Black → Farrow & Ball
The closest Farrow & Ball matches for Benjamin Moore Black (2132-10), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Farrow & Ball Equivalent for Black
If you love Benjamin Moore Black but need a Farrow & Ball alternative, you are not alone. This is one of the most common cross-brand paint matching searches, whether you are working with a painter who prefers Farrow & Ball, your local store does not carry Benjamin Moore, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Black (2132-10) is a dark black with true neutral undertones. BM's truest black. No visible undertone, just deep, pure black. When you want black and nothing but black. To find a good Farrow & Ball match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 3.44) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Black and every Farrow & Ball color using the CIE2000 Delta E formula, which measures how different two colors look to the human eye. A Delta E under 2 means most people cannot tell the colors apart. Between 2 and 4, you might notice a difference in certain lighting. Above 5, the difference is clearly visible side by side.
The good news: there is a strong Farrow & Ball match for Black. Off-Black (No.57) comes in with a Delta E of 2.1, which puts it in the "excellent match" range. Off-Black is the closest Farrow & Ball option at LRV 4. Very close match with F&B's signature chalky depth.
Farrow & Ball Matches for Black
Off-Black is the closest Farrow & Ball option at LRV 4. Very close match with F&B's signature chalky depth.
| Black | Off-Black | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 3.44 | 4 |
| Hex | #353535 | #353835 |
| Undertone | True Neutral | Green-Black |
| Family | Black | Black |
Undertone Comparison
Black has true neutral undertones. BM's truest black. No visible undertone, just deep, pure black. When you want black and nothing but black.
Off-Black has green-black undertones. F&B's signature not-quite-black. Softer and warmer than a flat black, with a subtle green undertone that gives it depth and life. The black of old floorboards and iron railings.
The undertone difference is worth paying attention to. While they are close in overall appearance, the different undertones mean they may diverge in certain lighting. Black's true neutral quality may read differently than Off-Black's green-black character, especially in rooms with strong directional light or colored accents that could pull out one undertone more than the other. Test a sample in your specific room before committing.
How These Colors Behave in Different Lighting
Black in Your Room
Reads as a true black in all conditions. In very bright direct light, it simply looks like a deep, dark surface. No surprises.
Off-Black in Your Room
In bright light, the green undertone shows subtly. In dim rooms, reads as a sophisticated soft black. Under candlelight, alive with depth.
LRV and Brightness
Black has an LRV of 3.44, while Off-Black has an LRV of 4. These two colors reflect a very similar amount of light, so you should not notice a significant difference in room brightness when switching between them. The room will feel approximately the same in terms of light and space, which makes this a smoother transition.
Best Rooms for Black
Benjamin Moore recommends Black for: front door, accent wall, shutters, trim detail, statement furniture. With an LRV of 3.44, this is a dark color that absorbs more light than it reflects. It makes a bold statement and works beautifully on accent walls, front doors, exterior trim, and features where drama is the goal. In a full room, make sure you have good lighting and bright white trim for contrast.
Off-Black is recommended for: front door, railings, exterior trim, accent wall, furniture. Both colors are recommended for similar applications, which confirms that this is a practical cross-brand match. You can use Off-Black in the same rooms you planned for Black.
Black in Other Brands
Looking for Black equivalents in other brands besides Farrow & Ball? We have matches across all major paint brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
The closest Farrow & Ball match for Black (2132-10) is Off-Black (No.57) with a Delta E of 2.1, which rates as a "excellent match" match. Off-Black is the closest Farrow & Ball option at LRV 4. Very close match with F&B's signature chalky depth. Delta E measures perceptual color distance on a scale where under 2 means nearly identical, 2 to 4 means close with subtle differences, and over 5 means clearly noticeable.
No, they are not identical. Black is a Benjamin Moore color with true neutral undertones and an LRV of 3.44. Off-Black is a Farrow & Ball color with green-black undertones and an LRV of 4. With a Delta E of 2.1, the difference is subtle and mainly visible in direct side-by-side comparison. Paint formulations differ between brands, so even colors with similar values can look slightly different due to pigment concentration, binders, and finish.
With a Delta E of 2.1, these colors are close enough to use in separate rooms of the same house without a jarring difference. However, avoid painting them on adjacent walls in the same room, as even subtle differences become apparent at a hard edge where two paints meet. For the smoothest result, use one brand consistently within each connected space and reserve the other brand for rooms that are visually separated.
There are several practical reasons to look for a Farrow & Ball equivalent. Price differences between brands can be significant on large projects. Availability matters if your nearest paint store or home center specializes in Farrow & Ball. Some painters have strong preferences for one brand's formula based on coverage, dry time, or workability. And if you are touching up existing Farrow & Ball work, matching within the same brand gives you the best consistency for seamless results.
Match calculations use Delta E (CIE2000) computed from Lab color space conversion. Color data sourced from manufacturer specifications. Last reviewed: March 22, 2026.