Tuxedo paint colors
Tuxedo is a deep, near-black with a barely-warm cast — the formal-wear black for cabinets and trim. At a reference hex of #1C1C1C, it sits right at the line where black stops feeling like pure ink and starts feeling like a real, livable color. The faint warmth keeps it from going cold or blue, so it reads more like a tailored charcoal-black than a flat-out void.
The Truest Tuxedo Matches
The truest tuxedo matches across every US brand — start here.
Backdrop's true black; widely featured in best black paint articles
P&L's flagship true black for doors and trim
Dark Kettle Black is the black you buy when you want black and nothing else.
The iconic SW true black for front doors, exterior trim, and interior accents
All 226 Tuxedo Paint Colors
Every tuxedo from every brand we track, merged into one shelf. Truest match first. Filter by brand or depth, or change the order.
Swatches are each brand's published display value, not a physical sample under controlled lighting. Screens vary, and so does your light. Order a brand-direct sample or preview the color on a photo of your own wall before you specify.
Upload a photo of the room. We paint it in the tuxedo you chose with your light and your floor, and you can swap colors until one holds.
How Deep Each Tuxedo Deck Goes
How many tuxedo colors each brand carries, drawn with that deck's own tuxedos from light to dark. Pick your store first, then the color. Every brand equal, no favorites.
More on tuxedo paint colors
It helps to think of Tuxedo as a color name and a digital target, not a single can on a shelf. The hex is a starting point. To actually get it on your walls or cabinets, a paint counter matches that color and mixes it to order, which means you can carry the same look across almost any US brand.
This page covers what makes a good version of Tuxedo, how it behaves on a real surface, where it shines and where it fights you, and how to get it mixed without guessing.
What Tuxedo Really Is
Tuxedo is a black with a quiet warm lean, not a true neutral black and not a cool blue-black. That barely-there warmth is the whole point — it softens the color just enough to feel intentional and tailored instead of harsh. A good version holds that warmth without ever tipping into brown or charcoal in normal daylight.
The undertone is what separates a great Tuxedo from a dead one. Too cool and it goes flat and industrial; too warm and it muddies toward dark espresso. The sweet spot is a black that looks crisp up close but reads soft and deep across a room.
How It Reads on a Wall
With an LRV of about 1, Tuxedo reflects almost no light — it is one of the darkest colors you can put on a surface. Expect it to drink up light rather than bounce it, so a wall in this shade will feel like a solid, enveloping plane rather than a bright surface. In a dim room it can read as near-solid black; in strong light you start to see the faint warmth and a little dimension.
Because it absorbs so much light, the finish you choose matters more than usual. A matte or flat finish leans into the velvety, formal-wear look, while any sheen will catch light and show every fingerprint, brush mark, and wall flaw.
Where Tuxedo Works Best
Tuxedo earns its name on things you want to look tailored: cabinetry, built-ins, interior doors, trim, and accent walls. It is fantastic on lower kitchen cabinets, a moody island, a study, a powder room, or a single feature wall behind a bed. In rooms with good natural light — especially south-facing spaces — the warmth shows and the color feels rich rather than heavy.
It struggles as a whole-room wrap in small, north-facing, or low-light spaces, where an LRV of 1 can make a room feel like a closed box. It also fights you on big surfaces that need to feel open or bright. Use it where you want drama and definition, not where you need the room to feel larger.
Pairing Trim, Ceilings, and Colors
Tuxedo gives you two clean directions for trim and ceilings. Go high-contrast with a crisp warm white to make the black look sharp and architectural, or go tonal — Tuxedo on the trim too, or a deep charcoal nearby — for a quiet, monochrome, enveloping feel. A bright white ceiling lifts a Tuxedo room; a softer or matching dark ceiling makes it feel like a cocoon.
For coordinating colors, the warm undertone pairs naturally with warm woods, brass and aged-bronze hardware, and creamy off-whites. Greens, deep blues, terracotta, and warm taupes all sit comfortably against it. Avoid stark, cool-blue whites next to it — they fight the warmth and can make the black look dirty.
How to Actually Get Tuxedo
Tuxedo is mixed to order, not pulled off a shelf. You bring the color — a name, a chip, or the hex as a reference — to a paint counter, and they tint a base to match it. Because matching is done to a target, you are not locked to one brand; almost any major US paint line can be mixed to hit the same look, so you can choose based on the finish, durability, and price you want.
For cabinets and trim, ask for a durable enamel or cabinet-grade finish rather than a standard wall paint, since those surfaces get touched and need to hold up. Always buy a sample and test it on the real surface, in the real light, before committing — a deep black like this can shift more than you expect between the chip and the wall.
Tuxedo Paint FAQ
Is Tuxedo a true black or a charcoal?
It sits between the two. Tuxedo is a deep near-black with a barely-warm cast, so it reads as black across a room but shows a soft, tailored warmth up close and in good light. It is darker and more solid than a typical charcoal.
What does an LRV of 1 mean for my room?
LRV measures how much light a color reflects, and 1 is about as low as it gets. Tuxedo will absorb almost all the light that hits it, so the surface looks deep and solid rather than bright. Plan for a room that feels enveloping, and lean on good lighting if you use it widely.
Where should I avoid using Tuxedo?
Skip it as a full wrap in small, dark, or north-facing rooms where it can make the space feel closed in. It also struggles on surfaces you want to feel open or airy. It is happiest on cabinets, trim, doors, and accent walls, or in rooms with strong natural light.
What trim and ceiling colors go with Tuxedo?
A crisp warm white gives you sharp, architectural contrast, while a tonal dark or matching black creates a quiet, cocoon-like feel. For ceilings, a bright white lifts the room and a darker ceiling deepens the mood. Avoid cool blue-whites, which fight the warm undertone.
Can I get Tuxedo in any paint brand?
Yes. Tuxedo is a color target, and paint counters match colors and mix them to order, so you are not tied to one brand. Bring the color reference and pick the brand based on the finish and durability you want, especially for cabinets and trim.
What are the most common mistakes with Tuxedo?
The biggest ones are using it in a too-dark room, skipping a real-surface sample, and choosing the wrong finish. A glossy sheen shows every flaw and fingerprint, while the wrong nearby white can make the black look dirty. Test it in your actual light before you commit.
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