Tricorn Black → Farrow & Ball
The closest Farrow & Ball matches for Sherwin Williams Tricorn Black (SW 6258), ranked by perceptual color distance.
Finding a Farrow & Ball Equivalent for Tricorn Black
If you love Sherwin Williams Tricorn 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 Sherwin Williams, or you simply want to compare prices across brands before committing.
Tricorn Black (SW 6258) is a dark black with true neutral black undertones. About as close to a true, pure black as Sherwin Williams offers. No visible blue, brown, or green undertone. Just black. To find a good Farrow & Ball match, we need a color that captures not just the right depth (LRV 3) but also that specific undertone character. That is where Delta E color science comes in.
We calculated the perceptual color distance between Tricorn 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 Tricorn Black. Off-Black (No.57) comes in with a Delta E of 2.2, 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 Tricorn Black
Off-Black is the closest Farrow & Ball option at LRV 4. Very close match with F&B's signature chalky depth.
| Tricorn Black | Off-Black | |
|---|---|---|
| LRV | 3 | 4 |
| Hex | #2F2F2F | #353835 |
| Undertone | True Neutral Black | Green-Black |
| Family | Black | Black |
Undertone Comparison
Tricorn Black has true neutral black undertones. About as close to a true, pure black as Sherwin Williams offers. No visible blue, brown, or green undertone. Just 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. Tricorn Black's true neutral black 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
Tricorn Black in Your Room
Reads as a true black in all conditions. In very bright direct light, you might detect the faintest warm lean, but functionally this is a neutral black.
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
Tricorn Black has an LRV of 3, 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 Tricorn Black
Sherwin Williams recommends Tricorn Black for: front door, accent wall, exterior trim, shutters, statement furniture. With an LRV of 3, 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 Tricorn Black.
Tricorn Black in Other Brands
Looking for Tricorn 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 Tricorn Black (SW 6258) is Off-Black (No.57) with a Delta E of 2.2, 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. Tricorn Black is a Sherwin Williams color with true neutral black undertones and an LRV of 3. Off-Black is a Farrow & Ball color with green-black undertones and an LRV of 4. With a Delta E of 2.2, 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 2.2, 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.