Color spec
| Brand | Pratt & Lambert |
| Name | Black Lacquer |
| SKU | 32-2 |
| Hex | #1F2025 |
| RGB | 31, 32, 37 |
| HSL | 230°, 9%, 13% |
| LRV | 3 |
| Undertone | near-black with a faint undertone |
| Family | Black |
What Color Is Black Lacquer, Really?
Pratt & Lambert Black Lacquer (32-2) is a true, deep near-black. Its color reading sits at a very low lightness, so in almost any room it simply reads as black. Look closely and there is only the faintest cool lean toward blue, at a saturation so low it stays essentially neutral. With an LRV of 3, it absorbs nearly all the light that hits it.
It is popular because it is Pratt & Lambert's flagship true black for doors and trim, the go-to when you want a clean, confident black rather than a soft charcoal.
Black Lacquer suits homes that want contrast and definition: a crisp front door, sharp window sash, black-framed cabinetry, or a single dramatic feature. It fits both modern and traditional houses, and works for anyone who wants black to actually look black instead of drifting brown or gray.
Black Lacquer leans very slightly cool. Its hue points toward blue, but the saturation is only about 9 percent, which is under the 10 percent mark where a color becomes near-neutral with just a hint of direction. In practical terms that means it is a clean black with a whisper of blue rather than a color with an obvious cast.
The faint cool lean shows up mostly in strong daylight and when the paint is set next to warm, creamy whites or wood tones. Beside those warmer materials it can look a touch inky. Against cool grays or bright white trim it just reads as flat black.
To judge it honestly, brush a sample next to a truly neutral black and next to the trim white you plan to use. View it in the actual room light, not on a chip in your hand, because the undertone only surfaces under certain lighting.
Best Rooms and Uses for Black Lacquer
At an LRV of 3, this is a statement and contrast color, not a whole-room wall paint for most spaces. Used across every wall in a small or dim room it will close the space down fast, so save that treatment for rooms where you deliberately want a dark, enveloping effect like a powder room, study, or dining room.
It is at its best on the elements it was made for: front doors, trim, window sash, shutters, and a painted exterior door or accent. Indoors it is a strong choice for cabinetry, a kitchen island, built-ins, and interior doors, where the near-black gives crisp definition against lighter walls.
As an exterior it holds up as a bold door or trim color against brick, siding, or stone. Pair it with generous light around it so the black stays sharp rather than heavy.
How Lighting Changes Black Lacquer
With an LRV of 3, Black Lacquer soaks up almost all available light, so lighting changes its mood more than its lightness. It will look dark in every room; the question is whether it feels flat and matte or picks up a subtle sheen and cool edge.
North-facing rooms get soft, cool light that keeps the black even and can nudge the faint blue forward, so it reads at its coolest and flattest. South-facing rooms flood it with warm light that lifts any sheen in the finish and shows off the depth. East light makes it crisp in the morning, while west light warms it in the afternoon and evening.
Bulb choice matters. Warm bulbs around 2700K relax the cool lean and make it feel richer. Cooler LED light can push it toward an inky, slightly blue-black. Test both before committing.
Most complaints about Black Lacquer 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 →Black Lacquer vs Similar Colors
Pratt & Lambert has other dark colors people cross-shop, and the differences are practical. Chalkboard (32-5) sits at LRV 6 and reads as a soft near-black with a green cast, so it feels a little warmer and less absolute than Black Lacquer. Choose Chalkboard when you want a black that relaxes into charcoal; choose Black Lacquer when you want black to look truly black.
Cinder (32-20) is a different animal at LRV 11: it is clearly a deep charcoal gray, not a black, and it will show as gray next to Black Lacquer in daylight. Use Cinder when you want the drama of dark without full black.
Forest (27-9) at LRV 7 is a deep, near-black green. Next to Black Lacquer its green is obvious, so pick Forest when you want a color that hints at nature and Black Lacquer when you want a clean, neutral black.
Colors That Go With Black Lacquer
For trim and ceilings, Designer White (33-1), at LRV 89, gives the brightest, cleanest contrast and keeps the black looking crisp. If you want something softer, Silver Lining (32-1) at LRV 80 is a warm off-white that eases the contrast on walls or millwork around the black.
For a companion wall or a wider palette, Light Grey (32-12) at LRV 58 bridges between the black and the whites without competing. Granite (32-19), a mid gray at LRV 21, steps the tones down gradually if you want depth rather than a hard jump.
For an accent, Williamsburg Wedgwood Blue (CW-30) at LRV 28 picks up the cool lean and adds color without fighting the black; Brick Red (20-9) at LRV 5 is a strong warm counterpoint for a door or feature. Warm woods like oak or walnut and either brass or matte-black metals all work alongside it.
Need It From Another Brand?
Any paint counter can custom-tint Pratt & Lambert 32-2 directly — but if you would rather stay in one brand's own deck, these are the closest stock matches:
Coordinated palette
Generated by hue-rotating #1F2025 in HSL space. Pair Black Lacquer 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 Black Lacquer warm or cool?
Black Lacquer is very slightly cool. Its hue leans toward blue, but the saturation is only about 9 percent, so it stays essentially a neutral black with just a hint of cool direction. The faint blue lean shows mainly in bright daylight and next to warm creamy whites. In most rooms it simply reads as a clean black.
What trim white goes with Black Lacquer?
Designer White (33-1), at LRV 89, is the cleanest choice. It is bright enough to give crisp, high contrast against the near-black, which keeps the black looking sharp on doors, sash, and cabinetry. If you prefer a softer, warmer edge, Silver Lining (32-1) at LRV 80 is a gentler off-white that reduces the contrast.
Does Black Lacquer work on cabinets and exteriors?
Yes. It is a strong choice for cabinetry, kitchen islands, built-ins, and interior doors, where it gives crisp definition against lighter walls. On exteriors it works well as a bold front door, trim, sash, or shutter color against brick, stone, or siding. Because it reads as true black, it holds its look outdoors better than colors that drift brown or gray.
What does an LRV of 3 mean in practice?
LRV measures how much light a color reflects, on a scale of 0 to 100. At 3, Black Lacquer reflects almost no light and absorbs nearly all of it, which is why it reads as black everywhere. Used on every wall of a small or dim room it will make the space feel much smaller, so it is best as a statement, accent, door, or trim color.
How is Black Lacquer different from Benjamin Moore Black?
Benjamin Moore Black (PM-9) has an LRV of 5, so it reflects a little more light and reads as a fraction softer. Black Lacquer, at LRV 3, is slightly deeper and more absolute. In practice both look black in most rooms; Black Lacquer is the darker, more true-black option if you want the strongest, cleanest black.
Should I sample Black Lacquer before painting?
Yes, always. Because its LRV is so low, lighting and finish change how it feels more than how dark it looks. Brush a sample on the door, cabinet, or wall, view it in morning and evening light, and check it under both warm and cool bulbs. That is the only way to see whether the faint cool lean and the sheen suit your space.
Will It Work in YOUR Room?
No page can promise how Black Lacquer behaves in your light. Upload a photo and see it on your own walls in seconds — before you spend a cent on samples.
TRY BLACK LACQUER ON YOUR ROOM →
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