Black Smoke is a true neutral — the rare paint color that doesn't push warm or cool, which makes it forgiving across mixed-lighting rooms and existing palettes. At LRV 5 it reads as a deep, enveloping shade — best on accent walls, dining rooms, and spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected light. Skip it only if you specifically want a clear warm or cool bias — a true neutral stays intentionally undecided, which is the whole point.
Ref. #3E3E3F · PPH-34
Black Smoke
5%LRV Value
Black Smoke Technical Profile
What color is Behr Black Smoke (PPH-34)? It's a dark neutral gray — hex #3E3E3F, LRV 5. The closest cross-brand equivalent to Black Smoke is Benjamin Moore Black Jack — a near-identical match on the wall, with Kilz True Black and Dunn-Edwards Dark Engine also close. With an LRV of 5, Black Smoke creates a dramatic, enveloping mood — best on accent walls, dining rooms, and intimate spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected light. Black Smoke is a true neutral — pair with any wood, any metal, any trim color. Off-white trim works in most homes; brushed nickel or matte black hardware both read well across spaces. As a deeper neutral, Black Smoke reads as a confident anchor — strongest on accent walls, cabinetry, and moody whole rooms that get enough natural light to keep it from going flat. True neutrals read consistently across lighting conditions, which is why they're popular base colors. They inherit a faint warm cast under 2700K and a cool cast under 4000K, but never dramatically. Deeper neutrals can read close to black in low light, so preview Black Smoke in the room's actual evening lighting, not just at midday.
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Colors Similar to Black Smoke
Closest digital match based on color values. Always verify with physical samples.
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With Black Smoke
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
Black Smoke
#3E3E3F
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#58466A
Trim & Molding
Pure White
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for Black Smoke
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
Black Smoke Room Palettes
Color schemes built around this color — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Warm & Inviting
Warm tones with cozy appeal — welcoming and comfortable
Cool & Calm
Cool hues with soft contrast — serene and restful
Bold Contrast
Complementary hues with punch — dynamic and striking
Similar Behr Colors
Other Behr colors close to Black Smoke.
More gray colors from other brands
Cross-brand colors in the gray family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.
Black Smoke — Frequently Asked Questions
What colors match Black Smoke from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Black Smoke are Black Jack by Benjamin Moore (a near-identical match), True Black by Kilz (a near-identical match), Dark Engine by Dunn-Edwards (a near-identical match). These are ranked with the CIEDE2000 color-difference formula, which scores how similar two colors actually look to the eye rather than matching them by name — so they're the best options for getting Black Smoke's look in a brand your local store carries. Always confirm with a physical sample, since sheen and lighting shift the final result.
What is the LRV of Black Smoke?
Black Smoke has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 4.8, on a scale where 0 is pure black and 100 is pure white. That makes it a deep, dramatic color best saved for accent walls, dining rooms, and cozy spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected light. LRV is the most reliable guide to how light or dark a paint will read in a real room — more dependable than the swatch on your screen, which varies by monitor.
Explore More with Black Smoke
Related Reading
How to Match Paint Colors Across Brands
The science behind Delta E and CIEDE2000 — find a Behr equivalent of any Sherwin-Williams shade, or a Benjamin Moore alternative when your store is out of stock.
Paint Sheen Guide
Flat, eggshell, satin, or semi-gloss — the right finish for Black Smoke depends on the room. Here's how to choose.