance
At LRV 7, Black Elegance 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 Elegance earns its keep as a statement: accent walls, a front door, cabinetry, a moody powder room, or exterior trim where you want sharp contrast. Grays like this read as a modern neutral and sit comfortably alongside both warm woods and cool metals.
Closest matches by brand
15 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 gray from that brand.
Sherwin-Williams
Behr
Benjamin Moore
Valspar
Glidden
Dutch Boy
HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams
Dunn-Edwards
Magnolia Home
Farrow & Ball
Diamond Vogel
Hirshfield's
Rodda
C2 Paint
Kompozit
Similar PPG / Glidden colors
closest in the PPG / Glidden deckThe nearest shades to Black Elegance within PPG / Glidden'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 #51484B in HSL space. Pair Black Elegance 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.
PPG / Glidden Black Elegance Equivalents at Other Brands
Matching Black Elegance 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 PPG / Glidden PPG1004-7 directly — these equivalents are for when you'd rather stay inside one brand's own deck.
Sherwin-Williams Equivalent of Black Elegance
Sherwin-Williams has no exact twin of Black Elegance. The nearest is Perle Noir (SW 9154) at ΔE 3.93 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 7). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Perle Noir swatch →
Behr Equivalent of Black Elegance
At Behr, the closest color to Black Elegance is Harvest Oak (BNC-33) — very close at ΔE 3.2, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Harvest Oak swatch →
Benjamin Moore Equivalent of Black Elegance
At Benjamin Moore, the closest color to Black Elegance is Vintage Wine (2116-20) — very close at ΔE 2.46, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 7) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Vintage Wine swatch →
Valspar Equivalent of Black Elegance
At Valspar, the closest color to Black Elegance is Soft Panther (8006-12F) — very close at ΔE 2.67, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Soft Panther swatch →
Glidden Equivalent of Black Elegance
The closest Glidden equivalent of Black Elegance is Black Elegance (PPG1004-7). At ΔE 0.84 the two are indistinguishable on a wall — it carries the same warm red undertone and sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7). If Glidden is your counter, order Black Elegance and you'll get the same color. See the full Black Elegance swatch →
Dutch Boy Equivalent of Black Elegance
Dutch Boy has no exact twin of Black Elegance. The nearest is Orchid Black (443-7DB) at ΔE 4.45 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Orchid Black swatch →
Dunn-Edwards Equivalent of Black Elegance
Dunn-Edwards has no exact twin of Black Elegance. The nearest is Black Bean (DE6385) at ΔE 4.53 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Black Bean swatch →
Magnolia Home Equivalent of Black Elegance
At Magnolia Home, the closest color to Black Elegance is Aspen Stone (JG-145) — very close at ΔE 2.11, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Aspen Stone swatch →
Farrow & Ball Equivalent of Black Elegance
At Farrow & Ball, the closest color to Black Elegance is Mahogany (NO. 36) — very close at ΔE 2.34, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a warm red undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Mahogany swatch →
Diamond Vogel Equivalent of Black Elegance
Diamond Vogel has no exact twin of Black Elegance. The nearest is Evermore (0557) at ΔE 3.88 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full Evermore swatch →
Hirshfield's Equivalent of Black Elegance
Hirshfield's has no exact twin of Black Elegance. The nearest is My Place or Yours? (1313) at ΔE 4.75 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 8 vs 7). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full My Place or Yours? swatch →
Rodda Equivalent of Black Elegance
At Rodda, the closest color to Black Elegance is Meraki (R108) — very close at ΔE 2.49, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a true neutral undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Meraki swatch →
C2 Paint Equivalent of Black Elegance
At C2 Paint, the closest color to Black Elegance is Wicked (C2-501) — very close at ΔE 3.04, though not an exact twin. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 7 vs 7) and carries a warm magenta undertone; sample both side by side if the room gets strong natural light. See the full Wicked swatch →
Kompozit Equivalent of Black Elegance
Kompozit has no exact twin of Black Elegance. The nearest is My Place or Yours? (1313) at ΔE 4.75 — close, but the difference shows next to trim and in side light. It sits at the same lightness (LRV 6 vs 7). Compare large swatches before substituting. See the full My Place or Yours? swatch →